A sense of elation and relief filled Kaito at those words, a small burn in the back of his eyes as he simply grinned and said, "Love you too, 'Kichi. Oh, when we get to the top, take a glance to your left. You can see the whole city!"

As the cart reached the very top of its top track, you could indeed see a good chunk of the city to the left, and to the right, you could easily see more and more of the ocean and beach, all of the scenery spreading out from horizon to horizon. A blue ocean, reaching out and promising lands, waiting to be visited and explored. Green forests, hiding within it untold amounts of life, all connected at the roots of the trees that fed and sheltered it. And between all of it, civilization. The piece of land that humans had taken for themselves and put their marks all over, developing their homes, their livelihoods, and all the things that made life more fun to have.

Like a carnival that offered a chance to bond. To play. To ease tensions in a group of people rife with them. An assassin and a housekeeper who didn't see eye to eye, both bonding over a shared concern for a child who had, up to this point, had so rarely been allowed to be one. A detective at the lowest point in his life, reaching out to a doctor who was finally on the precipice of rising from the lowest point of hers. A guardswoman, who while her whole life, so distant and different from those around her, was invited to the group because the things that made her different had brought them true peace and comfort, her presence an invaluable contribution to the group as a whole.

And two princes, who were re-discovering every single day that there was still so much they didn't know about each other...but could, in moments like these, reaffirm to each other and themselves that each moment of strife and pain and grief, in their effort to understand each other, was worth it for the moments where they were at peace. Happy and in love. Able to rise above.

...and then the cart went down, and it was just a whirlwind of noise, colors, and lights from there, Kaito once again at first shouting in alarm, before laughing loudly among the screams and cheers of their fellow riders. Hair whipping in the wind. Excited and thrilled.

Kokichi was used to looking over a scene from above but...in that moment when they lingered at the top of the track...it was so different from home. The coastal town was much smaller than the capital city, had less tall buildings. Kokichi could still see the mountains in the distance, but...they were far in the distance, obscured and only the peaks peeking up over the horizon.

And then, on the other side, the ocean that he had always pretended to see now right in his face. He'd thought it when he'd first seen it from the caravan windows but...it was so much bigger than he'd thought. Glittering with a million different blues, home to all sorts of creatures, a connection to people he'd likely never meet, not because he was stuck in a castle, but simply because of how many people were in the world. He was more likely to meet more Diceans. Luminaries and Ronpans and Novoselites. Maybe Shinens. Maybe people from other countries that Dicea barely communicated with! But his world was open to every possibility.

Kokichi wasn't going to take his hands off the rail, but he slid his hand over to partially overlap with Kaito's, happy to share this moment, and many more throughout their lives, with his husband.

"O-oh, OOH! OOWOOOOOOO!!!! Nee, HEEHEEHEEHEE!!"

Kokichi laughed loudly and openly as the world rushed by, his heart pounding in excitement, but not painfully at all.

"Told ya he's a laugher," Timothy said, causing Maki to pout a little. Damn. Really thought she had called that one.

Kokichi was still giggling as the ride came to a stop, his hair even messier than usual, windblown to all heck, and his cheeks were pink with delight. And, while he wasn't dizzy and his chest didn't hurt...his heart was still pounding. Placing a hand over his heart, Kokichi grinned at Kaito, carefully getting up out of the cart. "I'm good, really, that was amazing, but I think I need to sit for a sec. Just...wow..."

Kaito reached out to help Kokichi up, just in case, but was still laughing as well, Kokichi looking more than okay. "It's wild, right? That was a really good one too! It's not the highest rollercoaster I've seen, but they really make use of those tight turns! It's so cool!!"

The two walked off the back gate of the coaster, the food stands nearby, but Kaito still looked around for a shady spot to just sit and rest for a minute before going to return to the others. The whole carnival area was sort of loosely fenced off, more for safety reasons than anything else, but Kaito saw a spot near the back gate, which they were close to, that had caught some trees within the fencing, and he pointed it out, "Wanna go sit under those for a second? I could go get you some water while you take a breath."

It was indeed very different from what his caretakers growing up had done for him, and...honestly, Kokichi was glad that Kaito spoke up. By trying out the different rides, he'd been more prepared, and while he probably would've been fine on the coaster from the beginning, he was able to have more fun this way, he thought. They didn't really have the space in the city for big rides, but...hell, maybe the next time there was a fair nearby, he could spend a day with his friends there, trying out all the fun stuff like they were doing today.

"Looks good!" Kokichi breathlessly chirped, giving Kaito a wave as he headed over to the trees. He just needed a moment, and he'd drink some water and apply sunscreen, then they could go check out the games! And even if they wouldn't get a fish, Kokichi still wanted to win something for his friends. Wanted to see Shuuichi out-think any trickery, wanted to see Maki out-muscle 'em. Wanted to see Kaito and Tim push through from sheer determination, though Tim would likely take tips the others gave him and would win before Kaito.

Kokichi giggled to himself a bit, leaning against one of the trees as he took a deep breath, enjoying the sweet smell of goodies in the air, listening to the happy chatter of his people. Last night hadn't been great, but...today was good. And the future would be good. He was sure of it.

The figure in the distance stood, nervously watching, crossing his arms defensively as he thought to himself, seeing his first real opening that he had seen all day, really...

...maybe he should just go and tell them he hadn't been able to do it.

Just couldn't! He's a prince! He's surrounded by people all the time a-and, well...the Luminaries were scary and...he just couldn't...

...he sighed, knowing he couldn't bring himself to go back without at least trying. It would crush his mother, to think her son was a coward and...his father...

Sighing again, Brent went up to Prince Kokichi.

He didn't make any effort to hide himself or anything, and he caught the prince’s eye long before he finished making his way up to him, giving the prince a sort of sheepish wave and embarrassed smile, trying to be as non-threatening as possible as he said. "Hey, Jaski. It's, uh...Brent. Guy from the beach? From the museum? I thought that was you. I thought, wow, wouldn't that be a coincidence if that was...um...look, about yesterday..."

Sure, it was a small town, but...geez. Kokichi sighed as he looked up at Brent, immediately taking another deep breath to regulate himself. Honestly...he didn't want to talk to the guy. It was bad enough that he wouldn't take no for an answer, but then taking that dig...

...but it sounded like he wanted to apologize, so...it was the least Kokichi could do to hear him out. Maybe it really had just been embarrassment from being turned down, maybe Brent had actually wanted to talk with him, and had just tried to take a shot. He didn't have to accept the apology, and... Well, maybe it was that inexperience that kept making his friends wear uncomfortable expressions, but...it would be nice if they could part on better terms. Wish each other luck for the future, and likely never see each other again. They were leaving that night, anyway.

Giving Brent a nod, Kokichi didn't smile, but he wasn't glowering at the man either. "Yeah?"

"Look...that was really shitty of me. And I kinda wanna just...apologize and explain myself, because I don't feel good about how I acted yesterday. I'm kind of a pushy flirt and people have told me this before and I'm actually already in the middle of therapy for it and, like, I know better, ya know? Not to do, just, all of...that," Brent said, waving his hand vaguely. "And...even on top of that, I said some really shitty things? Or, at least, one kind of really specific shitty thing that I didn't think would matter because...do you mind if I sit? I feel weird standing over ya," Brent admitted, just...not able to get over how small the other guy looked.

Sitting down beside him, he said quickly, "Okay, like, first of all. I know your name isn't Jaski and you're actually the prince, okay? Like, just putting my cards on the table here. Totally know that for...a lot of reasons now.”

"Second of all? Again, being, just, totally honest? I didn't actually think you were the prince yesterday. Like, making fun of the fact that someone's been bed-ridden their entire life to their face? That's...I can say some shitty things, I know that, but that's a level of assholery I wasn't actually trying to reach. I was kind of just halfway making a joke at my mom’s expense and just sorta pissed at ya and kinda...wanted to believe that's why you turned me down so hard? Because, yeah, a prince? Totally out of my league. Totally not something worth getting hurt feelings over, ya know...if you were one. So that's why I said that shitty thing. If I thought it would actually hurt your feelings, I wouldn't have said it...and it didn't seem to hurt your feelings, so, like...validated, right? That's what I thought. Just a stupid, uncomfortable encounter and..."

Brent rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably, in a move that was eerily like Kaito's, actually, as he confessed, "And then, to make myself feel better, I totally charmed this really pretty chick with, like, crazy intense eyes, like, wow, ya know? And I thought I had her totally going for me and was about to get into her pants...but then she took out a knife and, like, totally threatened me, saying stuff about 'learning manners' and 'being polite' and, like...she's a bodyguard of yours, right? That's why she came after me like that?"

Kokichi’s expression...okay, it did soften a little. He knew he was under no obligation to forgive this random stranger that had just been kind of a jerk, but...that was who Kokichi was. Someone who didn't want to hold onto grudges, and just wanted people to grow and become better.

And, like, Brent didn't sit next to him, so...that helped. Maybe because he actually knew who he was, maybe because Brent was actually trying to be better.

Mouth pulling to the side, Kokichi tried not to sigh again. "...I appreciate that you acknowledge that you went too far, but, like... Even if I wasn't who I am, you were still saying shitty stuff about a real person?" He shook his head a little, trying not to get too frustrated. "I was serious when I turned you down the first time, Brent. People are worth more than just for having sex with, and I really would've just enjoyed talking with you more if we left things there."

Instead he'd left trying not to cry, and then had to stop his boyfriend from doing something...probably illegal. Though, he'd stopped one friend too short, apparently.

Kokichi facepalmed, groaning softly. "Ohmygod... Yeah, she...she's something of a bodyguard. I didn't think she saw...god dammit, that was your belt, wasn't it." He couldn't hold in a sigh that time, coughing softly into the crook of his arm afterward. Taking someone's pants wasn't illegal, but...c'mon Makiiiiiiii!

"I'm sorry about that." Kokichi lowered his hand, his expression genuinely apologetic. "She's...real protective. Like, really. I can pay for your pants, if you want?"

"Nah, nah, that's alright," Brent said, feeling...genuinely guilty about what was coming up. He was saying all this stuff to appear more trustworthy, sure, but also...this might be his last chance to kind of clear the air before...things got a lot more cloudy. "Sides, I get the vibe from that girl that if you bought me more pants, I'd just go home and find all the rest of my clothes shredded, with the exception of the pants you bought. Vengeful...hot as fuck though, not gonna lie, I'd still be down for it if she was," Brent admitted, laughing.

Ha...sigh...alright.

"Hey, so, I didn't just come here to apologize for my own stuff...I wasn't going to say anything at all to ya when I saw ya here, because I figured it was embarrassing and stuff and...but I got inspired to be better by...by my dad, because he asked me to..."

Brent sighed again, running a hand through his hair. "My dad's name is Budd...he was...hoping I could convince you to come talk to him. He wants to talk to you about apologizing for yesterday, to you and your husband, but...he's...kind of scared to go anywhere near the guy. Was hoping to talk to you first about it."

Kokichi snorted softly, finding Maki doing that to be...very likely. And, as it looked like, it wasn't just kids who found her fascinating. For someone who had spent a great deal of time in shadows, she certainly garnered quite a bit of attention.

His mirth quickly dropped, however.

"Oh no..." Kokichi covered his mouth, worry covering his face in an instant before dropping into a grim expression. What were the fucking chances... "Like...I at least would appreciate the apology, but I'd like to apologize in turn."

Kokichi looked out towards the crowds of carnival-goers, trying to pick out his husband in the rivers of people, sighing deeply. "It's...probably a good idea for your father and my husband to not cross paths right now. Kaito went too far. The loss of his parents is...still really painful for him. I don't expect any Dicean to be...like, even disappointed by the deaths of King Leon and Princess-Consort Sayaka, but, even with all the pain that resulted from their decisions, they were still people. People that my husband loved and hasn't been able to grieve since he's surrounded by people that..."

Kokichi shrugged a little bit, looking back over at Brent. "Well, I'd imagine you know your father's views on Luminary. They're not terribly uncommon."

Getting up from the ground, Kokichi gave the older man a nod. "I'll speak with your father. But I need to let my friends know first--don't want 'em to worry if I just disappear out of nowhere."

"Oooooh, no. Shit," Brent said, standing up, looking around, his eyes suddenly going...painfully wide as his body moved, his brain practically lagging two seconds behind it as he realized what he was actually about to do. "Sorry...that's gonna be a no-go."

Brent reached out, put an arm around Prince Kokichi's chest and a hand over his mouth, and picked him up, immediately backing up into the shade of the tree.

His heart immediately started POUNDING.

Oh god, oh no, oh god, oh no. He was actually doing this. Oh, fuck he was actually doing this. This was the stupidest thing in the world. Oh FUCK.

"Sorry, sorry, hold still, hold still," Brent demanded, the prince squirming and kicking in his arms, Brent desperately tightening his grip as hard as he could, feeling thin bones bend easily (scarily easily. He had no muscle to him. It was like picking up a child...oh fuck what was he doing!?) into Kokichi's sides as Brent looked around desperately.

Did anyone see him? He didn't know. He couldn't see, panic literally clouding his vision. He could hear the prince trying to shout through his hand, and he tightened his grip there, in his panic trying to shut the guy up, terrified someone could still somehow hear him in the din of the carnival noise. "Shut up, shut up, for fuck’s sake Jaski, don't make me hurt you. We have to go."

His family was waiting for him back in the left-hand corner of the festival. It was nearby, and Brent knew how to get there easily...but he had really been hoping not to do it with a struggling, screaming prince in his arms...there was no way to finesse it. He just had to run and hope he was lucky. The gate he was meant to go out of was for employees only. If he was lucky, no one would be...come on, come on...

Please please please OH FUCK THANK GOD BRENT WAS LITERALLY GOING TO CRY. It was the most beautiful sight in the WORLD. A totally empty gate area. Oh fuck maybe the gods were on his side. Okay, okay, okay, there was the carriage...come on come on...

His Uncle Bob was waiting on the front of the carriage, a grimly determined look on his face...that grew increasingly grim as he saw Brent run up with Kokichi in his arms. He glanced in concern at the small man in Brent's arms...before turning his head. "Get in, we're moving now."

Brent didn’t answer him, kind of just thinking to himself 'no fucking duh Uncle Bob’, but he shouted into the carriage, "Open the door!"

It was his mom who did, Bessie opening it up and looking out almost curiously, as if she wasn't expecting what Brent was bringing, before her own gaze got that same sort of grim frightened look on it as Uncle Bob's did, saying, "Oh dear, oh thank goodness, get in, get in! Let's go Bobby!" Bessie said, making room for her son and closing the door behind him, the carriage moving immediately.

Bubb, covered in bandages and a wrap around his neck, was holding rope and tape, the least frightened-looking of the batch as he said simply, "Hold him down."

For someone who had gone through many attempts on his life, everything happened shockingly fast to Kokichi. To be fair, though...none of the people who had tried to kill him had ever pretended to be kind first.

Kokichi already had a scream revving up, but it was muffled by Brent's hand, and while it was still loud enough...there was no one around. The shady spot by the back fence was isolated, compared to the rest of the carnival area, and there was no one...

By some miracle, he didn't pass out, though his heart was pounding more than the coaster had managed to get it going. Kokichi thrashed and shouted, trying to break free from Brent's grip in any way, to get out a note of a scream, to tug away enough for someone to notice, but...

Kokichi's eyes filled with frightened tears as he saw the carriage come into view, not...really concerned for what the family would do to him.

But what his friends would do to them.

Kokichi didn't stop trying to resist even as Brent lifted him into the carriage, his eyes widening when he saw the rope and tape, redoubling his efforts. If he couldn't speak, if he couldn't move, then...Kaito and Maki really would kill them... He could hope that Katsuki would stop them, but...if Maki found him first...

He didn't want anyone to die!!!

"Alright, flip him on his stomach...for fuck’s sake, boy, his arm, don't lose his arm. There we go...just like a fish. Gotta be firm in your grip, is all. Can't be blaming the fish for fighting and thrashing, it's your own damn fault if they get away..."

"Oh dear, look at how thin he is...you don't suppose they haven’t been feeding him?"

"Could be, could be? That monster? Wouldn't fucking surprise me."

"Oh, poor thing...it's okay dear. Everything's gonna be okay now… Brent, sweetheart, let go of his mouth for a bit, Mama's gotta shove this sock in, make sure he doesn't grind his teeth."

Brent watched, horrified, at the calm, easy way his middle-class suburban parents just...kidnapped someone. How were they this calm? Brent thought he was going to throw up. Oh fuck. "Ma, he's gonna scream if I let his mouth go..."

"That's alright, dear, he can scream all he likes now, really. We're going to be taking back roads and going down a path that no folk in their right mind would take a carriage. Ain't no one gonna be traveling there. It's all good," Bessie assured him, giving Kokichi a pleasant smile as she assured him, "We've got a little place in the forest. Ain’t much to look at, but it's quiet and isolated and you'll be safe and sound there, dear. You'll see."

Kokichi kept thrashing even as they tied him up, trying to make himself as big as possible so he could find a gap in the rope--a tactic that he'd read about, and, unfortunately, didn't work as well when you didn't have much body mass and the only way you could make space was by flailing your limbs.

Even in his terror, though, Kokichi listened. They thought he was being mistreated...thought it stemmed from Kaito. They were...scarily detached, but Brent wasn't. He could be misreading everything, but...it seemed like Brent was only doing this because of his parents.

Kokichi tried to send the man a pleading look, but he wasn't going to miss his opportunity. Especially since...it might be his only one.

"--ha you're in dang--!! Nnng! Mmmn!"

"Wh-what was that?" Brent asked, looking down in concern at the prince.

"Danger, most likely," Budd said, finishing binding Kokichi's legs before taking the prince's chin in his hand and moving his head to look at him as he said, "Nod if yes, shake your head if no. You trying to say we're in danger?"

Budd sighed at the sudden violent nod, letting go of his chin. "Well, course we are, my prince. Is that what you're supposed to say to him? My prince?"

"I think sire and 'your grace' work too? Or...is that just for kings and queens...honestly, I'm such an airhead, I know I've read that rule a thousand times and I just don't know."

"Anyway, yeah, 'course we're in danger. But, well, that's part of what being a freedom fighter is, ain't it. We're no cowards though, son, don't you worry about that. I got a sword in here, and Bob up there is a veteran. If any of them catch up to us, we'll fight them off," Budd assured him, as Bessie moved him into a more comfortable position, sitting him in the corner, opposite of the door.

"And with Prince Kokichi safely tucked away, King Aiichi can finally get rid of those invading Luminary bastards," Bessie said gleefully, clapping slightly, "No more secret invasion! This is the first step towards revolution! Freedom for Dicea! Oh, Brent, aren't you just so proud? We're making history right now!"

"...yeah..." Brent said, looking increasingly nervous...before saying, "But...I mean...every time I saw them together...the red-headed guy didn't exactly look...menacing."

"Are you braindead, kid?" Budd practically growled, pointing to his face, "What the fuck did you think this was? Him playing slaps with me? The fucker called me a peasant and tried to murder me. If Prince Kokichi here hadn't risked his life to put himself between me and him, I'd be dead right now. Fucking Luminaries...fucking bloodthirsty monsters, all of 'em....wish I could exterminate the whole damn infestation of them."

Oh. Oh no. They didn't just think he was being mistreated. They thought...well, what Hideki had brought up over and over while they were constructing the treaty with Luminary. What Tengan had essentially tried to threaten Kaito into doing. And...what, they thought Kokichi was being held as collateral?

...honestly, he wasn't sure if he should be insulted on his father's behalf. If it came to protecting Kokichi or protecting the country, obviously Aiichi would put Dicea first. That was the whole point of the leader.

Kokichi tried to shake his head, grunting around the sock, trying to convey that they were waaaaaay off base--and why would he have a reason to lie in this situation, when, in their minds, he was finally away from the Luminaries--but he stilled when Budd brought up his own injuries. And...it was probably true that if Kokichi hadn't intervened, Kaito likely would've killed him. If Maki or Shuuichi had tried to stop him...Kokichi could only remember his husband shouting at Maki, holding that damn letter to his chest, how her body went stock still...

But Luminaries were people and ones that were suffering under their leadership. Kokichi growled around the sock, doubling his efforts in shaking his head.

"I...don't think he agrees..."

"Stockholm syndrome, dear," Bessie said simply, waving her hand dismissively. "Me and your dad expected something like that. It's hard to control someone who actively hates you, especially when you can't just tuck him away somewhere and forget about him. Why do you think they were at a carnival to begin with? Poor dear doesn't realize he was being manipulated."

"Scare him into compliance with violent, seemingly random anger, make their life so hard and stressful that, when ya occasionally do nice things, they're so grateful for the break in stress that they forget and forgive all the bad shit. Classic abuse tactic. Like your Aunt Sadie and that piece of shit Roger."

"Poor Sadie...maybe we could do this to her next? Now that we're getting some practice in. I bet we could make ol' Roger disappear easy enough."

"M-mom!"

"Oh, hush, dear, I'm just thinking aloud. Oof, feel those vibrations?" Bessie laughed, giving Kokichi a coy look, "That's why carriages and caravans don't come down this road. Too poorly maintained, our tires will be wrecked by the time we get to the cabin. But that's okay. It's a sacrifice we’ll make, to go where no one else is traveling."

Bessie sighed, running her hands maternally through Kokichi's hair, trying to smooth down the curls on the side of his head as she said soothingly, "Don't worry, dear. A few months. A year at most. Then we can tell people where you are. And you'll be safe and happy, and we'll even undo all that brainwashing they did to you. Poor thing..."

Kokichi flared his nostrils with a sigh, very blatantly rolling his eyes. He couldn't blame his people for being worried and suspicious, but to go this far? He supposed this was some of what Maki had explained to him. The ways people would justify things to themselves--if there was an outcome you wanted bad enough, as long as there was some path to get to it, you'd jump through all sorts of hoops.

Hopefully therapy could undo some of that.

...if they had the chance to go...

Kokichi fixed his eyes worriedly on the door of the carriage, just...maybe they'd focus on freeing him first? Kokichi had told them over and over that people weren't allowed to be killed in Dicea...but that hadn't even been dealing with kidnappers. ...he could only hope.

He didn't doubt that the others would find him. And even if they had trouble...the local guardforce would be looking for Budd. The official report of the fight hadn't been released yet, and even if it had, it was extremely likely that Budd would have to take an empathy course. People would be looking. That wasn't the problem.

The problem was if Maki found them first.

Kokichi dug his nails into the rope around him, trying to fray or loosen it, and, just for a moment, he made eye contact with Brent, giving him an apologetic, worried look.

Brent gave the prince an equally worried look, picking at his nails nervously as he forced himself to look away from him...just to give him another worried look. "Um...so...what now?"

"Now? Just gotta wait to get to where we're going. Don't you worry about him, he's not getting out of those ropes...what are we...hey! Bob! What the fuck are ya doing, ya dumb shit, we gotta keep moving!" Budd shouted, knocking against the metal of the carriage as the rumbling slowed down, the carriage slowing to a total stop.

"Shut up, Budd," Bob said through the carriage wall, just talking loud enough to be heard, though clearly nervous. "There's a girl on the road..."

"O-one of his bodyguards is a girl," Brent told his father, fear curling at his stomach. "She...she uses knives, o-or daggers, or whatever you want to call it..."

"I ain’t afraid of no little girl with knives. Brent, protect your mother and the prince. I'll take care of this," Budd said darkly, grabbing a sword from under his chair (it was an older model, and there was rust on the edge of the blade).

Budd opened up the carriage door and headed out, closing it behind him. After a moment, there was a shift in weight on the carriage, Bob clearly getting off the front as well.

"It's okay...everything's gonna be okay... they're gonna protect us..." Bessie said nervously, wringing her hands in front of her skirt as she glanced between her son and Kokichi. "It's a...it's a good thing we left your siblings and cousins with Aunt Barbara...wouldn't do to have them see their daddies murder some little lady...I hope she don't suffer none..."

Kokichi felt his heart fall into his stomach when he heard Bob's voice through the carriage wall. That was...really fast for Maki to find them, but if Kaito had come back right after Brent got through the gate, then...she wouldn't waste time. She and Katsuki would spring into action, Shuuichi would figure out in a snap where he'd been taken...

Kokichi just shook his head as Budd left the carriage, still trying to warn him from confronting Maki, but...

He closed his eyes, just hoping against hope that Maki wouldn't kill them. Please, just...incapacitate. Leave them alive. No one deserves death...

There was a long moment of quiet...Bessie and Brent sitting quietly, waiting to see what was going to happen, Bessie optimistic and sad, Brent...terrified. Knowing already that this was all too late.

Then, faintly, they could hear voices. A muffled female voice in the distance, and Budd and Bob, much closer to the carriage. "You stay right there little missy...you fucking clear the road and we're not gonna cause you any trouble," said Bob.

"But we got important places to be, and we ain't afraid to hurt you if you keep impeding our path," said Budd.

The female voice said something, too far away to be heard clearly...but then there was the clear sound of her laughing. A sweet, amused sound.

And there was a sudden THUMP on the top of the carriage, the carriage lowering in weight briefly before shuffling. The thump almost covered the second sound of impact, a more distant, more final THUD sound.

What wasn't hard to miss the sound of Budd though, shouting, "BOB! Fuck, what the fuck did you d-"

And then a second thud.

And quiet.

Brent stared at the door, wide-eyed...before shakily standing up. "I...I-I g-gotta go h-help them!"

"Don't you dare!" Bessie whisper-shouted, grabbing her son and forcing him to sit back down, her own eyes wide with fear as well. "They're fine! I'm sure they're fine...but I'm gonna go out there and talk to them. You don't leave this carriage."

"M-mom, no-"

"You listen to your mother and stay, Brent. It's going to be okay!" Bessie assured him standing up with a determined look on her face, heading to the door.

She opened it up and went out.

...it was silent for a long time.

"...I'm sorry..." Brent said to Kokichi. Shaking as he sat next to him. Eyes wide and haunted. "I'm so sorry...they've been saying someone should do something ever since the marriage was first rumored about...years...I never thought though...I never thought..."

...and then there was a scream, and Brent stood up, running out of the carriage, leaving the door open behind him.

Kokichi opened his eyes. ...that didn't sound like Maki.

...but then who...?

His eyes snapped to where the THUD against the carriage originated, just squeezing the rope in his fingers, please, please, even if it's someone else, if he could just get free then...then...he could try to talk to them? Explain things? Scream?

But the ropes didn't budge. Bessie left the carriage. There was silence.

...he wanted to plead with Brent to run, to go back to town and alert the guardforce, to get healers. To explain things before it was too late and everything was silent. Tomorrow would be better if you worked to make it better. But that only worked if you were still around. If no one was around...then...

Kokichi rolled onto his side, alone in the carriage. Wriggling around, Kokichi braced the bottom of his feet against the wall of the carriage, then kicked off it, trying to crawl his way out the open door. It...wasn't necessarily too late...

There were small murmurs of conversation, some distant laughter. Brent's voice came in, sounding desperate and panicked, talking fast. Clearly trying to negotiate. The voices grew closer, and one of the voices said, "Sure. We'll give you thirty seconds. If you can run out of range, you're good, man...but you ain't gonna make it if you take her too...nineteen...eighteen...better decide-"

There was a sudden rush of feet, the sound of someone booking it.

"...that asshole left his own damn mother to die. What a piece of shit. Take him out."

A high, mad giggle, and the sound of metal singing through the air. A distant...but not that distant thud.

"Awwwww, I was hoping we'd get to play with him...he was, like, suuuuuper pretty!"

"We'd have had to feed him and that'd have been a real pain in the ass. We got damn lucky though...who the fuck’s dumb enough to bring a carriage down a path like this?"

"Who cares? Ours now," said a voice from above the carriage, jumping down, the carriage shifting in weight. "I call no driving!"

"Fuck off. Go check the inside, make sure no one else was on their dumbass roadtrip. Then help me move the bodies."

"You got it! Hellooooo...anyone hoooooome?" the voice teased out, approaching the door, "It's okay...It's safe to come out now...your family’s all waiting for you out here..."

The figure stepped into the door, and immediately looked over to the corner where Kokichi was tied and bound...and paused. Staring at him curiously. A small, amused smile twisting his face.

"...huh...haha...hahahaha...Itch! You're, uh...." Tom snickered loudly, eye wide with delight, his smile wide and sharp, "ha! Hahaha! You are never going to fucking believe this!"

Tom went over, knelt down, looking down at the prince between his knees, waving in his face, and said brightly, "Hi Kokichi! Wow! Long time no see!"

...how had this happened...

He just...wanted to see the world outside of the capital. Something that had never been denied to past leaders, something that anyone could do. Why was it so wrong for him?

Luminary had attacked them for no reason, they'd only defended themselves. Aiichi had never forced anyone into the fight. He'd made it clear to the country that Dicea and Luminary had decided on peace...that his and Kaito's marriage would be symbolic of that. That Dicea would remain independent, that Luminary would leave them be...

The leaders of Dicea had spent generations doing nothing but trying to make people's lives as fulfilling as possible. To make a place where everyone could live out their dreams and have food on the table and never worry about belonging. Everyone had a voice that would be heard.

...now four people were...and he...

Kokichi stared up at Tom in shock, silent for a moment before he gave the blond a nod, grunting out a "Aa, ooon," in response.

...he couldn't panic. If they were distributing despair spores, were Remnants, then...they were likely on the stuff. Would only be excited if he showed his fear. It was just like with Chisa, that awful morning so long ago... Don't give them what they want. And...maybe he could stall just long enough for their arrests.

They'd escaped Maki once. Maybe...they could still live through this.

"Tom, what the hell are you giggling about in here? We don't have time to play, if there's someone in there, just cut their throat and be done with..." Itch stopped, staring in open shock at the sight before him. How...

...Fuck!

"We have to hurry. Shit! We probably don't have any damn time to lose," Itch growled, shoving past Tom and grabbing Kokichi's collar, dragging him out of the carriage and, in the same movement, pulling the gag down from his mouth and around his neck, freeing up Kokichi's tongue as he shouted first, "Aba, change of plans! Put the bodies into the carriage! Tom, help her."

Tom immediately got to work, but Aba called out from her spot petting the horse, "What? Why? We're gonna travel with corpses? That sounds like a bad time...whoa! No fucking way! Hey, Kokichi! Long time no see!"

"That's what I said!" Tom said with a wide smile, taking Budd under the arms and dragging him to the carriage.

"Just do it, we don't have time!" To Kokichi he said urgently, "How long have you been with them? When did they grab you?"

The stench of blood was nauseating, and Kokichi coughed and gagged for a moment when Itch pulled the gag down, needing to recover his breath but disgusted by the scent and taste of the air. Still, he forced himself to give Aba a weak smile as he greeted her as well. "H-hi, Aba..."

No crying, no anger. Be bored and pleasant. You can do this, Kokichi...save your people. Deal with the consequences later.

Clearing his throat, Kokichi worked his jaw a little. "This morning... It's..." He made a show of glancing up at the sky as if trying to judge the time by the sun. Then, he sighed, giving Itch a worried look. "...Maki-chan's gonna kill you guys when she catches up...I tried to tell them that but. Kinda hard to do through a gag."

Pouting, as if simply annoyed, Kokichi gave a small huff. "Please don't put it back on me. I might be able to talk her out of it before anyone gets hurt."

"Oooooh, big sis is coming to geeeeet uussssss," Tom sang out, snickering at the heated look Itch shot him. "What? We knew it could come to this. Don't pretend you're not stoked, Itch."

"...Not ready...just need to try one more thing...one god damn success...wait here," Itch demanded, dropping Kokichi onto the dirt and going to help Tom and Aba pile the bodies into the carriage, having to go and retrieve Brent's from down the road.

Closing the door, Aba wiped the sweat from her forehead, before saying, "Soooo...what's the plan? ...oh, no, come on Itch, no! Our riiiiide!" Aba moaned, as her friend went to the horse and, pulling back his hand, slapped it as hard as he could.

The horse screamed, kicking its legs for a moment before running off at full speed, pulling the carriage behind it as well as it could through the bumpy road, it only taking a moment before it and the carriage were basically out of sight as Aba whined, "Itch, come on! We've been walking all day! I know we're on a time limit or whatever you keep saying, but wouldn't it be better if we could go faster!?"

"They're following the carriage. We cover up the blood with new dirt, they got no reason to assume it ever stopped here. They'll still be following that family chasing after him," Itch said, gesturing to Kokichi, "Right up until they catch it and realize what's up."

"That horse won't run forever, and they'll have horses too. It won't give us all that much of a lead. Maybe a few extra hours, if we're lucky," Tom pointed out, not seeming all that broken up about as he cleaned off his dagger in the road. "And that's if we can cover all the blood in time."

"Then what the fuck are you still standing there for. Get busy!"

...big sis? A flicker of true curiosity passed over Kokichi's face before he stowed it away, keeping his mask on.

Okay...okay. The Brockmans (don't think about them don't think about them) weren't much of an immediate threat at all, even if they managed to pull off their plan. Itch, Tom, and Aba, on the other hand...

Shuuichi had said that they wanted to recruit him to the Remnants, but...what, gave up when they found out the spores would kill him? More likely to...refactor. So...what was that factor? Hold him for ransom? To who? Kaito was most likely to fall for it... No way he'd go for a life for a life, right? Kaito might try, might convince himself it's the right thing to do, but Maki and Shuuichi would never let him. And if he ordered them, then Katsuki would stop him. Hajime and Seiko would get help.

They didn't seem to want to kill him. He would've been dead already if they did.

Kokichi squinted up at the sky as he thought, keeping quiet for now. They hadn't killed him, but they might if he made a fuss. Or knock him out, and if he was unconscious...then there was nothing he could do to stop Maki. So...until he could tell someone was nearby, he'd be quiet.

...he could leave a clue. It couldn't be obvious, but...well, lucky for him, his boyfriend was a genius detective.

As the brew crew worked to cover their tracks, Kokichi dug his fingers into the dirt under him, trying to make as unnatural a mark as he could. Nothing that would mean anything, not a sign or an arrow, but...just something to let Shuuichi know that he'd been here. Enough to give his friends a lead.

"I think that's about as good as it's going to get, honestly," Tom said, looking around, the road basically cleared. There were still specks here and there, but it wasn't the kind of thing you'd notice unless you already knew it was there, and people on horses chasing after their missing prince likely wouldn't see it at all.

"So, what now? We don't have a ride, and we can't go down this road, because we'll be seen. So..." Aba groaned, just endlessly annoyed as she said, "So, what...are we going to the-"

"Yep. Into the woods. Any direction, as far as we can go. We just need to get away from the road," Itch said, going over to pick up Kokichi, carrying him against his chest bridal style. "If we're lucky, we'll have days, but we gotta assume we only have hours. We need to find a quiet spot. One last attempt."

As the two followed him into the woods, Aba said, after a moment, "...ya know...I really don't mind, if today's my last day. It's a pretty one. I'm kinda excited, actually." 

Aba said, a small, fond smile on her face, which flushed a little red, looking at the sky, "Ya know? It'll be fun...but...it doesn't have to be him, you know? Monokuma said if you both managed to get me to the border, he could vouch for all three of us...we could just toss him into a ditch or a lake and just go...hell, they barely seem interested in the prince. He wanted the little golden-eyed bitch more than anything, ya know?"

Tom snickered. "Yeah, Itch. Let's just base all our plans on Aba's crazy dream conversations! It's about as sane as everything else we do! I'm super into it!"

"They just didn't want him because they don't think we can actually get him," Itch growled as they shuffled through the increasingly rough brush beneath their feet. "Recruiting royalty is like recruiting the whole damn kingdom they lead...the goal would be closer than ever...it would matter...it's worth pursuing."

Tom rolled his eyes, playing with his daggers. "Sure, sure. Totally makes sense...well, whatever. I'm sure I'll have fun with it. You are gonna use me, right? I get to play?"

"Yeah Tom," Itch said darkly. "You get to play."

...he hoped it was hours. The longer it took to find him, the more worried everyone would be, and the more worried his Luminaries were, the more dangerous they'd be. Not to mention, if it took days, and word got back to the capital that he'd gone missing... The whole country was already on alert for Aba, Itch, and Tom. But...it might spur people to actively go looking if word got around that Kokichi was gone. People who...

(don't think about it)

But there wasn't much Kokichi could do in the moment. He was still tied up, and he knew Itch's muscles weren't just for show. He couldn't run, and it would be useless to scream unless he could tell there was someone nearby. Trying to reason with someone on spores would...be difficult. It was easier to react. So...he listened.

Monokuma was with the Remnants. He probably should've figured that out, considering he'd already thought the man was at the party to do business with Itch, and Itch was outed as a Remnant, so. But this was hard confirmation.

They were going to a border? Luminary or Danganronpa...Kokichi really didn't know. Remnant activity had been reported in both countries.

...they wanted Shuuichi...because he was already addicted? But their goal was death so...why collect someone? Wouldn't they be happy if someone just died?

...and all that was based off a dream?

Kokichi didn't know what to think about all that, but he couldn't help sighing softly at the point Itch brought up. "So, what then? I'm not interested in joining the Remnants of Despair and considering you all were going to drug me into joining, I think you already know that."

"Mmmhm," Itch agreed, glancing down at Kokichi. "That's right. You're not interested in joining...but why you aren't joining is what I'm trying to reason out. So we're gonna go down the list. Recruit the old fashioned way. Logic. Benefits."

"Torture!" Tom exclaimed cheerfully.

"If it comes to that," Itch agreed. Tightening his hold on Kokichi. "One way or another, you're going to come to understand the truth...and once you get it? You'll never be able to unsee it. I just gotta get ya to see it first."

"Well, okay! It's gonna be a good ol' fashioned conversation! We can do at least that part while we walk! Like, just walking and talking, boys, walking and talking!" Aba encouraged, putting her hands in the air in excitement, before resting them behind her back as she said, another blush on her face, "And when that doesn't work...I bet he'll make really pretty expressions...he's so small and sweet looking...I'm really looking forward to this..." she admitted with a soft giggle.

“Alright. Guess the easiest way to start is seeing what he does actually know." Itch looked back down at Kokichi, raising an eyebrow. "You already know we're Remnants of Despair...but that's just a title. Doesn't say much by itself. Do you have any idea what the fuck that actually means?"

...please find him before torture. The situation was bad enough as it was, but if they found Kokichi hurt? He...he wasn't sure if he'd even be able to get through to his friends at that point.

And...while he wanted to say that he'd never sell out his country for anything...he'd never been tortured before. Kaito, Shuuichi, and Maki were lovely people, but...they'd all succumbed to brainwashing. He was not so arrogant to think he'd fair better.

Still, Kokichi didn't let those worries show on his face.

Sighing again, Kokichi looked idly out at the trees that they passed. "The Remnants want a species extinction. By spreading the spores from despair poppies, people start killing each other or killing themselves with overdoses. Which is kind of weird when you think about it, since the people who happen to survive being on the spores end up, like, super fertile."

Looking back up at Itch, Kokichi raised an eyebrow right back. "You do know my job is pretty much to keep people alive, right? A species extinction is the literal opposite of what I've dedicated my life to."

"...wait, what? ...fertile?" Aba asked, blinking in surprise. "What makes you say that?"

Tom snickered. "Maaaan, Aba, you're fucked if that's true...well, it's not like we were being super safe anyway..."

"Yep. That is your job," Itch acknowledged, ignoring his brother and friend. "And way I hear it, you work hard at it, just like your father. King Aiichi...he's a good man. A truly good man. One of the few people who really made me second guess myself...but he ain’t enough, and neither will you be. Nothing is ever enough."

"Hey! I got a question!" Tom said, practically skipping up to Itch, walking backward in front of him as he smiled at Kokichi. "Why'd you choose to dedicate your life to helping people?"

...ah shit... Hopefully, Aba would consent to rehab. And that Seiko would be given the okay to treat her. If Aba was pregnant and wanted to have the kid...it would be hard to properly care for yourself if you were putting yourself in the type of danger the spores encouraged. Aba might not care right now about dying...but Kokichi still did.

And that was probably a bridge of understanding that Tom and Itch weren't going to cross.

"It's not enough," Kokichi cordially agreed. "Our work is never done. Managing the needs of people is a balancing act that has its elements changed every moment. But giving it your all, even if it's imperfect, matters more than enough. To see the sun rise the next morning is to acknowledge that things can always change for the better."

For a moment, Kokichi was quiet, truly considering Tom's question. It was the lifestyle he'd been born into, but...it was more than that. Kokichi had never questioned wanting to help people--it was something he strove for with his whole being. In the moment of fear and hesitation he would see in his would-be assassins' eyes, Kokichi had never hesitated to reach out instead of cowering.

Shrugging a bit, Kokichi hummed softly. "Pathologic, I suppose. Somewhere between expectations and inherent desire."

Tom snickered again, shrugging in turn as he said, "Well, at least he knows it wasn't his own idea. Gotta love the children of fanatics. They're always so steadfast!"

"Shut up, Tom. You're not helping," Itch ordered.

Tom immediately shut up, rolling his eyes before walking forward again, playing with his butterfly knife.

"My brother's an idiot who speaks out of turn more than he should...but he's got one point though. You're basing a lot of your beliefs on things you've been fed since you were born," Itch said, thinking carefully how to word his argument as he continued, "Beliefs that probably seem so inherently true to you that it's just a matter of reality, rather than philosophy. That's what it means to be raised into an idea, rather than to truly think for yourself."

Itch continued, "You say your job is to keep people alive. You say that you have a pathologic desire to help people. And you say the work of helping people, by its very nature, is never over."

"But all of that contradicts each other. It's all based on a foundation of lies you've been fed your whole life. Keeping people alive isn't helping people. It's never helped anyone. It's just an extension of torture, either their own or someone else’s. By forcing life onto a person, by encouraging they fight for it, you essentially trick them into feeding into their own misery. A misery that could end. Definitively...for everyone. If people like you weren't constantly getting in the way of people like me."

"Your beliefs actively contribute to the endless cycle of suffering for our species," Itch argued. "To care about people is to end that suffering. Everything else is a suckers’ game."

"Maybe for you," Kokichi shrugged again, just...baffled how high Itch was on his own bullshit. "If you truly believe that, then I'm truly sorry. If you refuse to acknowledge the happiness of existence, then of course all you'll find is misery. It sounds unimaginably tiring. The kind of thing that makes you want to sleep until the world ends...or take matters into your own hands to end it."

Kokichi offered the trio a small, sympathetic smile. "That still doesn't give you the moral high ground to end it for everyone else, though. If you didn't find a problem with mass drugging, though, I don't think I need to question whether you respect others' autonomy or agency."

There was plenty Kokichi didn't say, able to see the pitfalls a mile away. That, what was belief and reality but the amalgam of your experiences--most of which would naturally be influenced by others. That just because your beliefs aligned with someone else's didn't mean that you hadn't made that decision on your own. That, if life was so torture, then why was Itch still alive? If he had strived to survive at any point in his life, then that meant he found value in it. A reason. That no one could be sure if death was an ending or a reprieve or anything like that, because no one could speak to the dead.

There was a lot of tragedy in the world. So many more types of people capable of acts of cruelty that Kokichi had never thought possible. But there were smiles and sunny days and jokes between friends and rollercoasters and fierce, protective love, and tender, appreciative love. There was so much love in the world. And if Itch couldn't see that...now that really was suffering.

Itch nodded. "Autonomy. Choice...another suckers’ game. If people could be trusted to make good decisions for themselves, we wouldn't have these problems now would we."

"But, alright. You're not swayed by my argument. Fine." Itch sighed, looking around at the dense forest around them. It wasn't as far from the roads as he wanted...but, again. A few hours was being generous. And who knew how long Kokichi would hold out. It would do for now. "A practical demonstration in the flaws of your belief system is in order then. Here, take a seat," Itch offered, placing Kokichi at the base of a tree. Taking a moment to look Kokichi over, Itch ran a thumb down his cheek, feeling the soft skin against his calloused thumb...before, indulging himself, he ran that same thumb over Kokichi's lower lip. Soft there too...shame this trip wasn't about other things... "Just remember. I'm doing this to help you," Itch assured him. "To help everyone who answers to you."

Standing up, Itch looked back at Tom and Aba, both who were looking increasingly excited. "Tom, you can talk again."

"Sweet." Tom smiled, spinning his knife between his fingers, staring at Kokichi hungrily. "I know I can't cut any pieces off since we need him to go back and do his job...but, like, do leaders really need all their toes or..."

"I wanna touch him..." Aba admitted, staring lustfully down at the prince, face flushed hot with arousal. "Do you think his dick scales down with the rest of him...that'd be okay...I could ride his tongue instead...it would feel really good..."

Itch looked at Aba sadly. He went up to her, looking over her and, to Aba's surprise, pulled her into a hug. Running his hand through her hair, he said to her, "Girl...you're something else, ya know that? Beautiful and fun, in your own fucked up way...I'm glad we let you live as long as we did."

Aba gave Itch a pleased, slightly enamored smile, some of her love for him shining through...before her brow furrowed a little. "...did?"

Itch sighed, before pushing her to Tom. Though surprised at this, Tom caught her easily, looking at Itch in confusion as he said, "Bro?"

Going to sit with Kokichi, picking him up and putting him on his lap, Itch said simply, "Tom, torture Aba until she dies. But don't let her die until Prince Kokichi says so."

Tom blinked at this...before simply saying, "Oh. Okay."

Then he grabbed her wrist and threw her to the ground.

Most people could make good decisions for themselves. Some people needed help every now and then, and that was what community was about. Almost in a funny way, the problems Itch was talking about resulted when people tried to take away others' autonomy. Like what he was doing. Again, mental hoops.

But this wasn't for Kokichi to argue, he was realizing. You must be intolerant of intolerance. You can't reason with people vying for genocide. Itch didn't actually want to debate. He didn't actually think he was helping people or wanting to help them. He just wanted to feel powerful destroying others and used a guise of calling others hypocrites when they engaged him in good faith. Really, a horrible tactic.

Kokichi's expression hardened when Itch touched along his face, and...he knew it wasn't Aba's fault, since she was on the spores, but...her comments made his skin crawl.

Though not as much as what Itch told--ordered--Tom to do.

...he wanted to call Itch out on his bullshit. But that's what Itch wanted. And you couldn't give Remnants what they wanted.

-

Katsuki ran. She wasn't exactly sure where she was running but...people like her became the thing people needed them to be. So she ran, and hoped to become the thing the person that was her needed her to be.

-

"I turned my back for one second..." Kaito whispered again, stitched hand in his hair, tugging at the roots. "..it...it wasn't long...I just wanted to get him some water..."

They had only managed to get two horses, Kaito riding behind Maki, Dr. Kimura riding behind Shuuichi. Hajime had stayed behind with Timothy, who had gone real quiet when it became increasingly clear that no one had any idea where Kokichi was.

Katsuki had just disappeared at some point. Maki...tried not to feel betrayed.

"Keep it together, Kaito!" Maki shouted over the noise of the horse running, only able to hear him at all because he was talking into her ear. "We'll find him! The store clerk said the carriage went down this path. It's not a path for carriages, so the track marks we're seeing have to be theirs. Shuuichi isn't wrong! They went this way! Just keep it together until we find them!"

Kaito nodded, closing his eyes and focusing on his breathing.

...he wasn't angry yet. Not yet. He was too scared to be angry. He kept having visions in his head of what they'd find. His husband, his sweet, peaceful, weak husband...he had just looked away for a second...

Kaito opened his eyes when they suddenly stopped, the horses crying out as Maki forced her own to a trot before stopping, Maki looking in bafflement at Shuuichi as the man just kept his horse still, looking around. "Shuuichi, the tracks keep going! We have to move! We're losing ground!!"

"...No, something..." Shuuichi looked around some more. Frustrated and frightened, but keeping his cool as cold, golden eyes scanned the area. "...something's different about this part of the road. It hasn't rained in a while. Every other part of the road so far has been packed in and dry. But here...dirt’s been moved, you see? And some of its clearly wet..."

"Is it to do with Kokichi?" Kaito asked, giving his boyfriend a desperate look, "Is he here?"

"...maybe..."

"We need BETTER than a maybe, Shuuichi!" Maki shouted, "Every second we waste they get farther away! Make a judgment call now! Explore here, or follow the tracks!?"

Shuuichi frowned...doing the math in his head...

-

"AHHHH, AHHHHHHHH, TOM PLEASE!!"

Itch watched, impassively, as Tom tore the skin from Aba's arm expertly. Little cuts in the skin, evenly spaced out, before putting the knife on its side and pulling... "He's good at that, isn't he?" Itch observed, watching as Aba could barely thrash under his pin, though she was clearly struggling with all her might to do so, "He's been doing that shit since we were kids. Started on animals. But, well, folks like him always do, don't they."

The blood had drained from Kokichi's face the moment Aba's came out of her body. The dizzying nausea returned tenfold. He had started to shake, unable to keep pulling at his restraints. He knew he couldn't debate this with Itch, it would be wasted energy, but he had still wanted to think of a way to...to stop this.

But even the most brilliant mind was no match for a life-long phobia.

Kokichi was sweating, his gaze unfocused, and he felt like he was going to pass out any second. Maybe it would've been easier for them all if he did. But he needed to think. There was always a way out...always...

Kokichi's nose started to drip.

-

Screams. There.

Katsuki changed direction, full-on sprinting through the woods like it was nothing but air. Death was not an option, and her prince needed her. The decision was simple.

-

"Man, you really are just gonna let her suffer, huh?" Itch sighed, settling in for a long performance. Tom could keep people alive for a long, long time. It was more fun for him, that way. "Well, at least you're keeping to your principles. Not that that's much use for Aba, but, ya know. That's just the unfortunate reality. Your principles aren't really about helping others, is it. They're just...what you thought was best. Unchanging, no matter the actual context."

"It's like the king. Good guy. Really good guy. Did a real good turn for me and my brother. Really saved us, honestly," Itch mused, not at all concerned for Aba's wails, Tom's blank face, the blood dripping out of Kokichi's nose and onto his arm. "...but him being a good guy didn't do you much good, did it? Not that way I hear it. His goodness was basically torture for you. But because he's a good guy in so many ways, of course then all the stuff he does got to be good, doesn't it? Even if that 'good thing' is keeping your own kid prisoner his entire life. But he was only trying to 'help'. And people can't argue with someone who’s only trying to help. All they can do is hope that that help doesn't turn around to hurt them next time while watching it destroy you...and everyone made sure you had to live with that. Whether you wanted to or not."

"And it sure as fuck didn't do much good to the people around me and Tom." Itch snorted, "That's the funny thing about being evil...or, being evil and knowing it, anyway. People tell ya things are good. That life is good. That ya live in a utopia...but you know the sheer fact that you're there means none of that is true. Me and Tom? We're all the evidence anyone should need, that things aren't right. Anywhere we are? There's the poison. There's the rot in the walls. Everyone else gets to pretend that the rot isn't there. That the foundation will hold...but as the source of it? I don't have that luxury. I can't pretend that the world is a good or worthy place to be. Because I'm still in it."

Itch looked down at Kokichi. At the color leaving his face. At the bleariness in his eyes...and sighed.

"You can pass out if you want too., Itch said. "Hell. According to Shuuichi, your heart condition could have you keel over any minute now. Oh well. If you die, then good for you. Enjoy your peace. But she-" Itch said, indicating to Aba, "-will still be waiting for your word...right up until she can't anymore. You dying won't end her suffering."

"Just so you know," Itch said, leaning back into the tree.

Itch's ego probably wouldn't be helped or hindered by a single thing Kokichi did, so maybe it was just fortunate for Kokichi's sanity that most of what he said was garbled by the blood rushing in Kokichi's ears and the sounds of his increasingly labored breaths rattling in his chest.

Though, he did catch a word that a detached part of him just laughed at. Utopia? Such a thing didn't exist, and those who thought it did were deluding themselves. Or were perhaps trying to feel superior by dismissing the work the people around them did.

There was no such thing as an ideal world because what "ideal" meant differed wildly from person to person. That was the foundation of Dicean internal policy. Everyone was different, wanted different things. On a grand scale, you cannot account and provide an ideal world for everyone. So, instead...you educate people. Give them the tools to create their own piece of peace. Help them realize that everyone is different and is just trying to create their piece of peace and that just allowing everyone that space to be themselves will make it all easier to do that.

Happiness could come in idle moments, but sustained happiness was work. It was not a passive state. It was constant vigilance and attention and compassion.

So, really, to say that no one in Dicea had to do work they didn't want to was a bit misleading. No one had to perform tasks of labor that they didn't want to, but the work to create happiness? Perhaps Itch and Tom craved oblivion because that's all they had in life. Such belief in static "good" and "evil" like people were things by nature and not by actions...

Still, none of that was at the forefront of Kokichi's mind as he trembled, darkness encroaching on his vision.

He didn't even startle when a blur of a figure burst through the thicket, launching Tom a good twenty feet back and tugging Kokichi back into the trees, away from the rest.

There was a brief moment where Tom wasn't even sure which way was up or down, as someone yanked at the back of his shirt and threw him bodily back into the forest, his trajectory only stopped once he hit a tree. Losing his breath on the impact, he blinked away big, black spots in his vision as he slid down the bark of the tree, his head pounding and his back aching already.

Torture Aba. Gotta torture Aba. Your limbs will stop working and the people in the dark will have their way with you.

Tom gritted his teeth, getting back up, moving determinedly back to Aba, who was curled into the ground, her body writhing as she held her battered and stripped arm against herself, sobbing. Tom could see her watching him approach, saw the way her legs moved slightly as if she might be able to crawl herself away from him...and saw the way she stilled, her terror-filled eyes still holding a hint of fascination. Of lust. Waiting for him to return. To hurt her more.

It took a lot of the fun out of hurting people, the pollen. That was why Tom found himself more annoyed by it than anything, usually. But in this case, he was grateful. He actually really liked Aba. He and Itch didn't make a lot of friends. If they were going to die (which of course they were. If the person who just threw them wasn't their demise, Maki was still coming. The only thing they really hoped to accomplish today was Itch just wanting to try to convince Kokichi to consider their ideals more seriously. Potentially give other RoD members a leg up in the future when it came to recruiting him. It was all a waste of time, as far as Tom was concerned, but whatever. It made his brother feel productive), Tom kinda wished it was like how they had thought since they had been traveling here: all together, all at once. Not Aba going first...and not by Tom's hands...

...But, well.

Ya had to listen to Itch.

Or the people in the dark would find you.

So Tom got himself back to Aba and, taking out his knife, gave her a sharp smile, filled with affection. "Sorry about that! Got interrupted! Let's keep going!"

And Aba started to cry harder, fear wracking her pain-riddled body, overwhelming and awful...and she still stared at Tom's knife, fascinated as she whispered, face bright red, eyed flashing pink under the sunlight, "It...it h-hurts so badly, T-Tom...c-could you touch me as you do it?"

Tom gave Aba an almost apologetic smile, before digging the knife into her skin again.

But as he did so, he stopped, hearing Itch cry out, "Tom, forget Aba! Retrieve Prince Kokichi and kill who took him!"

Tom sighed. Right. Sure. That was totally going to work. He had recognized that blur. It was the older assassin lady. The one entirely out of his league...like most assassins were. Literally any assassin not under the age of twelve. Fucking honestly...

Your limbs are going to stop working...

Fine.

"On it!” Tom called out, getting up and looking around, before following roughly where he had seen the blur go.

Itch watched his brother run after them and cursed. They should have had hours! How had they been found so fast!? Kokichi hadn't seen despair yet! He hadn't even come close! They needed more time!

Glancing over at Aba, Itch took off his sweater and passed it to her. "Put this around your arm, Aba. Guess you're living for a while longer. Sorry about that."

"...'s okay..." Aba said, her eyes hazy with pain, her whole body trembling as she looked up at Itch with open adoration, "...I love you..."

Itch glanced down at her in surprise...before saying, "Oh...uh...okay...kind of a weird time to have that conversation but, uh...I mean, it's not like I haven't seen that coming, but...shoot, I mean, look...you're great, but...I'm not really sure I feel the same way if I'm honest. Don't get me wrong, I really like you as a friend, but honestly, I'm not even sure if I can love anyone like tha-GAH!"

A dagger lodged itself squarely into Itch's back, and he immediately started to run, knowing he had to get out of here, knowing he was out of time...but before he had even made it a few feet, a body ran at him like a bull, and he felt a (wet?) hand grasp around his neck, and the dagger in his back ripped out of his skin as he was thrown backward into the dirt.

Staring up into light purple eyes, the Luminary Prince took the dagger and dug it into Itch's neck, and simply said, "Where's Kokichi?"

Maki came a few steps later, throwing a dagger into Itch's arm now, which had come up to try to punch Kaito off of him, but lost its impact after the weight of the dagger sent it off course, Itch crying out in pain as Maki ran up and stomped his arm back down to the ground, looking around warily, noting Aba curled into the floor but deciding she was a non-threat as she whispered to herself, "Where's the blond one?"

Even if he hadn't been tied up, Kokichi couldn't fight off this new person. He was trembling and panting and his head hurt, his chest was tight, but his metaphorical heart ached, wanting to let the play up, to weep for all these people and help he needed help-

"Sorry I'm late, sir. It won't happen again."

Kokichi blinked through the spots in his vision, only able to make a questioning sound around his labored breathing, but... Katsuki... He tried to tell her that Itch and Tom were dangerous, wouldn't be allayed by words, that there was a carriage of dead people sent off somewhere, that, that...

Somehow she got the gist of his blubbering, and she nodded. "Intel acquired. It's okay, Kokichi; you've finished your job."

Katsuki had planned to find Dr. Seiko Kimura and Mr. Shuuichi Saihara, leave Kokichi in their capable hands before returning to the others, but...

She suddenly turned, her hand whipping out to grab a wrist connected to a bloodied blade, and she turned the combatant's momentum against him, throwing his arm to the side, the rest of his body following. "Hello, again. It seems we have a conflict of interest."

Tom giggled high and loud as soon as he was stopped by his second tree of the day, having really thought for a second that maybe he'd catch her by surprise. Ouch. Man, he'd like to just lie down...but he immediately forced himself up, ignoring the worrying way he could hear a bone in his shoulder grind against a part of itself that had dislodged at the impact, though his adrenaline hadn't let the pain of it catch up to him yet.

Tom threw one of his blades on the way up, hoping maybe she wouldn't expect such a quick recovery, but just snorted and giggled some more when she literally just side-stepped it, his blade uselessly disappearing into the brush behind her. He didn't have enough blades to keep doing that, only two more on him, so he just looked between her and Kokichi for a moment before giggling again. "I don't suppose I can sell you on a doomsday cult that'll kill everyone you've ever met or cared about?" Tom asked sarcastically, blade twirling fitfully between his fingers. "We have a club! We don't have club jackets, but fuck, if that convinces you to let me have him, I can absolutely pitch it at the next dream meeting."

"Negative." Katsuki shook her head before regarding the young man with some pity. This one had given up on choices long ago. How unfortunate. Choices were what made life so fascinating. Worthwhile. The choice to be kind, the choice to feel that kindness from others. To look at yourself and actually see something there.

Keeping Kokichi securely in her arms, Katsuki offered Mr. Tom a smile that showed she already knew how he wanted this to end. "And I don't suppose you will submit to your arrest willingly. For the many levels of de-escalation, skipping is permitted when it comes to serial killers and genocide advocators. You will not see death as you wish, Mr. Tom."

After all, not everyone would die from the Remnants of Despair's plans. It was only aimed at humans, as far as her intel had discovered, and even then it did not kill all of them. Mr. Tom and Mr. Itch were not even briefed in their choice-less path. How tragic.

Taking initiative, Katsuki darted forward toward the awful assassin, aiming to knock him out. His official trial would be held in the capital, but the town had facilities to hold him until it was time.

"Tsk." Tom took a step back, knowing this was going to be hopeless, wanting to run...but he couldn't. He literally couldn't. Even just one step backward, away from her and Kokichi, sent a wave of exhaustion threw him, made his body stutter. He wished Itch was here. If his brother could just see how hopeless it was...

He needed to distract her, is what needed to happen. Tom glanced to the right, where she had left Kokichi, and let one of his last two knives fly, aiming for the barely conscious prince. He didn't have any hope it would land, but he darted to the left as he did so, hoping her blocking the shot would be enough to give him at least another shot of getting one into her back.

As he leapt to the left, not able to take the time to see if the distraction had even worked, he raised his arm to take his shot and-

Tom's eyes widened as he shot forward, the impact of the dagger at his back knocking the senses from him as he crumbled into the ground. He knew he was done, he already knew he was done, but he still scrambled to stand as soon as his face hit the dirt, alarms ringing in his head, he had to get up, he had to run, she was here-

But before he could pull himself up, Maki was on his chest, knees on either side, murder in her eyes as she raised her dagger to bring it down into one of his eyes.

Katsuki didn't favor throwing knives. Too easy to cause unnecessary injury. They could be helpful for zoning, but even then, there were other methods for that. However, years of practice didn't disappear simply because you didn't use the skill.

Katsuki threw the knife Mr. Tom had thrown before, knocking the knife flying at Kokichi away to safely clatter to the ground, resuming her lunge at the man before...ah. Okay. He would need to be taken to a healer before a holding cell, then.

Holding Miss Maki's wrist firmly, Katsuki didn't try to talk to the woman before she reached around and pressed into a particular nerve in Tom's neck, frowning at the location of the dagger in his back. "...status of Mr. Itch?"

Maki gave Katsuki an annoyed look, frustrated to be stopped before her kill...before she shrugged. "Don't know. Left him with Kaito the second we got him to point in a direction."

Ah. Kaito Momota might require assistance, then. And Mr. Itch would definitely require assistance.

Giving a nod, Katsuki stood, still for a moment as she listened to the world around them before locating her next objective. Collecting Tom's knives, pocketing them, and picking up Kokichi, Katsuki returned to Maki's side, offering up the prince. "Please deliver Kokichi and Mr. Tom to Dr. Seiko Kimura. They require medical attention. I will dissipate the other altercation and return to point ASAP."

Kokichi trembled, his eyes closed at this point, but still conscious as he sputtered and coughed through the blood running down his face.

Maki collected Kokichi, frowning at the blood running down his face, before sighing. Right. Okay, so according to the healer she had grilled, it was just...pinch the soft part of his nose and keep his head down so it wouldn't go down his throat...kay...she couldn't do that and carry them both at the same time, but she had a firm hair clip...let's try...

It looked a little silly, but Maki clasped one of the little butterfly hair clips that she had been wearing in her pigtails onto the top, soft part of his nose, before just straight up using the front of her blouse to clean up the blood from his nose and chin. The healer had also said to put something cold against his nose, but Maki didn't have that option right now, so this would have to do.

Placing Kokichi on her hip, she rested his chin against her shoulder, not concerned about the trickle of blood pouring lightly down her back, as she gave Tom an annoyed look. It'd be much easier to kill him here and bury him. And, honestly, she didn't even really want to bury him. Just leave him here for the woods to collect on. But...too many eyes were watching.

So, annoyed at everything, Maki hefted Tom up on her other shoulder, saying to the bleary Kokichi, "It's okay. Shuuichi and Dr. Kimura are nearby. This won't take long." She promised. Heading out.

-

Three of Itch's fingers were broken and one of his eyes had swollen shut, and honestly, Kaito was a little unimpressed that that was all it took. After all, Aba was the one with her arms in shreds that looked much more like it hurt, and she was fussing over Itch, as much as she could from the trunk that Kaito had warned her to stay at. She had tried to get up once, mocking Kaito's serious tone, but he had grabbed her hair and smashed her face into the tree and she hadn't left the spot again.

Kaito was waiting for Maki to come back with Kokichi. Spinning one of her daggers in his hand as he watched Itch. Thinking to himself.

He felt weirdly numb, honestly.

He had thought the rage would come when he actually found them, but fear was still winning out over it. He just wanted to see Kokichi. See for himself that he was alright. Aba had insisted they had barely touched him, but Itch refused to say anything about it, and that worried Kaito. He just wanted Kokichi to be okay.

After that though...

Kaito idly played with the dagger in his hands, watching Itch glare at him and try to breathe through the swelling in the side of his face.

"...Kokichi liked you," Kaito said. Feeling tired. "So did I."

"I should have killed ya then," Itch responded. Looking just as tired. Something defeated in his gaze. "Killing a Momota...fuck, I could have died happy, knowing I at least accomplished that. Gave up my shot trying to pursue the greater good. Fucking shows what I know."

"...you hurt Shuuichi."

"When? Had a few conversations with the guy, gave him a drink..." Itch suddenly sneered, chuckling as he said, "Maybe felt him up a little. Bitch is pretty...fuck, so is the prince. Fucking gave up my shot at that too, trying to get him to see reason...should have taken it. I bet he's real tigh-HRK."

Kaito watched, impassively, as Itch tried to fight off his hands. It hurt to hold him like this. Kaito's stitches had finally popped awhile back.

"...I really want you to die," Kaito admitted. Still not feeling the rage yet. Still tired. Still worried. Just..staring at someone who objectively deserved to die, more than anything, as he tightened his grip around Itch's throat. "Back in my kingdom, you'd already be dead...and no one would be surprised. For you? No one would even care. You're not anything to anyone. Not there. Not here, either. Just a deadly annoyance. Barely worth the time it'll take to kill you, but the world would still be slightly better when I'm done."

Kaito tightened his grip. Aba said nothing, but watched, fascinated and intrigued. Wondering if she was about to see the light leave Itch's eyes. Repulsed and frightened and grieving at the idea. Entirely thrilled and aroused at that grief.

He could do it...it wouldn't take much. He wouldn't get away with it, but maybe that would be okay. Itch had taken his husband. Maybe hurt him. Definitely frightened him. Maybe it was worth all the harm that could come to Kaito...to ensure this piece of shit wasn't here anymore...

Kaito seriously considered it...then loosened his grip.

It would make Kokichi sad.

And for his husband’s happiness? Kaito was willing to do things he believed were truly, objectively wrong.

So he let go of Itch's neck and allowed him to live. And waited for Maki to bring his husband back to him.

Kokichi weakly huddled against Maki, just trying to keep breathing, the ropes around him having loosened at some point, enough for him to pull his arms around to his front. To weakly grasp the back of her blouse and just...take comfort in the fact that they'd found him. It was too late for Brent and his family and...it would probably be a long time before Kokichi would be able to forgive himself for that.

And while it wasn't physically too late for Tom and Itch and Aba...he wondered if it was spiritually too late. A deadline that was likely years past. He still couldn't understand what made them choose selfish cruelty and misery, but...if they couldn't be swayed...

...it had been a long, long time since the last execution. But at least they could make it peaceful for the brothers and their friend, could clean up any last piece of business they wanted to take care of. Better than being beaten to death in the woods, at least. Even if that might be what they wanted.

Kokichi gagged, a violent tremor shaking his body as he pressed against Maki.

-

It didn't take long for Katsuki to find the other group and...she was pleasantly surprised by what she found. A woman with a flayed arm, a man beaten and slumped against a tree, but undoubtedly alive, and Kaito Momota, standing somberly above them with a bloodied hand. Kokichi would be proud.

Nodding to Kaito, Katsuki started her report. "Kokichi is secured, Mr. Tom is subdued. Miss Maki is delivering them to Dr. Seiko Kimura and Mr. Shuuichi." Looking curiously over who she assumed to be Mr. Itch and Miss Aba, Katsuki asked them, "Will you come willingly? You will receive medical attention before your arrests."

Itch rolled his eyes. This was all lost and he knew it. He could try to run for it but he wouldn't make it far. And...without Tom?

Itch was so tired. So tired. He had tried so hard...and nothing had worked. None of it. The brewery had been a bust. The organization he believed in had casually abandoned him. He hadn't managed to set anyone up for success in the future either.

Failed. He had failed in every single way.

Life was just going to...go on. Itch felt his stomach twist in grief at that idea. Nothing was going to stop. Nothing was going to end...just endless pain and suffering and fear...new kids being born every day who'd be tossed into the world just to feed peoples insatiable need to watch them suffer...everyone was doomed. He had failed. He hadn't even come close.

Itch felt his eyes start to burn, the real weight of his failures really starting to hit him now. Failed. He had failed. And now they'd make an example out of him. Dissuade others to the call. One of the few Remnants of Despair in Dicea, and he had failed so miserably...and now his fate would be in their hands...and what if they continued the torture? What if...

Itch growled, eyes shooting to the dagger that Kaito had dropped onto the ground to choke Itch with his bare hands. He lunged for it, grabbing the dagger and tried to cut at his own throat, digging into the skin. Kaito took a step back, concern about his access to a weapon, but not at all concerned about saving his life. Aba started to laugh...

And Itch could feel tears start to spill when the dagger was ripped from his hand.

Another failure to add to the list.

Katsuki pocketed this dagger as well, just regarding Mr. Itch for a moment. Someone who had been gifted existence and spat in its face, calling it a curse. Making nothing of the opportunities afforded to them. Kokichi was kind. Incredibly kind, often to people who didn't deserve it...but to people who needed it.

But Katsuki didn't think much about morality or karma or anything like that. She was who she needed to be--someone who made something of the existence they'd been gifted. So, picking Miss Aba up, trying not to jostle her arm, she just shook her head. "If you believe life is a curse, then this is a fitting punishment, isn't it."

They headed back to the others.

-

Maki did find Seiko and Shuuichi quickly, having left them back by the road to keep the horses ready, in case Shuuichi's guess was wrong and they needed to head back out quickly. Shuuichi had spent a long time now going over and over the facts in his head, reassuring himself that no, no...it was entirely possible they were here...he hadn't doomed his boyfriend...he hadn't made a mistake...the circle symbol in the dirt was too deliberate to be a coincidence...

But the sheer relief that washed over him when he saw Kokichi in Maki's arms almost made him collapse, and the only thing that stopped him from running to fuss over him was knowing he'd get in Dr. Kimura's way.

"Where's Kaito?" Shuuichi did ask though, not seeing his other boyfriend following behind her, concern once again ramping up in him. Had something-

But Maki spoke up before his imagination could run away from him, saying simply, "He and Katsuki are going to bring Aba and Itch down in a minute. Ugh. We're going to have to get three uncooperative people to the guards, along with the five of us already, on two horses...this is going to be a nightmare," Maki muttered, dropping Tom onto the ground without much ceremony.

Seiko rushed over to Kokichi, quickly taking in his state, taking his pulse and temperature and pressing a cloth under his nose and freeing him the rest of the way from the ropes around him, glaring at the things as if she had a personal vendetta against them. "Minor rope burn...nothing dislocated, no lacerations. His nose isn't broken, so this is a natural nosebleed...I don't suppose you know how long it's been going on for?"

Kokichi was barely aware of anything, just making quiet, indistinct sounds that sounded a lot like whimpers. But, as long as they stopped his nosebleed, he'd be alright. She would have to check for head trauma once he was awake and aware, but for now...

Seiko looked over her shoulder to nod Shuuichi over, already crouching by Tom and...yeah, she could temporarily stitch him up until they got to a clinic. "Just keep his head forward, the clip works for pressure. Kokichi will be alright."

By the time--which really wasn't that long at all--the other group met up with them, Seiko just sighed at the state of...well, all of them besides Katsuki. But...the woman in the guard's arms was undoubtedly the worst off. The amount of blood seeping through the sweater... "This woman needs to be taken to a clinic immediately. U-um..."

Seiko looked at everyone in the group, trying to figure out a way to do this... It was like that old brainteaser, trying to ferry wolves and chickens and grain across a river... "Miss Okuniji? Please take one of the horses and take the woman with you to the clinic in town. Then... Oh...Prince Kaito, here..."

While Katsuki immediately got on her orders, Seiko approached the Luminous Prince and wrapped up his hand, murmuring about replacing stitches when they got back to town. "If you feel stable enough...I think you should hold Kokichi and take the other horse back. The rest of us will walk...er..."

She pressed her lips together, regarding the awake kidnapper with a hard expression. "I would advise against running. You can carry your associate if you wish, otherwise one of us will."

Itch considered Tom, a little concerned over his unconscious state...before sighing. Heading over to pick him up.

Maki beat him to it though, literally standing over him as she said, "No. That's not how we're doing this. Dr. Kimura can advise, but I want to ensure."

In her hands, she was holding the bindings that had been taken off Kokichi.

Itch allowed it to happen, wincing and shaking as his very broken hand was bound to his still good one behind his back, the line at the end left long so that Maki could hold it like a leash. She then reached down and picked up Tom again in the same way she had before, hefting him over her shoulder.

Ichiro watched her do this...something in his heart breaking at the sight. Maki holding Tomo...some part of him realized how badly he had missed her. How scary the world had been without her...he wanted to tell her. To see the recognition in her eyes. To have her reach out and tell him it was going to be okay...that he was strong enough to make it through...

But he swallowed the feeling down...she wouldn't care. That was the hard truth. Ichiro was a little kid she had wanted to see survive into his teen years, who had wept to her, afraid every day that this was the day he was going to mess up and swallow the wrong thing, that his mentor would just stand by and watch him choke and die. Itch? Itch was a death cult follower, and not even a particularly good one.

It would hurt, to see her recognize them...and still not care.

So he swallowed the hurt down and followed where her line led.

Kaito, in turn, quietly went to get Kokichi when Seiko offered him to him. Taking his husband into his arms and...feeling his heart sink at the whimpers, some of that numbness that he had been fighting with since they had first started the chase falling away, letting out the emotion that the numbness had come to protect him from in the first place.

Big, wet tears filled Kaito as, all at once, the guilt and terror hit him, and he clutched Kokichi to himself, his whole body shaking as he whispered to him between the little gasps of sobs, "It's okay, it's okay, 'Kichi, Kokichi, I'm here. I'm right here. I'm so sorry. I'm gonna get you home, okay? We're going home. I'm so sorry, I love you, I'm right here, I'm going to take you home."

Kaito just clutched at his husband for a moment, sobbing his fear into Kokichi's hair, so scared, so relieved that he wasn't hurt, that he wasn't dead. "So sorry, so sorry, so sorry...I've got you. I've got you, babe..."

It took some coaxing from Shuuichi, but eventually, Kaito calmed down and did as Dr. Kimura instructed, taking the horse. He made the ride as gentle as he could, aiming to get back to the beach house. He kept a firm grip around Kokichi's waist, afraid to let go of him even a little. And as they rode, Kaito whispered and murmured to him little assurances. Apologies. Desperate declarations of love. "It's okay, Kokichi. Everything's okay..."

-

Everything was quiet.

They'd gotten back into town and had found a couple guards waiting for them with a healer who, after some convincing, took Itch and Tom to receive treatment, one guard explaining to Maki that each of the three wanted peoples would be kept in separate holding cells and would be taken to the capital separately for their trials. It was cruel, but it was better than sedating them the whole time. Somehow, the guard got the impression that Maki didn't think the measures were severe enough.

Kokichi's nosebleed had stopped and he'd eventually fallen asleep, more than exhausted by everything that had happened. Seiko sat at his side with Kaito as she took out the popped stitches, cleaned his hand, and closed the wounds again.

When Kokichi had woken up, he'd softly explained everything to Kastuki, and soon thereafter, two groups from the local guardforce were sent out. One to track down a missing carriage, and one to a beach house, asking for a woman named Barbara, and...I'm so sorry, ma'am, but may we speak with you in private for a moment...?

Evening had left Kokichi curled up in a blanket, his head hazy from some medicine Seiko had given him, a tweak of his usual medicine, meant more to ease the stress his body had undergone, and his half-lidded eyes staring at the ground, far away with a deep sorrow in them.

No one could get Kaito to take more than a few steps away from Kokichi.

When Kokichi was being looked over by Dr. Kimura, he hovered nearby. As his husband came in and out of sleep, Kaito sat on the bed beside him. Their plans to leave tonight had been dismissed. The worst-case scenario had happened anyway, regardless of Maki's plans to keep their travel pattern unpredictable. They weren't sure if they were leaving the next day either. No one wanted to rush anything.

Now it was late and Kaito didn't know what to do.

He listened to the grief in Kokichi's voice when he talked about the family that had originally taken him. Kaito felt no love lost for them...but he still wished he had killed Itch after all. For putting his husband through that.

Kokichi hadn't said anything in a while now, and Kaito didn't know what to say.

It was quiet and still for a long time. There was no indication anything had changed, but Kokichi shifted a bit, sitting on his side to lean against Kaito. Still not saying anything, still not looking at anything, still wrapped up in a blanket to try and make up for the chill in his body, but...against Kaito now.

There was so much Kokichi could say. About how Aiichi probably would never let him leave the city again. About how...it was probably likely that Itch and Tom would be executed. About how he was scared that he might not be there when his daddy returned home. About how the Brockmans had called Kaito a monster. About how scared Brent had been, how he had never wanted any of this to happen. About all the things Kokichi didn't tell Itch, since he had a feeling it'd just get him killed right away. About Aba's screams.

Instead of any of those things that made him feel like they'd swallow him whole, Kokichi whispered, "...I never got to win you a prize..."

Kaito felt his eyes immediately start to burn at that, and he knew that Kokichi didn't always like this, but he couldn't help himself. He scooped his husband into his lap and held him close and said, "I don't want a fucking fish anyway. I should have never left you alone."

Kokichi felt tears well up in his eyes, something he'd probably needed to do for hours but hadn't been able to do until now. He tucked his face against Kaito's chest and let them fall, not sobbing, but punctuated by soft sniffles and gentle hitches in his breath. "You should've been able to..."

Kokichi had had his view of the world shaken and battered, he knew of things he'd never been able to believe before, but...there was still a part of him that just...didn't understand. The emptiness in Itch and Tom, but also the blind self-righteousness that led people to believe a kidnapping was the best course forward. The cowardice that led to silence that allowed injustice to be carried out. How...had all these people been failed?

He didn't understand.

"I w-was so scared..." Kokichi sniffled against his husband. "They wouldn't listen...p-put a gag in my mouth...you a-and Maki would've... ...they were going to kill Aba...it didn't matter that they loved her... I-I don't..."

Kaito put his legs up. A long time ago, when he had been afraid of Kokichi possibly committing suicide, he had done the same move. Essentially putting Kokichi in a cage of Kaito's body, trying to keep him safe from both the things inside of him and outside of him.

Then, he had gripped too tightly and had to stop. Now, he kept it gentle. Just wanting Kokichi to feel like he was safe. To know Kaito had him.

Kaito didn't have any good answers for the things his husband was saying. He knew what Kokichi was asking, but...Kaito didn't really understand why people did things like that. Just knew that people got these ideas in their heads, ideas that took hold, and ran like a train through their psyche and...sometimes you were just tied down to the tracks. And there was nothing you could do to save yourself. You could only watch the train coming, and just wonder to yourself what you had done to deserve it...and hope you'd survive the wheels.

None of that felt right to say though. That was the sort of thing you said to people over beers, pondering life. It wasn't what you said to someone who just had every form of trust they had in people shattered in one afternoon.

He and Maki would have...?

Kaito closed his eyes. "I'm sorry..." He hesitated...not really wanting to say this but...he continued on, "I'm sorry we made you scared of us. Scared of me. I wanted to make you feel safe...I know she does too...but we just made all this harder on you. I'm so sorry."

"I was scared..." Kokichi whispered again before tilting his head up to place a small kiss on the bottom of Kaito's neck, feeling comforted by the snug warmth of his husband enveloping him. "But you guys didn't kill anyone. It doesn't bring them back, but...a-at least it wasn't you..."

Kokichi had been what he thought was rightfully terrified of what Maki and Kaito would do to the Brockmans, but against Itch, Tom, and Aba? They would've... But the three of them were alive. In custody and probably still in urgent care, but...alive. A broken arm and a stab wound were...comparatively tame. The worst injury between the three of them had been Aba's arm.

Really, Maki and Kaito, and Katsuki had a large hand in it, they had likely saved Kokichi's and Aba's lives. And, later, he would be endlessly proud and thankful for that. But for now...Itch was right. It wasn't enough. That didn't mean he would stop trying or would swing the other way and make things horrible, but...he didn't know what the next steps would be.

For Luminary, he had something of a plan, if only to just wait and learn. But...this was Dicea, and they had been Diceans. What was he supposed to do to fix the holes in the system that had allowed this?

How was he going to be able to face his people with open arms if some just wanted to end everything meaninglessly?

Kokichi hiccupped against his husband, feeling small and afraid and like he'd let everyone down.

Kaito sighed, running his fingers through Kokichi's hair.

At least it wasn't him...

He knew he wanted to kill those people. And...he honestly thought he should have. The Brockmans. The brew squad. Just...anyone who dared to make Kokichi feel small and afraid. Why keep them alive? Even beyond the practicality of their lives...Kaito felt like he was just...wrong to leave them alive. Immoral.

Because in Kaito's mind, vengeance, as a concept, wasn't immoral...or, at least, he hadn't been raised to believe it was. And he had never been forced to think that hard about it, as Luminary’s society reinforced and rewarded that idea (though, like everything in Luminary, the rules were heavily skewed in favor of the elite). As Itch had said...it was something so irrevocably true that it was just reality, to Kaito, rather than philosophy. If someone hurt someone you cared about, you had a moral obligation to seek vengeance for them. To not do so simply meant you didn't care about that person as much as you thought you did.

...which was why Kokichi's, and most of Dicea's, mindset was so hard to get Kaito's head around. His beliefs sounded like actual madness. An unwillingness to follow the literal basic rules of reality.

But, again. All of that was the wrong observation for this moment. Kaito wouldn't say any of this to Kokichi now...maybe wouldn't say it ever. He didn't know. He had told himself before he wouldn't say things to his husband, but when push came to shove, he did. And there were other things he had wanted specifically to say to Kokichi, and...he just hadn't been able to. He wasn't sure why. He just couldn't.

Probably because it would hurt him. And Kaito was so tired of seeing his husband hurt. He'd really just...rather not see Kokichi hurt ever again.

Kaito ran his hands through Kokichi's hair, still just...not sure what to say...before saying, "Everything you went through today? ...all of that was terrifying. Nothing like what happened to you today has ever happened to me...I have no idea how you're coping right now...you're so incredibly strong..."

"It doesn't feel like coping..."

While everything had been happening, Kokichi had been afraid, sure, but...he had been fueled with the knowledge that one wrong move would get people killed. Or...more people killed. If he had allowed himself to cry and panic and shout and rage at people who were choosing to fail literally the easiest rule of coexistence...so much more could've been lost.

But now, in the quiet of the evening, Kaito curled around him in a protective shield...there wasn't more to lose at this moment, so he had to face what was lost. And it hurt. And they weren't even his family. Right now, there were children being told that they'd never see their parents or big brother or uncle again and...

(He didn't know the other Brockmans, really, but...Brent would never graduate. Would never finish his comic book. Would his friend finish it in his stead? If Brent had tried to flirt with someone else instead...would this still have happened?)

The loss of life always hurt. It was inevitable, people would eventually die, but when it wasn't from something like old age... Each person had a world of potential in them. And when they died...the world missed out because of it.

So Kokichi mourned. For the misguided Brockmans, for the people Tom and Itch could've been if they'd been helped earlier. For what Aba's life would become, if she would be able to take Dr. Kimura's anti-spore medication.

"...it just feels like failure..."

Kaito's brow furrowed, confused by this. "...you know...nothing that happened today was your fault. It's not a..." Kaito sighed, resting his head against Kokichi's, "...it's not a personal failure, to be hurt by someone...by people."

"And I think you're coping, because...I don't know. I don't know what I would do in your spot. I feel like I'd lose my mind. Be acting crazy and irrational. Literally screaming at the world or..." Kaito shrugged. His eyes distant and tired, "...maybe running from it, in some way. But here you are. Grieving but...you're not acting strange or irrational or frightening. You're just sad...that's coping. Isn't it? I think you should give yourself credit for that...it's not how everyone reacts to trauma..."

Kokichi pressed against Kaito more, shaking his head a bit. "...I know... And it's not a failure to be hurt...but...they're the people I'm supposed to protect. And, for that...I failed."

He knew to the literal point he wasn't to blame, and...Kokichi wasn't even sure if he would've been able to do a single thing differently. They had been adamant in spreading information about the end of the war, that Luminary had signed a treaty and they were to treat each other as allies. Family and friends would return home, and healing could begin, Dicea protected. Kokichi had tried to warn the Brockmans about what would happen, and they had ignored him. Itch had spoken of Aiichi's kindness, so...it wasn't as if he and Tom had been ignored by society.

Kokichi didn't know what else he could've done...and everything had fallen apart anyway. ...but maybe that's the way things were sometimes. So...you just had to do what you could to make it happen less often, or with less severe consequences.

...none of that would bring back the dead.

Kokichi shrugged a little, bringing up a shaky hand so he wouldn't smear snot on Kaito's shirt. "Might cope differently later...I dunno. But...thank you for staying with me..."

"You can, if you want," Kaito said quietly. "I can handle it. I'll stay. If you want to scream or hit or be frightening. It's better you do it with me, in private, than where other people can see and judge you. I won't judge. I can wait it out, if you want to be insane for a little bit...now or later or...whenever...I love you. You won't scare me away."

"Thank you...I love you," Kokichi whispered into Kaito's chest, going quiet for a bit again as his tears continued to roll down his cheeks. In the worst moments of his life...mostly Kokichi just cried. Curled up somewhere small and dark and cried his heart out, sometimes wishing that he'd never been born, sometimes furious that the world wasn't an inherently kinder place. Almost always scared.

And then he'd tire himself out and fall asleep. Sometimes that state would push on him for days or weeks. Sometimes he'd succumb right away, sometimes he'd push through, because life didn't stop while he was still trying to accept it, and then he'd end up even sicker. You might call it a cycle, but...it wasn't a cycle of pain. It was of growth and love. Because every time Kokichi found himself in that small, dark place...there were new memories that would help him stand back up when he was ready. And now there were new people too.

Kokichi's eyes were closed but he hadn't fallen back asleep just yet. "Even if you think and do things that scare me sometimes...I'm really lucky to have met you, Kaito. I love you a lot... How's your hand?"

Kaito shrugged, loosening his grip on Kokichi a little bit to glance down at his hand, at the fresh new stitches Seiko had given him a few hours earlier. "I'll be okay. It'll heal."

Both his arms would heal eventually. That was the nice thing about physical injuries. You could usually expect them to heal, even if the limb never...quite worked right again, afterwords, not the way it did. Which Seiko had warned him, if he kept this up, his hand might just...not. But he'd manage. And one day he'd be so used to it that he'd forget it had ever worked any other way. It was fine.

Kaito looked down at Kokichi, saw the tell-tale signs of his husband on the verge of nodding off. Kissing softly at his forehead, he said, "You can go to sleep if you want to. I'm looking after you. Things look a little better in the morning."

"...mmkay." Kokichi wasn't sure if he'd fall asleep any time soon, but... really all he felt like doing...or was capable of doing was curling up in his husband's arms and allowing the grief and anger to toss him about. Trusting that Kaito would be there to hold him and prevent his tears from drowning him.

The others were around somewhere. He hoped Maki was spending some time with Tim. Again...he knew it wasn't really his fault, but Kokichi still felt, just...horrible for cutting off another good day for the kid. He...wouldn't be surprised if Tim resented him for this. He wanted to make it up to him, but it felt like every time he tried, something happened to crash everything down again.

...things, if not better, were usually clearer in the morning. Kokichi could start worrying again then.

Nuzzling into Kaito's chest, Kokichi sighed softly. "...if Shuu-chan comes by while I'm asleep, tell him I love him. 'n if Maki-chan does, tell her thank you."

Kaito didn't think either of his friends would visit tonight, but that was only because Maki would be paranoid about security tonight, and Shuuichi would...well, usually he'd be helping her. But with his medicine...yeah, he'd actually probably be asleep.

But, still. Kaito promised he would. And waited patiently for the familiar sounds of Kokichi sleeping.

...

He should...write a letter to Byakuya...there was so much that needed to be explained. He didn't want any misunderstandings. He had no idea what this incident was going to look like to Luminary. He should try to do damage control, while there was still time.

...

Tomorrow. He'd find time tomorrow. It'd be okay. He didn't want to let go of Kokichi for now. Rest with his husband tonight. Letter tomorrow...and talking to the guards...managing Maki's ramped up paranoia...Shuuichi's variety of issues...getting everything ready to leave for the castle and...

...who knew what that was going to look like...

Kaito felt a wave of fear run through his stomach and sighed. It was okay. They'd manage. Everything would be okay. Even if things were temporarily...tougher...they'd get through it. Everything would be okay.

-

The next four days were both painfully still and horrifically busy.

It was a lot of waiting, honestly. Waiting to give accounts, mostly. Then an hour of sometimes emotional retellings. At least Kaito's had been emotional. He had felt far less chill, his second time to the community center. His nerves frayed by everything that had happened the day before. Just constantly worried about Kokichi.

The second day, they had finally been given the go-ahead to leave, and leaving the city was...more somber and relieving than it should have been. Their vacation kind of...

Well. They were glad it was done.

After that, it was just two days of relative quiet. It wasn't that things were awkward. It was just...there was a general layer of anxiety over everyone that no one could really bring themselves to acknowledge. Maki's worried anger was getting worse, having clearly taken it personally that Kokichi was kidnapped under her watch. Her efforts to keep watch doubled on the trip back and Kaito was fairly certain she hadn't slept once the entire time.

Timothy had gotten...quiet. Almost as quiet as he had been when Kaito had first met him. He still took care of Chase faithfully, but he didn't really play with her, instead just sort of sitting and watching her play on her own. A distant, far-away look on his face that Kaito didn't know how to begin to approach, with everything else going on.

Hajime also appeared generally stressed, in the same way Maki was. A lot had happened, essentially, 'under his watch', and the housekeeper clearly wasn't sure what to make of all of it. Obviously he wasn't part of any sort of security detail to protect royalty from actual death cult terrorists. It wasn't his job description...but he still felt responsible. He didn't argue, with Maki's often over-zealous plans to keep them safe. He just nodded his head and asked what she needed him to do.

Shuuichi...in a lot of ways, Kaito was actually proud of Shuuichi right now. In the wake of the chaos and uncertainty that had entered their collective group, Shuuichi had doubled down in his attempts to be a stable presence. To not be a burden. He had tried to volunteer to help with the watches, but Maki had firmly shut that down, still not trusting him to be on his own. It had almost become a fight, but...Shuuichi had eventually backed down and just tried to offer help in other ways. He made food and helped keep things clean and was a calm, non-judging listening ear for a lot of people on the trip. And he didn't complain about his own issues. He was starting to feel...a little sick. Kind of all the time now. But he was pretty sure it was just all the stress of everything going on, and he refused to bring it up with anyone, not wanting to add to the collective misery.

As for Kokichi, Seiko, and Katsuki...

If there was something to be thankful for, it was that Kokichi hadn't gotten sick from the stress of everything that happened. Still, Seiko checked in with him regularly...as she did with all of them, really. Some of them suspected that she was only checking in with them to make the others feel better about their actually needed conditions, but...she did have a reason. Even if not all of them had been directly involved, it was still a traumatic event, and she didn't want anything to slip through the cracks.

So she made sure that Kokichi's body wasn't giving out on him, that Kaito's hand was holding up, that Maki was getting chances for micro-naps if she wasn't going to sleep, that Shuuichi wasn't having any new side effects from his medicine or dwindling amounts of spores, and...well, the others had a more general check-in, but she still kept an eye on them.

Katsuki didn't pretend to sleep this time. Tom's knives had been confiscated, but Katsuki knew Maki would feel that much better to have her full set back, and she had returned the dagger that evening. Before taking watch, she'd always let the others catch a glimpse of her before disappearing, wanting them to have that much more evidence that she was looking out for them.

She was skilled but...she wasn't an omniscient god. She had allowed the wrong mission to take precedence, and people had paid for that mistake. That was what mission failure meant. Katsuki knew she wouldn't receive punishment, so...she would simply have to not allow her attention to stray from this group. Even more when the trio still in custody in the coastal town arrived in the capital.

And Kokichi...

Kokichi was quiet on the trip back. He stared out the window most of the time, but if he felt any wonder at the sight, it didn't show on his face. He just listened to Kaito talk when it was their turn to drive the caravan, commenting much less frequently than he usually did.

He was...not looking forward to their homecoming.

Letters and reports had already been sent, of course. The Dicean Postal Service was second to none. Aiichi had been waiting for them when the caravans pulled up in front of the castle and...

...Kokichi hated the fear he saw in his father's eyes. The relief. The resolve. He'd seen that look countless times over the course of his life, but he had only really noticed the last thing before. How many times had Aiichi remarked that trouble found Kokichi whether he was looking for it or not? Kokichi found himself agreeing with his father.

Murmuring that he wanted to unpack, Kokichi had fled to their room and...flopped face-first on the bed. Toeing off his shoes before crawling more on top of it, breathing in the familiar scent of the bedding.

Kaito was slower following Kokichi up the stairs, only a few steps behind his husband, but...well, they were back. And at least it hadn't been as bad as Kaito had feared. He...didn't know what he expected to happen, but...

...well, okay. He knew what he had been afraid of. He had been afraid of coming back and immediately being called away to talk to important people behind locked doors. Dumb. That didn't...happen here.

He had been afraid of the king immediately declaring as soon as Kokichi was back that he would never be allowed to leave again. That might still be an issue, but...it had been a comfort not to hear it immediately. And Kaito was still determined that if this was the case, it wouldn't stay the case. They couldn't keep Kokichi locked up. Not on Kaito's watch. He'd put up a fight on his husband’s behalf. He'd...he'd deal with the discomfort of arguing with a king if it meant Kokichi could keep his freedom.

But that was a potential future problem, apparently. No one had brought it up yet.

There had been an...uncomfortable moment when they had first arrived, where Shuuichi had quietly, guilt in his eyes, asked Kaito and Kokichi to not...tell anyone or do anything with him at the castle. About their relationship.

"I..." Shuuichi had hidden under his cap, his hands shaking as he confessed, "I'm just not ready for...her to know or guess or...I...I'm sorry..."

And once again, Kaito had found himself wanting to fight Nao. Hell, now he wanted to fight her for...almost entirely different reasons. But...that wouldn't help anything. So Kaito had just begrudgingly promised he wouldn't and had tried not to let that hurt in him show when Shuuichi looked notably relieved.

And now they were back in the castle...surrounded by people that made Kaito feel uncomfortable and defensive and... and...well...whatever.

At least he'd get to visit his shrine later. He wanted to put his posters up.

But for now, he followed Kokichi back into their room and, putting down their luggage, sighed...before blinking in surprise.

"Looks like someone replaced the vanity desk," Kaito observed.

Kokichi rolled his head to the side, noting the new desk. It looked quite a bit like his old one but was clearly a different design. Then he looked around and...no sign of his work supplies. So...someone had likely put them away. Good thing he'd taken his candy stash.

Pushing himself up from bed, Kokichi went over to their luggage and dug around for his candy bag, going over to tuck it into the drawer in the desk. "...should find out who. Thank them, at the least, and I wanna try and pay for as much as they'll let me. ...was nice of 'em."

Kokichi just looked around their room for a moment, comforted by its familiarity, though...something in him twinged when he looked over the letters pinned to his walls. What had been his only vision of the rest of his country for so long... He just stood in the middle of their room, as if unsure what to do before he looked over at Kaito. "Wanna take dinner up here tonight?"

Kaito nodded, a little relieved. "Yeah. I can go down and ask someone to bring it up at dinner in a bit. Let me just start unpacking and I'll do that as soon as I'm done," Kaito promised, getting started with the luggage.

There was quiet for a little bit, as Kaito worked. He had found these last few days that he was really struggling to be still. He felt...buzzy, again. Restless. A little constantly nervous. He hadn't tried putting on his hero persona in days, and honestly...kept having to pull himself out of pessimistic episodes. Doubt was becoming a big problem for him, lately. It was another reason he really wanted a visit to his shrine. He really wanted to just talk to Atua and kind of...take some time to get everything straightened out in his head. To get back on track and start feeling like himself again.

Later. It could wait till later. First thing first was making sure Kokichi was good.

It wasn't hard to unpack, really. Most of their clothes just needed to be put into the laundry bin. Then it was just a matter of putting away their products and...Kaito carefully took out the drawing and shells that Kokichi had brought with them, going to put them on the vanity desk as he said brightly, grinning to Kokichi, "Hey...two more days before your dad’s back. That's exciting! It's gonna be really nice to see a bunch of people coming home and being reunited, right?"

Wordlessly, Kokichi came over to help unpack, throwing their clothes in the laundry, helping to bring their toiletries back into the bathroom. The master bathroom at the Nanamis' house wasn't lacking or anything, but...a nice warm bath at home sounded nice. Maybe tonight.

Kokichi looked up as he came back into the room, looking at the items Kaito brought out and...just felt a wave of grief and guilt come over him. But he offered his husband a small smile and a nod, coming over to the desk to arrange the shells a little. "I'm really looking forward to it..."

Because, for as worried as Kokichi had been over what his dad was going to think of him...he was still coming back. Kokichi had already spent time grieving the people he knew he was never going to see again, but...b-but it was more important to honor and appreciate the people who were coming home. To not get so stuck on the dead that you forget about the living.

With a shaky breath, Kokichi put a gentle hand on Kaito's arm. "I know you guys wanna lay low for a bit, but...i-if things seem okay...do you think you'd wanna meet my dad? It could just be the three of us, a-and it wouldn't have to be anything long, but...I dunno... Feel free to say no."

Kaito grinned. "Of course I want to meet your dad! Are you kidding? I've been looking forward to it since you first brought it up!"

Don't let him see the nerves. You have nothing to be afraid of. You don't have to be afraid of these people. If he felt unsafe, he'd just get to Maki, and everything would be fine. Maki won't let anything happen. Kokichi...probably wouldn't let anything happen either...maybe...

Or, well...no, no, he wouldn't. He was forgiving, not a pushover. There was a difference. Like Shuuichi. Kokichi just...picked his battles. That was all. Kaito could trust his husband would look out for him and the other Luminaries, if some of the front line fighters had...concerns. About them.

Yeah.

"But! I mean, it's not just about us laying low," Kaito assured Kokichi, zipping up the now empty luggage and putting it into the back of the closet. "You and your dad...it's been a long time. It'd make sense if you both wanted to be alone for a while, really, ya know...catch up! Without my hovering around acting like a goof, I mean."

Kaito stopped, a brand new thought entering his head...before he turned to Kokichi and said, a tad uncertainly, "...I mean...unless you'd rather me be there in case...it's uncomfortable for any reason..."

Kokichi huffed a soft laugh, his fondness and affection for Kaito one of the constant things that had made the last few days tolerable. "You being there would be a huge comfort, believe me, but...you're right. I think we'd really do well to just...be together for a while. But, after that...I'd be happy to introduce you two to each other."

Looking back over at the letters littering his walls, Kokichi picked out one or two that had been from Ikuo, a small smile playing at his lips. "...my dad has always been a really kind person, you know? In his letters...even though we couldn't talk often, he always tried to keep up with me, to let me know little things about what's going on with him. He sent me a bird feather once, said that the bird it had fallen from reminded him of me. He - he always writes that he loves me, a-and that he's gonna give me the biggest hug when we see each other again."

Kokichi sniffled, wiping his nose on the back of his arm as he chuckled. "B-but I keep worrying that he won't care about me at all once he's back. How dumb is that, right?! He...he went to war for me, of course he loves me... He's always made sure to tell me that he does..."

"...sorry." Kokichi took a deep breath, blinking a few times to clear his vision. "I don't even know what point I was trying to make... But...I dunno. It'll be nice when people come back."

Kaito looked at Kokichi carefully from the desk, noting the distress and fear on his husband’s face. It was a little like the expressions he had when he was first talking about reuniting with Seiko, that Kaito hadn't recognized them for what they were at the time. His husband apparently just...thought time and distance meant people would get over him...

"That is kinda dumb," Kaito confessed, taking out of his pocket and putting down a shell he had picked for himself and Kokichi as well, once he had realized Maki and Shuuichi were keeping the shells that they had brought them from the beach. Kaito had ended up finding a smaller bloodstone, like the one that Kokichi had picked out for Maki, that Kaito had become mildly fascinated with because the red had formed as almost a perfect circle around the stone. And one he had found that just...reminded him of Kokichi, a little. Just a pretty shell that, in the light, reflected a whole myriad of colors, all different shades.

He knew the trip was...a bust. And that keeping keepsakes of it was in bad taste...but they had been happy. For a little bit there.

Going back to his husband, he put his arms around his shoulders and on his back, pulling him in for a hug and a kiss on the top of his head as he said, simply, "I'm actually really excited, to see you with someone who clearly loves you so much...I mean, a lot of people here do. A lot. Most people, in their own ways, I think..." Just because Kaito hated them and thought their version of love was a selfish poison, at best, didn't mean he was blind. He could tell people here cared about Kokichi. They just...really fucking sucked at caring about people. "...but this is gonna be a different kind of thing all together. I can tell by the way you talk about him, and all the letters you have from him. I'm so honored to get to see it and happy that's happened and...relieved...to know that someone who loves you that deeply and that truly is going to be here soon...I'm so excited for you!" Kaito said, letting go of the hug and backing up a step to clasp Kokichi's shoulders, giving him a wide, earnest grin. "It's going to be amazing!!"

Kokichi felt himself relax a bit as Kaito took him into his arms, hugged and kissed him and reassured him with that bright enthusiasm that made his title so, so apt, even if it had been a part of a child's game of play-pretend. Most of him just...ached from being apart from his dad for so long, and was ecstatic to see him again!

It was just those shitty doubts from his shitty brain that made him question 'what if' over and over.

With a small, thankful smile, Kokichi brought his hands up to rub at Kaito's wrists--or, wrist, and just gently holding his cast on the other side. "...I'm really excited to see him again. And I hope...I dunno, we can find a good time to...maybe take tea together or something? So I can introduce you two."

"...I wouldn't be surprised if he asked us to reenact our consent," Kokichi laughed softly. "And maybe our wishes to Atua too? Ikuo had always wanted to see me get married. A-and...I know he'll be happy to see how you've taken care of me."

Looking over back to that old drawing of his dad, Kokichi was far more relaxed, a fond smile on his lips. "I've said it before, he can be kind of scary at first... But I know he'll love you too. Because you love me and have made me so...so happy." He turned back to Kaito, hopping up from the bed to place a kiss to Kaito's jaw. "Thanks, Kai-chan."

"Yep...I will be...wary of bunny man," Kaito said, a small, teasing smirk on his face...before saying, entirely sincerely, "Actually...if he's even half as intimidating as Smug Rabbit..."

Kaito did hope Kokichi's father would like him. He was going to try really, REALLY hard to make a good impression! ...but he didn't have as much certainty in that as Kokichi did. Parents were protective over their children, usually, and Ikuo had straight up gone to war for his. Kaito was nervous, but prepared, to deal with someone who might view him as a threat to their child's happiness, and would try to be patient and prove he wouldn't be...but...

Kaito hadn't had too many...well, he had never had an opportunity to really do the 'meet the parents' bits of relationships, before. He had just...never really been in a relationship long enough to justify it? And most of his partners hadn't really wanted the second Momota son kind of anywhere near their families. Those that did, it was usually because of a status thing, noble children excited to show to their parents their potential future marriage prospects. But even that had eventually faded as Kaito's flighty commitment to anything even resembling a long term relationship became more and more obvious over time. He fell in love fast...but fell out of love fast too.

Or...well...maybe it was wrong to call those feelings for those people 'love', now that Kaito looked back on it. Nothing had been as intense as Togami, afterwards, and Kaito had just sorta assumed that was because of 'first love' excitement, rather than saying anything specifically about how he felt about his partners afterwards. But now with how he felt towards Kokichi...it was all that old heat and need and desperation. An almost unhealthy fixation on the other person, as Kaito struggled to really consider anything outside of his relationship as worth even thinking that hard about. Togami had been his whole fucking world...and that was a lot what his relationship with Kokichi felt like.

Maki and Shuuichi too...Maki had been his longest obsession. One that had spanned basically their whole lives, with various degrees of intensity, and for all the talk of their relationship 'failing' when they actually tried...they were both still here. Devoted to each other in their own ways. And Kaito's love for Shuuichi was old and familiar. A background noise that had been constant since they were young, regardless of it only just becoming recently sexual. Kaito had never let Shuuichi get far from him for long, not if he could help it...had risked life, limb, and reputation, over and over again, just so that he'd never have to see Shuuichi deal with the consequences of his work against him...wasn't that its own type of obsessive love?

Maybe...maybe Kaito didn't fall in love easily?

Maybe Kaito's had dozens upon dozens of lovers...but has fallen in love four times?

(...five...)

...he didn't know. It was a strange thought and pretty dramatically challenged some of his preconceived views of himself. He'd talk to Atua about it later.

Kaito smiled at the little kiss to his jaw, saying back, "You make me happy too, babe...I'm so grateful for you every day..." He assured him of this, taking his face in his hands and gently kissing him on the lips. Taking his time, enjoying the first real bit of privacy the two had had since...everything.

Concerned, Kaito broke the kiss and asked, probably for the thousandth time, "How...how are you feeling?"

Kokichi supposed Kaito would be something of an outlier to how people usually met Ikuo, and not just because he was meeting the man as the husband of the child he'd raised. Most people only found out about Ikuo's old job after they'd met him and...were often baffled by it. Taking the image, if they knew of it, of the cheerful, intense acrobats who performed for children in colorful rabbit costumes...and overlaying it with Ikuo who...well...

If Maki often looked as if she was a second away from murder at any moment, and Haneda looked like she was pissed constantly, then Ikuo had a resting face of repressed rage manifesting as disappointment and annoyance. And it wasn't helped by the gruff, low tone he spoke in, and how he often went to take care of things without a word. Or...seeing a relatively short man lift dozens of pounds effortlessly or scale walls without a problem. Apparently he hadn't been phased by blood at all either, before Kokichi was born, and had only taken precautions to clean it promptly once they'd seen how it frightened the young prince.

From the people who he'd asked about it, apparently a lot of people who had been hired after Ikuo had been terrified of the man, thought that he was pissed and annoyed at their inexperience or any sort of mistake, that he was impossible to please...until he'd taken them under his wing, inevitably. He'd become something of a mentor for everyone who had been hired as a housekeeper while Ikuo had been at the castle, showing them tips and tricks for practically every mess you could encounter. Covering for anyone who had an emergency, brought food to people who called out sick. Would be there with tea and a listening ear for anyone who needed it. Gave the best hugs in the castle. Would make little gifts for people's birthdays and would give praise that made people walk with a hop in their step for the rest of the day.

All that to say...the people who were willing to look past Ikuo's rough exterior were granted a steadfast friend. It wasn't fair to expect his dad to take that role up again, but...he hoped he would be a person his Luminaries could take comfort in.

Kokichi kissed his husband back, pressing more firmly than Kaito was, trying to convey his love and appreciation for his husband before they parted, Kokichi cupping Kaito's cheek and giving him a gentle smile. "Better now. Kai-chan's really good at pulling me out of my head."

Kaito nodded, looking Kokichi over in concern...but that was the kind of response he usually got for that question, the last few days and...

...Kaito was kind of waiting for Kokichi to lose it, honestly.

While quiet sometimes, Kokichi had recovered from being kidnapped and seeing an entire family of people murdered right in front of him...shockingly quick. Too quick. Kaito had been sincere, when he promised to be present and patient with whatever meltdown was coming their way from the experience, but so far...nothing had.

Fuck, Kaito had been a bundle of nerves and anxieties and fears since everything had happened, and he had, honestly, barely even been involved. Just terrified for a little over an hour (it had all happened so quickly) that his husband had been dead. He couldn't actually imagine being on Kokichi's end of it. Bound and taken away and then forced to watch people die and their skin...Aba's fucking arm...

But Kokichi seemed fine? And Kaito...didn't know what to make of that. So he was just on the alert. Just...trying to be ready and prepared for...for whatever. Whatever was coming, if anything was coming at all.

"You were so clever to leave that little circle on the road," Kaito praised, running his hands through Kokichi's hair. Just openly admiring his husband as he said, "Shuuichi was almost going to tell us to keep following the tracks...he suspected something was off on that part of the road immediately, enough to make us stop and look, but we didn't know for certain till he spotted the circle...you're so smart. I'm so proud of you. I love you so much."

Kaito had...no idea if this was wanted or appreciated right now...they had just gotten home after a morning of traveling, at the end of some very long, hard days, but...he responded to Kokichi's more firm kiss with one of his own. Running his hand up and down Kokichi's back as he put his knees to either side of him, putting himself on to the bed. "It's nice to be back here," Kaito admitted, breaking the kiss to kiss at his jaw...a lingering kiss at his neck... "I hated not being able to hold you the last few days traveling... I missed you."

Kokichi sighed, some of that ease leaving him. He...didn't want to think about it. Not so blatantly. He had to talk to Aiichi about it. Talk about the Brockmans' misconceptions, about what Itch had said about the Remnants--though he was probably going to be questioned too, but it was better to make sure the information got to someone. He had to take...that...that experience and use it to deepen his vow to protect the safety and happiness of his people so that...no one would think that death was salvation, or that they couldn't trust the official statements of the government...

That stuff, he had to think about. But everything else...

Kokichi trembled a little, closing his eyes for a moment as his voice went quiet again. "I was banking on Shuu-chan bein' his smarty-pants self..." He couldn't do anything obvious or they'd cover it up. He had to make sure they'd find him. If it'd taken any longer then...

Kokichi swallowed down a gag as Kaito kissed his neck, scrunching his eyes shut tighter as he fisted Kaito's shirt.

Kaito paused what he was doing, moving away from Kokichi as much as he could as his husband grasped him to look him over. He looked...a little physically ill...maybe he shouldn't have brought any of that up. Or maybe he shouldn't be kissing him right now...maybe he shouldn't try to push for anything more either.

He just wanted to comfort him. Show him love in the way Kaito knew best. He wanted to work Kokichi's body so endorphins shot through him, left him feeling de-stressed and at ease, comfortable and satisfied and sleepy in Kaito's arms.

...but maybe that wasn't what Kokichi wanted or needed from him right now. Kaito didn't know.

So Kaito rolled onto his side instead, lying beside Kokichi. Not a looming, approaching presence anymore. He put a hand over the fist clenched into his shirt and squeezed it gently, running his thumb soothing up and down the side of his wrist as he said, "Sorry...we don't have to talk about it. We can do whatever you want to do. I can be quiet, if you want some space?"

Kokichi took a few moments to breathe before he forcibly relaxed his grip, letting go of Kaito's shirt though he shuffled forward to press himself against Kaito's body, pressing a little kiss to his neck. But...that was it. Kokichi just laid there, taking solace in his husband's warmth and presence.

"...you're good at cheering me up, and I really appreciate that. Kai-chan has made this...bearable. But...I think it's going to hurt for a long time." He wasn't going to forget Aba's screams any time soon, nor the frightened, apologetic look in Brent's eyes. The feeling of being tied up and dismissed, terrified that the people who had done that were going to die.

Kokichi took another breath. He didn't smell dirt and blood, but that memory hadn't faded any either. "...I think I wanna take a bath. Never realized how just sitting in a caravan could make ya feel so grimy. You wanna join me or nah?"

Kokichi opened his eyes, that tired, sad look back in them, but...he was trying. Crying a river of tears wasn't going to help anyone.

Kaito ran small fingertip touches up and down Kokichi's back, thinking about it before saying, "You can start it now, if you want, and I'll go ask about getting dinner sent up? And maybe I'll come join ya when I get back upstairs, if you're not entirely chilled out by then." Kaito offered it up, again, just...really debating with himself how much space he should be giving Kokichi.

He honestly kind of wanted to be at his side every second, right now, and that had been easy traveling back here...but now they were home and Kaito, again, wasn't really sure how Kokichi was coping or what his grief really looked like, and Kaito didn't want to make it any harder to do either of those things by being suffocating.

So, yeah...give Kokichi a couple of minutes by himself, see if that helped him relax at all, and if Kokichi still wanted him around when Kaito got back upstairs, then Kaito would happily accommodate.

"Is there anything extra you want sent up?" Kaito asked, sitting up, "Oh! We just got home and stuff! I bet the kitchen would totally accommodate making us some of those...cinnamon bun things? That you love so much? That's right, isn't it, cinnamon buns?"

Kokichi nodded a bit, pressing his nose into Kaito's collarbone. The presence of his friends had been...invaluable, these last few days. Well, really since they had become friends at all, but especially right now. Especially when they were all dealing with their own problems right now, but had taken the time to talk to him, even if he was just quiet. He'd thought so before the trip but...he really needed to find some way to make it up to them. Something nice that would allow them to relax in the same comfort they'd given him.

But he didn't need to be around them all the time. Kokichi knew he'd said some really scary stuff to Kaito before, but...he wasn't that far gone right now. He didn't want Kaito to feel scared to leave him, or that he was obligated to stay. Especially when Kaito hadn't been allowed to grieve for people who meant much more to him than what Kokichi was going through.

Kokichi smiled softly at Kaito's latest attempt in a long string of them to cheer him up. He...wasn't all that hungry, and not even cinnamon rolls sparked any sort of appetite, but...well, Shuuichi would probably appreciate them. He hadn't realized before how his boyfriend's sweet tooth nearly rivaled his own.

So Kokichi just nodded again. "That would be really nice... Though, we'd probably have 'em for breakfast if they're gonna make them. But who knows? No harm in asking."

Sitting up, Kokichi leaned in to give Kaito a soft kiss on the lips before he got up and headed to the closet, going to pick out some comfortable clothes to change into after his bath. Pajamas, most likely, even if it was only mid-afternoon. "Thanks, Kai-chan. See you soon."

Kaito happily accepted the kiss, watching his husband head to the closet before...taking a moment to sigh to himself, getting up and heading out the door.

Okay. It was fine.

They were back and it was...fine.

...he wondered how much everyone knew? About...everything.

Kaito headed downstairs, refusing to stare at the floor, but also refusing to really look at anyone he passed in the face. He didn't know...what kind of stories had come back here yet. Or how those stories were being interpreted. Or how people might be feeling about him...kinda specifically...

...Kaito had punched a man in anger, and in return, that man had kidnapped his husband.

And now that man was dead. Both him and his brother and his wife and eldest son...Kaito had lashed out in anger, and the next day, literally half that man's family was dead. His surviving children orphaned. Kokichi fucking...traumatized...

...was it all...Kaito's fault?

Kaito hadn't felt any love lost for the Brockmans when everything was happening...but four days later had kind of given him time to cool down and re-think the situation. What the Brockmans had done hadn't been...exactly his fault. He was sure. It was crazy, what they had done...but would they have done it at all if Kaito hadn't hit Budd?

According to Kokichi's statements, the Brockmans had thought Kaito was abusing Kokichi, and that's why they had taken him. Trying to defend him from the violent, war-mongering Luminary Prince.

Then they had died to...three Dicean death cultists. And Kokichi was right. At least it hadn't been him and Maki...a concerned, if crazed, family being murdered by the Luminaries they had feared that badly wouldn't have looked...well, it would have been bad. Thank god they had been killed by other Diceans, honestly...

(Kaito didn't know that this wasn't true. Ichiro and Tomo's status as Luminary Refugees was not common knowledge available to the public, as no refugee’s status officially was. Even in Dicea, some things were safer to keep hidden, unless the refugees themselves offered the information to people.)

(...all it would take was one loose set of lips and suddenly the narrative would look way, way worse for the Luminaries in general...)

But either way, it still...didn't paint Kaito in the best light. And he knew that. He partly knew that because Maki and Shuuichi wouldn't stop warning him about it.

Eyes were already on us, Shuuichi whispered cautiously, anxious and tired. And now a family literally lost their lives, officially claiming invasion and abuse. In religion and politics...that's exactly how martyrs are born, Kaito. Their story could embolden people to act out more against us.

We can't assume people aren't going to take their side, Maki growled. Nervous and paranoid. Certain danger was everywhere. We can't assume that everyone will hear the story and assume the family was crazy. If anything, people might view the Brockmans’ story as confirmation that something is going on. Rumors about us are about to get even worse. We have to be ready for that.

...Kaito didn't know if any of that was true. He just knew his sidekicks believed it. Maki had already had a long, probably frightening talk with Timothy about not going anywhere without one of them, Mr. Hinata, or Miss Kawai present, from now on. She had also had the same talk with Kaito and Shuuichi...which Kaito was currently ignoring.

He wasn't afraid of these people. He was trying to be better, for Kokichi. His husband had been more afraid of himself and Maki, than he had been of the Brockmans, even bound and being taken away...and Kaito's heart hurt every time he thought of that.

He had to be better.

So Kaito headed downstairs to the kitchen, and...

It was the first group he had actually had to look directly at, as he knocked on the door and waited patiently for someone to answer, rather than just coming in this time. And when a confused kitchen staff member had opened it, there was an immediate...distaste, in their eyes.

Kaito threw a grin on and just asked if food could be sent up for dinner for himself and Kokichi...and then after a moment asked if the same could be done for Shuuichi, Maki, and Timothy. "It's been a long few days, and I'm certain we'd rather just eat in private today, ya know?" Kaito asked with a laugh.

The kitchen staff who had answered simply nodded, but someone behind her said loudly, "Certainly, Sire."

It was an extremely short, simple thing to say...but there were a few chuckles, like the person had made a joke, and a weird sort of...heavy quiet that seemed to come with the chuckles, as if the comment had made everyone else in the kitchen uncomfortable.

Kaito's grin became a little more uncertain at that and he said, "Um...thanks...also, uh..." He suddenly felt way less comfortable to ask this, but...it might make Kokichi happy...Shuuichi too, actually, so... "Um, could I also request that a few cinnamon buns be put together for Prince Kokichi? As a sort of welcome home treat? Um...yeah, if you all have the supplies or-"

"We'll see what we can do, Prince Kaito. It'll be all up for dinner. Please tell Kokichi that we're all thinking of him," the kitchen staff member asked, her eyes softening a little in thought of the Dicean Prince...though that gentleness went away as she refocused on him, just sort of looking uncomfortable as she asked, "Anything else, Prince Kaito?"

Kaito shook his head, mumbling his thanks and turning around to head upstairs...hearing as the door closed, "Elitist snob."

"Shhh, hey, come on, he's been through a lo-" the door closed and Kaito didn't hear anything else, but quickly made his way upstairs.

...O-okay! There were worse things! But that had gone as well as could be expected! No worries! No worries at all! He had this! It would get better with time!

...sure! ...right as the front line fighters got here...

Ha!

Heh...

Hoo boy.

-

Kaito wasn't the only one ignoring Maki's insistence to only travel in groups, for the time being.

Timothy was back at his wall. He still had Maki's dagger. He didn't know if she knew he had it and had just decided to let him keep it, or if it was a secret, but...it was far more blunt these days. He didn't know how to sharpen it, and...carving at stone walls wasn't doing it any good.

He wasn't even making anything this time. Just carving into the stone. Wanting to be out in the sun but away from people. And no one ever came to this bit of the wall around the castle. It was too close to the dumpsters without being actually close enough to be useful to travel to.

Chase was curled up at his side, sleeping. He was glad. He had found her constant need to play lately...frustrating and annoying. He kind of just wanted her to leave him alone.

He kind of wanted just everyone to leave him alone.

Haneda wasn't sure if Tim had noticed her or not, but he wasn't running, so that was all that really mattered, she supposed. She was crouched by the dumpsters this time, working on finishing up the touches on, well, Tim's mask, actually. Kaito's with the stars, Maki's with the X's (which Haneda had gone over again, embroidering tiny little flowers over the thread that made up the X's, almost making it a sort of lace or brocade pattern), and Shuuichi's, which she'd mostly left plain, but with two white stripes coming from the side of the mask, matching his cap, she had finished while they were on their trip. Tim's was mostly done, but Haneda was putting the last touches on the puppy paw prints, almost like Chase had gotten ink on her paws and pressed them to Tim's face.

The castle had been quiet, the past week. She'd been put back on the housekeeping rotation, just this close to decking fucking Susan, leaving towels laying out everywhere, just fuckin' quit if you're not gonna do your job!

But Haneda had found she almost missed the wild goose chase that was trying to keep an eye on Tim. She supposed it was practice for when he'd be in school. Or, be "in school". Who knew whether he'd actually go.

She knew she should be encouraging him to take a narrower path than she herself had walked, but...she recognized the frustration coming off of him. Not that she really knew what he was going through, because that was a whole mess that had never even come close to anything Haneda had dealt with in her life, but... Well, she could empathize, even a little.

Chipping at a wall wasn't gonna hurt anyone.

Tim didn't notice Miss Kawai. She hadn't been there when he had shown up and he had been pretty much lost in his head the whole hour they had been back already, when he had basically left the caravan as soon as he could, telling Miss Harukawa he was going to his room and heading here instead.

But Chase, when she opened her little puppy eyes, drowsed from her nap a little, noticed Mom right away, and excitedly stood up! Mom! Mom! Where had she been!? Dad, look!! It was Mom!!!

Chase immediately went running up as quickly as she could to her other primary trainer, her whole backside wiggling excitedly at the realization that Miss Kawai was back, sniffing happily at her knees, he wrist, her shoes, before barking and jumping, shoving her nose into her side, her whole body vibrating with excitement as she started to look at her hands.

Timothy watched this all warily. Great... "Hi, Miss Kawai," Tim said, going back to his task. She hadn't cared when he had done this before, and he was pretty sure she didn't care now. "Chase missed you."

Haneda's stony gaze softened when the small puppy approached her, setting her project away safely in her bag before petting Chase, scratching behind her ears and along that spot on her back that made her back leg twitch.

"Hi, Tim," she greeted in return. "And hello, Chase. Welcome back. I missed you both too." And she did. Maybe not in a longing, heart-wrenching way, but she was happy to see Tim and Chase back again. And especially that they were safe, considering what had gone down. Fuckin' disgusting bastards...

She knew better than to ask how the trip was, and if she had gotten any sort of correct read on the kid, Tim likely wanted silence. Solitude, probably, but she couldn't give him that, so she'd just give him the illusion of it. Sometimes that was all you could get.

And if he did want to talk? Well, she was there.

-

Shuuichi was sitting in Maki's room, holding a pillow to his stomach and listening to her pace and murmur to herself. She was looking over her blueprints again, reading her notes and double checking the logic of her plans. She had done this often before they had left for the trip, and Shuuichi wasn't surprised to see her doing it now either. It was a comfort thing, Maki imagining...well, her revolution. Taking down the remaining of the royal family, the noble families, the Togami corporation, the high priestesses...

It was madness, of course. A suicide plan that had no hopes of working how she imagined it would. But the daydream made Maki happy and Shuuichi wasn't up to debating her on this again. Every now and again she'd take a blueprint to the bed to show him, and ask him, concern on her face, "Does this make sense?" and he'd read it and check her math and...sure, sort of. It made sense on paper, anyway.

In practice? Life was chaotic and more luck-based than anyone ever felt comfortable admitting. Maki would have to be unbelievably lucky to pull it off...and Shuuichi didn't consider himself or Maki particularly lucky people, even now.

But he didn't say that. He'd either nod his head or fix an inconsistency or offer an alternative. And she'd nod and take the blueprint back and look over it again at her desk.

...Shuuichi wondered if Miss Nao was downstairs right now...

Would she want to see him?

Would Maki let him, if he asked to go see her?

...

He curled around the pillow. Maybe he should go see Kaito and Kokichi instead...be with people who...actually liked him...

Shuuichi felt the back of his eyes burn at that and he closed them. Fighting the hurt that thought had brought. She had...she must have...even a little? Even a little bit...she must have liked him a little bit...right?

Shuuichi stared miserably at the covers of Maki's bed. Listening to the furious scratching of a pencil against blueprint paper.

-

Kaito finally got back upstairs. He heard the bath running and called out, "Dinner's coming up this afternoon, 'Kichi. They said they'd try to work the cinnamon buns, if they could. Uh, the kitchen staff wanted you to know they were thinking about you."

Kaito got the bathroom door, and knocked on its frame. "Can I come in?"

Kokichi was staring blankly at the wall, laid out in the water as the tub filled. It was warm, but not hot to any sort of dangerous degree. It was covering his body, but not getting close to his face yet. No bubbles. He was just...lying there. Not trying to kill or punish himself but...just existing.

Then he blinked, and looked over to the door. "Yeah...you can come in."

Kaito came in, and almost immediately noticed the smell...or, the lack of smell? It didn't smell like a bath in here. It just smelled like hot water. Huh...um, okay...

Kaito walked over to the bath, and sat at the side of the tub, looking down at his husband in concern. This wasn't how he liked to take baths. Hm. Without prompting or explanation, Kaito put his fingers into the water, a memory of Shuuichi suddenly flashing through his mind...he hadn't seen it for himself, but...the way Maki had described it to him, sometimes Kaito felt like he had been the one there, pulling him out of the scalding water instead of her. The idea of it so intense that it almost felt like a real memory...

But the water wasn't scalding. Just warm. Okay.

Okay.

Kaito grinned. Leaning casually over as he slowed the flow of the water a little as he prompted, "Hey, come on now! Where's the bath soap? The soothing salt? I always love the way all that makes the room smell. You can't have a bath without all that stuff, what's even the point? Hold on, let me get it for ya!"

Going to collect the resources he would need, Kaito continued on cheerfully, filling the silence. "Man, it's so nice to be home! I smelled whatever they're cooking in the kitchen, and, look, honestly, couldn't tell you what it was, but it smelled amazing. Ya know, I think I'm really getting sold on spices and all that?" Kaito said, opening up one of the bags and sprinkling in some of the salt first, knowing that would make Kokichi's skin feel smooth and silky. Then, putting it aside, he grabbed the soap, starting to pour it into the running water, the bubbles starting to form, filling the room with a pleasant, floral aroma. "I mean, if for nothing else, then at least for how amazing it always makes food smell? I really don't know why we're so shy with it back in Luminary. I really like that...the red stuff? Whatever it's called? That stuff on chicken is amazing. Oh! What kind of food does your dad like? We should make sure we have it available the day they get here. I know that's totally playing favorites, but I'm sure the front line fighters would like whatever the kitchen’s making anyway. So why not indulge him, right?"

Kokichi just...hadn't felt up to making the production of the bath. The warm water was nice enough. But...it was nice for Kaito to want to do it anyway. He...didn't feel up to much, really. He would get back to work tomorrow, try to get some done before the veterans returned, and then...he'd greet them and reunite with his dad, and try to ease any possible tensions any of them might have towards the Luminous-Diceans, and then...keep working until the next thing happened.

His work was never done... That thought was more comforting than draining, but...everything else that made life life? ...he didn't know right now.

Offering his husband a small smile, Kokichi swirled the water around to help the bubbles form and raised an eyebrow. "Really? Never thought I'd see the day I'd hear you praising paprika. Or chili powder? Maybe the next time you make eggs, you could sprinkle some on 'em. 'S pretty good too."

Leaning himself into the corner of the bath, Kokichi knew that Kaito was just trying to fill the space he was leaving empty, but...he appreciated it. Propping his arm on the lip, Kokichi rested his head on it, a soft, adoring look on his face as he looked over at Kaito. "You're gonna laugh, but...Ikuo really loves roasted vegetables. Any kind. Flame-roasted corn in the summer, squashes braised in a pot roast in the winter... I used to try to get out of eating my own by offering mine to him, since he loved them so much."

Kokichi laughed softly. "Never worked."

"Roasted vegetables...got it," Kaito mused to himself, putting away the bags and the soap now that they were done...before chuckling to himself as he said, "Does he have a fondness for carrots in particular, and will he punch me in the teeth if I ensure his first meal home is a bunch of carrots?"

Kokichi snorted softly, his mischievous look at his husband one of the more lively expressions he'd had since... "He's not more fond of them than other vegetables, but I think you could get away with that if you didn't say anything. If you asked the kitchen staff to make a carrot cake though...I think he might suplex you into the garden to plant new bulbs of Kai-chan."

Sighing, Kokichi wiggled his shoulders down below the bubbles, actually...yeah, he was enjoying this more than just water. And it did smell nice in the bathroom now... Smiling up at Kaito, Kokichi raised an eyebrow again. "Did you just wanna indulge in the aroma, or do you wanna bathe with me? I think I might hog the tub for a while, so if you don't wanna borrow Shuu-chan or Maki-chan's..."

"Sure, if I won't crowd you," Kaito responded, a little relieved. Again, he didn't want to hover around his husband, but...he was glad he hadn't been dismissed.

Kicking off his pants and tearing off his shirt, Kaito only noticed what they smelled like once they were off him, wrinkling his nose a bit. "Blegh. Travel smell. Gooootta love it," Kaito mocked, tossing the clothes aside before looking down in the bath. "Scoot up just a bit, babe?"

Kokichi making space for him, Kaito sunk down into the water behind him, the tub notably filling higher as the water was displaced by the size of him, going a little too close to the ends of the tub. It felt nice...Kokichi's warm, slicked, soft body felt nice against Kaito too...especially as he settled down back on his lap, that thin ass pressed against his cock...

Kaito closed his eyes, already annoyed with himself. Can you literally not be alone with Kokichi for five seconds without wanting to fuck him? Seriously, man? Like...chill.

...he wondered if Shuuichi would want to take a bath with him at some point...probably not yet, not with his chest hangups, but...Kaito could imagine himself being maybe a little too handsy with the detective, letting his fingers wander around places he had only imagined before...lightly arguing with Shuuichi as his sidekick teased his one track mind...hearing Shuuichi mention one goddamn thing about 'Miss' Nao and then fucking him so long and so hard that he forgot her fucking name...

Kaito sighed, wanting to talk to Kokichi about his fears with Shuuichi right now. How he...didn't know how to feel that Shuuichi was specifically afraid of her knowing their relationship status...but he didn't want to stress Kokichi out. Both of his lovers were going through so much shit right now...he wished he could just take care of both of them. Just...hide them away from the world and take care of their every need...make them forget anything else was ever on the other side of the door so they never felt trapped or helpless or...

Pfff. He was thinking like a fairytale villain. What was he going to do, lock them up in a tower? He remembered his Feminism-101 class. He had taken it because some of the priestesses had told him it'd be an eye opener for him, the Atua religion the only reason that kind of class was even offered in Luminary, and it had been...well, like they said. Eye-opening. Not just for female stuff, but really...for all the little tricks and tools people used to keep each other feeling helpless and obedient. And a big factor was convincing people they wouldn't be safe without their 'caretaker'. Love me, obey me, or perish when the world devours you...

...he had been lucky to get that class when he did. The teacher who taught it had been arrested literally just a year later. She had secretly been a rebel, apparently. Shame. She had been really good, and an ex-indentured on top of that! It was always inspirational, to see Indentureds go on to really make something of their lives. Kaito had heard that the class had become really dry and boring under the new person. More just a re-telling of women's history over anything else.

Shame.

-

Somewhere out there, Tom had woken up again. Being awake was...misery. His body had gone completely still. He couldn't move his arms or legs, and he rested wherever he was put. The healers couldn't figure out what was wrong with him. It was like he was completely paralyzed, but...physically, he was totally fine?

Some of the guards assumed he was just being difficult. People asked him, but he couldn't really...talk all that well. His words mush against the heavy weight of his tongue refusing to move. And the words he got out didn't make much sense. He asked for his brother, a lot. Sometimes, he murmured that he had to bring back Kokichi. Kill the person who had taken him. People generally stopped talking to him, once he mentioned that.

It was...it was mostly okay, during the day. Tom wasn't in social isolation. The caravan he was being transported in had other guards, healers, a lawyer that kept informing him of what to expect when he got to the capital. Tom wasn't really paying attention to all that. It didn't worry him.

What worried him was night time.

Unable to move...too far from his order. His body confused and panicking. He wasn't doing what he was told and his body was failing on him and...

He could see them.

The shadows in the dark.

They were coming, they were watching, they were going to hurt him, they were going to hurt him, he had to find Kokichi, he had to kill who had taken him, he needed Itch, please, please, he could see them the people in the dark they were here, he could feel them...

And in the morning, like this morning, he'd wake up again, his heart pounding in his ears, his eyes wide, skin sweating. The healers noted he seemed to have intense, visceral nightmares when he was asleep, but, well...there wasn't much to be done with that...it was more concerning how he refused to move. Going through a trial like this would be difficult...

...going through an execution like this would be difficult...

Tom stared at the ceiling. Trying to talk himself into moving. Trying to remind himself that it was all in his head...it was all in his head...Ichiro, please...

-

...if Kaito recognized the teachings his Feminism-101 class had secretly been trying to teach, about the limits of conditioning and the way the Luminary elite kept people afraid, he...didn't know that he knew it. He just remembered finding the class really interesting, and it really changed his perspective of those old fairy-tale stories, and a lot of novels he read from today.

And, yeah. As nice as it was to daydream about keeping his husband and boyfriend somewhere safe and out of the way, for them to never be hurt again...it would hurt them just doing that. A nice daydream. A terrible reality.

...he wondered if he should talk to Kokichi about King Aiichi. Come up with a game plan if the worst happened...

No. No. It'd stress him out. Not right now. Maybe in the future.

"I'm gonna put up my posters in my shrine after this, I think," Kaito said instead, settling into the warmth of the tub, an arm comfortable around Kokichi's waist. "It won't take me long. Fifteen minutes, at most. It'll be nice to finally have it finished."

Kokichi settled against Kaito's body, enjoying the feeling of their bare skin pressed together. Just like he wasn't really hungry or up to doing the little things, he wasn't really interested in having sex right now...but it was nice being intimate. Feeling Kaito's body, sitting on his lap, knowing that it was just the two of them for now.

It would be nice to do this with Shuuichi too. It would be a little snug, but the three of them could probably fit in the tub. But that wasn't the snagging point. One day Shuuichi would be more comfortable in his body, but that day wasn't right now. And it wasn't like sex. Taking a bath with a shirt on was...notably weird, even if neither he nor Kaito would mind it. Not to mention that wet cloth would show Shuuichi's form anyway and...yeah. Not gonna happen.

...Shuuichi had asked them to not do anything yet, but...what about in their room? It was private, and no one would know if they were hanging out or doing anything else. Or even if he was in their room at all. And they didn't even have to do anything! But...it'd be nice if Shuuichi would be open to cuddling.

Kokichi tipped his head back onto Kaito's chest, sighing softly. "Mm. Lemme know if you need anything else for your shine, okay? I know we talked about it, but...still. Any furniture or lights or extra decorative things... And I'll still draw the other saints, if you want. I dunno if I'll have time to make a nice print any time soon, but...I can get started, at least."

"Sure," Kaito agreed, pleased at the idea of decking out his shrine, though honestly, for practical purposes, it was basically fine as it was. Heck, even if it didn't have ventilation, which Kaito was pretty sure it did, that'd just make it a lovely little hotbox during certain rituals. That could be nice.

"There's a few saints I'd like to honor, that'd be nice to have up on the wall...Saint Katrina was a healer, for instance, who stuck around during a terrible storm that caused everyone else to be evacuated from the city, to help some of the pregnant woman in the brothels and keep everyone healthy and safe during the aftermath of the storm, where resources were scarce...this was back in the days where the hospitals refused to take brothel workers. She also was a huge advocate to getting that rule overturned, though it didn't happen in her lifetime...you pray to her when you want someone to have a swift recovery...which seems like the kind of saint you always kinda want around, ya know? Never know when you need a healing saint looking out for you..."

Kaito, still thinking about some of his rituals and the concept of a hotbox, asked Kokichi, "You know, outside of our binding ceremony...I'll never ask you to join me in my worship. I know you don't like all that stuff...but some of my rituals require me to get really, really high, and that can be kinda fun, so if you ever wanted to join me on that just for the experience, that is super available to you." Kaito laughed, hugging Kokichi to himself. "Just so ya know."

For all the parts of the Atuan faith that Kokichi found uncomfortable...at least how Kaito told stories of the saints always seemed uplifting. People who were kind, and appreciated for that kindness. Even if the things that they did didn't seem...er, particularly worship-worthy to him...they were in Luminary. And the fact that people still thought those things were good was...comforting.

(...there wasn't a way you could twist wanting to perform a healer's duties during a natural disaster, right?)

Kokichi frowned at the foam for a moment before blinking up at Kaito, a little surprised. Though...well, that wasn't super unusual in religion. Laughing a little, Kokichi shrugged, settling down on Kaito's lap a little more. "I dunno... I might huff and go, yanno? But lemme know when you're gonna do those rituals anyway, okay? Even if I don't join, I wanna make sure you're set up all good."

Gently twisting around, Kokichi laid on his front on top of Kaito and kissed his cheek. "I care about you. And even if I'm just helping you avoid cottonmouth, I'll do my best."

Kaito grinned at that, chuckling as he admired the look of his husband...man...so fucking beautiful.

Placing his hands on his back, mostly so Kokichi wouldn't literally float away (the water really was too high, honestly), Kaito said, "Yeah, alright. Will do. They're not particularly common rituals, and there's no real consequence to not doing them...but they say performing them gives Atua better opportunities to communicate directly to you. Sending you visions through hallucinations or sometimes just straight up talking to you."

"I don't think most people believe in them," Kaito admitted, giving a small, sad shrug, "You hear people having these really amazing visuals during the rituals, talking about all the things they saw and heard...and when you ask them what they think Atua was trying to say, and they get real vague. I think most of my friends growing up just did them cause they liked to get high. Which is...fair, ya know? Not even believers really...have to believe or anything. Atua loves them anyway."

"But I used to get so excited to hear people talk about their visions! I'd sit with them and try to interpret them, see if we couldn't actually find any meaning in them! Maybe Atua was just trying to help them with something personal in their lives, ya know? Or maybe he was trying to let them know of something bigger going on. Maybe he just wanted to say hi? I don't know...I just thought it was really fun to try to figure it out. Oh man, I got Maki and Shuuichi to do it with me a couple of times, and their visions were great! Like, epic stuff. Maki said she had a whole conversation with what she called a 'really bored grim reaper', explaining to her how to ferry souls to the other side...and he got really annoyed with her when she explained she was alive. It was really funny, the way she described it. Like, just seventeen-year-old Maki, trying desperately to explain to this ornery old reaper guy that, no, she's not dead, and no, she doesn't work for him. She sounded so annoyed." Kaito laughed, once again lost in the joy of talking about his religion.

Kokichi listened to his husband talk about his religion, loving the passionate excitement that sparkled in Kaito's eyes whenever he did. Kokichi wasn't a believer, wasn't even a non-believer in the Atua way, but...that sort of faith seemed like it felt nice. If nothing else, it made Kaito happy, and so Kokichi was happy for that.

Giggling a bit, Kokichi could really imagine Maki's experience, the utter disgruntlement. "Oh man...that's an intense high. I mostly just feel kinda floaty when I get high--no hallucinations. Though...I've never really taken anything meant for hallucinations, to be fair."

This was...maybe a dangerous conversation path, but...

Massaging Kaito's pecs gently, Kokichi tilted his head to the side. "Did you ever have a vision of Atua when you got high? Or something you thought was from him? Like you said, something that could be a message to help you through something."

Kaito frowned at this question, slightly. In a way it both was and...really kinda wasn't a loaded question. Like, Kaito honestly really didn't regret everything that happened. He was grateful for it, in a lot of ways...but the story that kind of question could lead to was one of those things Kaito had come to Dicea assuming the Dicean Prince already knew about him.

It had all seemed so important, in Luminary...but now, he'd honestly be surprised if even the king had known about Kaito's history, in regards to 'messages' from Atua. So little information had gotten across the border. It's not like Kaito had ever heard that his own husband had been on the verge of dying basically his whole life, and that seemed pretty baffling to Kaito, in retrospect. You'd think someone from Luminary would have known and told him...but they genuinely didn't, it seemed.

Terrible communication skills, the two kingdoms had with each other. Hopefully they could fix that moving forward.

Ah well. Honestly, he doubted Kokichi was even going to care. And none of it was a secret. Soooo...

"Not with...not with the rituals, no," Kaito admitted, though he followed that up with, "At least, not direct communication. I saw a lot of real cool things that at the time I thought were maybe, like, warnings of the future and stuff? But in a nice way? And if they ever even really were, they were warnings at, like, the entirely wrong time in my life. Like, unhelpful, ya know? But at the time, they were really...nice nightmares, if that makes any sense?"

"Like, when I was twelve...um, yeah, there's no real age limit to doing these. You can just start whatever age you feel like." Kaito admitted sheepishly, "I know, I know, I was waaaay too young to be smoking anything, but it was only twice a year, so...anyway, so, yeah, I was twelve, and it was my second time ever doing it, and I remember just being in a...pile of bodies? It was like a mesh of people, all interconnected. And they were all in pain...but it felt good, ya know? Like we all wanted it to happen that way. Anyway, had no idea what it meant. The priestesses best guess was that maybe it was me being waist deep in the concept of Luminary as a whole? Just, all these bodies I was a part of, all feeling and breathing as one...but if I had to guess now? I'd say it was Atua telling me to beware orgies. Even if some of them feel good. Orgies can suck, Kokichi. They can be really, really awful. I seriously wouldn't recommend them," Kaito said, sighing. "Ugh...but, yeah. Waaaay too early in my life to really keep that one in mind, Atua," he said, chuckling, like he was scolding an old friend.

"And...another one was just...really beautiful? I was watching stars explode with my father...though, he didn't really look like my dad at all? He had dark skin and blue hair and was really pretty...but he was my father, ya know? I just knew he was. Dream logic. Anyway, we were looking up at this night full of big, beautiful stars, like, big enough where you can really appreciate their distant stars, ya know? And one by one, the star would suddenly get really bright, and then go out, and a ripple of all these...really amazing colors shot out around it...like, breathtaking. But every time a star exploded and the color spread, every star the color touched did the same thing, and I realized that I was watching a domino effect, of stars exploding and taking out the stars nearest them, filling the sky with terrible, deadly, beautiful colors...and I knew it wasn't going to be long before the exploding stars rippled close enough to hit us...to destroy everything...."

Kaito sighed, closing his eyes with a small smile at the memory. "But it was so beautiful I didn't care. I just wanted to watch the lights for as long as I could. And my father put his hand on my shoulders and said, 'It doesn't have to be real. You can stop it.' and I just remember looking at him being...baffled. Why would I stop it? It was amazing..."

...Kaito sat in the water for a moment, lost in that beautiful moment, watching the universe die in wonder and fascination, while his father stood beside him, watching him, disappointed with his reaction...but loving him anyway. Like he always would.

Before chuckling. "A pretty vision. But a message from Atua? Prooooobably not. Pretty sure nothing I do or don't do will stop literal planets from exploding." Kaito laughed. "Still. Wow. I'll never get over the colors."

...he hadn't really said what he was going to say. He kept doing that with Kokichi. Intending to say something to him and then...chickening out.

...Better. You have to be better. Trust him. He's your husband. He's not gonna care either way. Just rip the bandaid off.

"Um..." Kaito sighed, "Did anyone ever tell you why they asked me to give up my claim to the throne? By any chance?"

Kokichi grimaced at the first "vision", it...yeah, not sounding great at all. There were good kinds of pain, sure--eating super spicy food, for instance. Kokichi didn't even have a particularly high spice tolerance; he once tried some five pepper chili someone made for the Harvest feast and he had spent the next hour sobbing into a glass of milk. He wondered how Kaito would handle even moderately spicy food...

But, anyway. Some kinds of pain, sure. But most? Kokichi really couldn't see how it would be nice in any way. Sounded more like someone on despair spores would like...

(Aba's loving fascination even as Tom ripped her arm apart, going to kill her)

...

But the second vision... Kokichi hummed quietly, trying to imagine such a sight. It was before the Luminaries had arrived, but there were shooting stars that you could usually see at the end of summer. Kokichi had always watched them with amazement, even knowing it was space debris burning up. Seeing the beauty in, well, space trash...he supposed seeing stars supernova--or what Kaito's brain would assume it to be--could be awe-inspiring. Kind of...terrifying, if you thought about what it meant, but beautiful.

But Kaito was right. Maybe it was just a metaphor for small actions having large impacts, but for any person to affect the whole universe? Even if every person on the planet tried to do something collectively...like, the universe was huge. Nothing they did would affect the universe.

...the universe didn't care, so you have to.

Kokichi blinked up at Kaito from his contemplative lull, blinking again as he confirmed what Kaito just said. "...you gave up your claim to the throne?" Furrowing his brow, Kokichi pressed his lips together. "...in Luminary...it's...just anyone in your family can be the leader, right? No other requirement or anything."

Kaito's eyes widened. "Oh...you...wow, sorry, I just sorta assumed even that much made it over the border...huh. I did...kinda think it was weird the king would specifically request me, if the point was to actually help you lead someday...maybe he just legit didn't know? Huh..."

"Um, well...okay, so, first of all? I haven't had a claim to the throne since I was twelve, but we all knew it was gonna happen by eleven. Just, ya know, ceremonies and paperwork and rituals to work out. So, just, straight up, by eleven years old... I think I told you once that I grew up never expecting to be in a leadership position? Wasn't ever trained for anything like that? That's why. I just have sorta assumed you knew that this whole time. I keep forgetting how bad our communications were. My bad."

"But, anyway, you're basically right! There's little nuances to it, who in the family gets their claim before someone else, that sort of thing? A bunch of little rules can affect that. For instance, Byakuya and Kaede had more of a claim than my mother does...did," Kaito corrected himself, frowning, "Because they have Momota blood in them, and she was just a, ya know, princess-consort. Bloodline gets precedence over people who marry in, that sort of thing. But also...like."

Kaito blushed, suddenly finding himself...really embarrassed as he admitted, "But, while you can't...force? Someone's claim away unwillingly? Because all Momotas are Atua's chosen...a member of the royal family can willingly give up their claim, and a few of us have, for a variety of reasons. My Aunt Ibuki, for instance? She gave up her claim when her son was born, my cousin Haiji, so that he had a better chance of becoming king someday. Also, I think she was just looking for an excuse, honestly. She's not much for politics. And me...well, my dad asked me...well, okay, he kinda told me to give up my claim, because I had lost the trust of the elite members of society by that point because...word had gotten around that I was...insane?"

Kaito laughed, a tad loudly, rolling his eyes, "It was just kid stuff that went too far and got too many people talking. I was...kinda irrational and would get really angry, like...kinda randomly? And...I grew up, just...convinced I heard Atua talking in my head. Just...literally all the time. We'd hang out. I'd tell him about my day, he'd give me life advice...um, this isn't an issue anymore, by the way!" Kaito was quick to explain, again, just...feeling himself getting more and more embarrassed. "I don't hear voices anymore, or see people! Not since I was a kid! It was just...I got really into my imagination as a kid, and it kinda freaked everyone out, and no one wanted to risk a future where the bi-polar kid with voices in his head became king." Kaito shrugged. Reasonable, honestly. "Though, turns out, had they just waited, like, two years...I'd have been totally fine. It all went away on its own. But yeah. That's all...that nonsense," Kaito said dismissively. "I just wasn't sure how much of that you knew or not...apparently none. Who'd a guessed?" Kaito said with a roll of his eyes.

Honestly...Kokichi thought that choosing who could lead a nation by a bloodline was as dumb as getting a "feeling" about a baby to be the next heir, but...it was important to Kaito. The 'chosen by Atua' thing. Even if the Momota Family had only been in charge for four generations, and in that time they had instituted a brainwashing slavery system on the population, had killed countless people for just even disagreeing with the government, and hoarded wealth obsessively... But, especially if Kaito had been pressured out of politics...Kaito had nothing to do with any of that. Was a victim of the system, even if he hadn't been a victim of poverty.

...and, also...he'd never heard of a Haiji Momota? Was that a different branch of the family or...?

Kokichi's expression fell to concern as Kaito explained why he'd been...forced to give up something he never got the chance to even explore. And...considering the options they'd had, Kokichi really didn't know why any of the "elite" would be "dissatisfied" with a mentally ill leader.

Pouting with a huff, Kokichi nuzzled his husband's chest. "That's dumb and shitty. I'm sorry you had to deal with that. We don't really have claims to leadership here, just, like...expected mentorships, but...just because you're not going to lead in Luminary doesn't mean you can't have a hand in the government here. Doesn't mean you have to, but...like, you can express yourself and your ideas freely."

"Actually...that idea you brought up at the beach? About having a childcare center in a castle? I think that's a really good idea. You should bring it up with Aiichi or Hideki, if you want."

Kaito shrugged, clearly not worried about it. "It's alright. Honestly, I wasn't suited for it. I don't have the head to lead, like you and Byakuya do. I'm good at other things, like, supporting already incredible people to be even better! Bolstering and backing people up! That sort of thing! I have a knack for it!" Kaito bragged, thoroughly content with the place he had found in life for himself. He just liked clearing the road to help other people be the best versions of themselves. It was extremely personally satisfying, seeing his sidekicks succeed at whatever they were too insecure or being roadblocked to really pursue. Kaito had been born with so many gifts and privileges...it made him happy to use those things for other people's benefits.

It was weird. It was really starting to dawn on him that he didn't have those advantages here, in Dicea. That there wasn't really...any leg up he could give anyone here, other than emotional support...he literally couldn't even think of anything for Seiko that wasn't actually laughable to her...

...no! No way! God, fuck that quitters talk! He'd work something out! There had to be something useful he could do for his sidekick! He had promised to help her, and he would! He just...had to figure out what he was actually capable of offering her here!

Kaito felt his shoulders tense up a bit at the idea of bringing up an in-castle or nearby daycare to the king though. That was, uh...not in his usual wheelhouse of tricks... "Uh...yeah? Maybe...maybe I could do that...but, if it was a good idea, they'd already be doing that, right?" Kaito reasoned out, brow furrowing, "Like...it's not a super smart idea or anything. Like, not revolutionary...just parents need places to keep their kids while they're working sometimes. I'm...I'm sure if they could do that they would be, ya know? Like there's probably logistical reasons they don't or something. I don't...wanna waste anyone’s time. And, oof...man, I am certain I am not one of the king’s favorite people right now," Kaito finished dryly, that last part more of a statement of fact rather than his rambling insecurities.

Kokichi giggled softly and nuzzled Kaito a bit. "That you do, love." Even if he didn't have the case studies of Maki and Shuuichi's entire lives, just what Kaito had managed to do for him was astounding. Making people smile and feel better about themselves, giving people the tools to be great...Kaito was amazing at that. And even if it was slow going...Kokichi knew that was the sort of person Kaito could be for so many more people.

Even if Kaito didn't see that as leading...it really was.

Because leading was...

Again, Kokichi furrowed his brow in confusion, not...understanding Kaito's reasoning. "...there are plenty of good ideas out there that aren't being implemented. That's why people come to the castle or write in all the time--to give their opinions and ideas so we can implement them. Like...having a shut-off switch included in every building's plumbing system so if something breaks it won't flood the building. Or arranging festival foods on different tables according to allergy concerns! We changed that this year--we've had little cards by each dish outlining what was in them, but sometimes the cards would get lost, or someone just wouldn't read everything right, and there'd be accidents. Now, just by seeing what table it's on, you can get a good idea if you should just avoid a table altogether! Someone came by at the beginning of the year with that idea."

"Hearing out one of your people is never a waste of time," Kokichi said as if it was a fact of the world. "That is our job as a leader, me and Aiichi. The leader isn't the person with the best ideas--it's the person who can listen to the ideas of all the people they lead, can look at all the resources you have, and can figure out the best way to implement the best ideas. We're organizers, not creators."

Taking a breath, Kokichi realized that had gotten...a little intense. With a sigh, he relaxed back down onto his husband and let his arms to drop to encircle his waist. "...sorry. Work-brain comin' out. I just mean that it's a good idea, and...if you don't wanna bring it out, would you mind if I did? There are a lot of daycares around the city, but none that are particularly close to the castle? I'm sure it would help a lot of people if one started up here."

"Uh...sure," Kaito agreed, holding Kokichi slightly closer to himself with his 'good' arm. "I mean...I can try to help, if there's anything to help with. But as far as just bringing up the idea? Sure, why not?"

Kaito didn't didn't exactly feel comfortable talking to the king or Hideki, just yet. He just...to say he didn't exactly feel like a Dicean yet was an understatement. He very MUCH felt like Kokichi's husband, of course...but not like one of his Diceans. In his head, he was still just a visiting Luminary.

Just one who was...probably never actually going home again.

The only thing he felt any real investment in, when it came to Dicea itself, was his concerns over the potential capital Atuan Temple. And that was more just about him being concerned for the followers, more than anything...okay, and maybe just...wanting to influence how the religion was practiced here a little bit. If he could. To honor his mentor's memory, if nothing else.

But...it sounded like Kokichi liked this daycare idea...maybe getting involved in something like that would make him proud? Might ease some of those...'my husband’s a scary murdering psycho' fears and concerns? Maybe?

It was worth thinking about.

"...when on earth did my sweet, shut-in husband get high?" Kaito asked. Touching on something that had tickled his brain the second Kokichi had mentioned it. "You little delinquent!"

Kokichi smiled a bit, feeling something he hadn't even realized was tense relax in him. He didn't want to force Kaito into politics or a government job. But, whenever they talked about it...it always just felt like Kaito believed he had nothing to contribute, or that he wouldn't be allowed. Not that he didn't want to.

There was...a lot, Kokichi was discovering, that he didn't know, even about his own country. People with mindsets he wouldn't have imagined possible. But just because there was stuff he didn't know about didn't mean that all the stuff he did disappeared. And...one day, he'd get Kaito to see that. Would get Maki and Shuuichi and Tim to too. That kindness and safety and understanding weren't impossibilities.

But it would take time. And Kokichi had to remind himself of that every time he felt like rushing. So he just snorted when Kaito changed the subject. "It was one of the first things I ever told you, remember? There's weed hidden in the community garden. When I was...sixteen, or something, I picked some, and read up on how to process it into something you can smoke."

"Aaaaand, looking back, I was really obvious and dumb," he sighed, closing his eyes at his foolish youth. "Mikaku caught me. I was terrified he'd tell Aiichi...but he just said that anything I'd manage to process would be pretty shit, and that trying to smoke would mess with my lungs."

Kokichi then smirked at the memory, tracing his hands down Kaito's sides. "He brought me some edibles the next day and was the trip-sitter for my first high. Like I said...just felt floaty and giggly. It was nice. Slept like a damn rock afterward."

Kaito snorted, raising an eyebrow. Mikaku, huh? Okay...he could get behind that. Another good one... "Yeah, the stuff I take for the rituals isn't exactly weed. It's like a blend of a bunch of different stuff that basically kinda...it's honestly pretty accurate to say it just kinda gives you sleep paralysis? And makes you dream really intensely while you're awake? Really intense hallucinations. I don't think I've ever even had weed. It's illegal, back in Luminary, and the kinds of parties I went to, the drugs that were passed around were usually designed to make sex feel really good and stuff. Stuff I wouldn't be against trying with you, if you were ever up to it...and if we could even get our hands on it." Kaito chuckled.

"Oh! Kokichi...you and I should totally do the weed together!" Kaito said, eyes wide with excitement at the idea. "We could do all the weeds! You're not, like, fifteen so I can say that now! We should be delinquents together and do the drugs!"

Kaito laughed some more, enjoying acting like an idiot for a moment...before his grin faltered. "Um...maybe not with Shuuichi though. That might be a bad idea."

Sleep paralysis? Everything Kokichi had ever heard or read about it kinda...made it seem like something that you'd never want to purposely put yourself into. A feeling of paranoia and pressure all around your body, seeing creepy monsters and stuff like that. He'd heard of one person that had hallucinated that there were giant spiders all over their ceiling and, YUPP. NOPE. Never gonna do that.

Kokichi huffed something of a laugh, though. "I think I'm good on sex drugs, Kai-chan. You already make fun of me for getting worked up so quickly, and if I was on something that made it feel even better? I'd just be sleeping while you and Shuu-chan get to have all the fun."

Though...if there was something that...didn't necessarily get him turned on more, but just helped him go for another round? Just one more, without completely exhausting him...that could be fun to play with. Would probably let them coordinate more things to make sure all three of them were satisfied.

Kokichi laughed a bit more at Kaito's teasing excitement at trying marijuana, though, when he brought up Shuuichi too... "It'll be his decision," Kokichi sighed, resting his chin on Kaito's chest as he rubbed his hips. "Though...yeah, I could see Shuu-chan not wanting to do any other kinds of drugs after this. Being addicted to something is...incredibly difficult, to say the least, and despair spores being what they are just made it a hundred times worse."

"...he's out of doses now, hm?"

"...yeah..." Kaito murmured, taking his cast arm, which he had been holding over the side of the tub and putting it over his eyes. "The last sticker was this morning and...okay, look, I know I should have already but...I haven't told him yet."

"I should have sat down with him and Seiko when I realized his doses were up to just kinda...figure things out. I still can today, of course, but with getting back to the castle and everything I just...fuck he's going to be so upset..."

Kokichi sighed. "I think she's making some placebo ones. And some really low content ones too? Since he felt so horrible when he tried to stop taking it the other day... I think the plan is to start giving him the placebos, and if he's just throwing up all the time, he can take the really low ones until it really does dwindle to nothing."

"...'s what I think she said, anyway. Wasn't...totally paying attention..." And didn't he feel like a total asshole now. He'd just...had a hard time focusing on much of anything, but when it came to the health of his boyfriend, he should've powered through. Shuuichi needed them right now.

Nosing at Kaito's chest, Kokichi's gaze went half-lidded. "...he's so fuckin' smart. I hope he doesn't figure out the placebos. If he can have peace while being off that shit, I want it to last as long as possible. He's been through enough, and this is barely the beginning."

"What I still don't really get is what she means when she says his 'spore count' is low," Kaito admitted, putting his arm back where it was and admitting to something he had been confused about since day one. "Is he...are we expecting him to go back to normal at some point? Like, the pink eyes, the pink blood, his body...is all of that going back to normal once the pollen's really out of his system? What about his womb thing? I know she said she wasn't expecting him to be on the medicine forever, but does that mean we're putting him on a different birth control, or, like, that that isn't going to be an issue anymore?"

"There's so much I don't understand about this stuff. I know Seiko's doing her best to take care of him, I trust her. I just...wish I understood this more," Kaito admitted, frustrated with how helpless he sometimes felt, when it came to Shuuichi. Shuuichi and Kokichi...there felt like there was so little he could actually do for them...

"Placebos, huh? Maybe it's a good thing I didn't tell him he was on his last one then...I didn't know she was doing that. I just chickened out. Couldn't bear to see the look on his face when he realized the next shitty part of this was starting," Kaito admitted, gritting his teeth for a moment...before relaxing. "Me and Maki will go talk to Seiko later. Maybe you can stay here and look after Shuuichi? We can't have him come with us, after all, and...Maki doesn't want him on his own yet. And with withdrawals starting, she's probably right. We're gonna have to be...way more on top of that. It's been easy so far, but if he's about to feel even worse? We just...kinda gotta stay on top of it. You good to watch him while we go talk to Seiko?"

"I think we all wish we understood it more... That's why Shuu-chan was studying it--because no one knows what it does. Not outside of Danganronpa, anyway." Not even Aba had known...which meant whoever (Monokuma?) was supplying Itch either didn't know either, or didn't tell them.

All the questions Kaito had...Kokichi had them too. Seiko had them too. She was doing her best to figure it all out as quickly as possible, but...it was a monstrous task, even for the best. So far it seemed like the personality effects and the stress response stuff was going back to normal, but everything else? His eyes and blood Kokichi had no idea about, and for the womb...it was a whole organ that had grown. He couldn't imagine it just...going away. Maybe it would be a thing where Shuuichi wouldn't...er, "ovulate" anymore? Or whatever it was that his body was doing to put him into a sort of heat.

And for the rest of the changes to his body...those seemed more like hormonal changes. But Kokichi didn't know of any sort of hormone that would narrow a pelvis. His chest...probably just wouldn't get any bigger, and there were other ways around that, but...Kokichi didn't think Shuuichi's natural balance would encourage his dick to shrink.

...that was all stuff he could talk to Seiko about when he was ready.

Sighing again, Kokichi nodded. "Yeah, I can watch him. I know he doesn't wanna do anything, but...I hope Shuu-chan didn't mean I can't get any cuddle time in. If the two of us are gonna be chillin' I wanna get in snuggle time."

"I'm betting you can do whatever you want in private. I think he was just more worried about us grabbing onto him in the stairwell and stuff, starting rumors. And I think he's literally just trying to keep rumors from specifically Nao," Kaito muttered darkly.

"Though what he hopes to accomplish with that I can only guess...I swear, if he tries to cheat on us with her, I'm actually going to scream at him. Or spar her. Or something. Fuck, I don't know. Just...pisses me off to think about it."

...he hadn't even thought about that. He didn't think Shuuichi would cheat on them, but... "...I don't think she'd accept any advances if he tried... Even if she doesn't know about us, just because of what happened... I mean, she's quitting so he won't have to see her anymore. Nao is fully aware that she was horrible to him, and being around him would only hurt."

Kokichi knew Kaito was still furious with Nao, and Kokichi wasn't happy either, but...he could at least sort of see where she was coming from. And when she'd said she was going to resign, Kokichi knew she was telling the truth. What was done couldn't be taken back, but...she didn't want to hurt Shuuichi more than she already had. He could see that.

"...I was kind of hoping his feelings for her would fade when the spores' influence did, but..." Kokichi shrugged a bit, not knowing what else to say, or even knowing how to elaborate his feelings to himself. He just cared so deeply for Shuuichi, and even if he had to comfort his boyfriend through lost love for someone else...he'd still help him through it.

"...yeaaaaaah, I know. I'm not actually worried about him succeeding. Just...it's gonna hurt my feelings if I hear he tried, ya know? And with her, his head is all..." Kaito didn't have a good word for it, so he just wiggled his fingers vaguely against his temple, "...over the place. He's doing so much better lately but...he's still not really himself. Or, not the guy I grew up with. Maybe that guy is gone...ah well. Whatever. I'll still love him and stuff. It's not his fault all of this happened. I'm just gonna shout at him too, a little. That's all."

"I officially reserve the right to shout at either of you if you cheat on me. I think that's more than reasonable," Kaito grumbled, though his tone made it seem that he was kind of half joking, as he ran soothing circles into Kokichi's back with his stitched hand. "The second another dude's dick enters the picture, or for Shuuichi, Nao's lady parts? I won't fight them...cause that leads to bad things and stuff and I get that and I'm going to be better...and of course I'd never lay a hand on you two. Not for anything... But I at least get to shout."

"Pull a Maki," Kaito grumbled further. "Pierce your god damned ears."

That was a way to put it. Wiggly fingers by your head. Though, hearing that Kaito would still love the person Shuuichi had become, different than he was before... It seemed like a simple thing, but it brought a smile to Kokichi's lips. No person was ever one thing, and people were always in flux, but sometimes big changes happened and...sometimes people didn't want to stay. They weren't obliged to, but...it was still a nice, comforting thing to have that constant among changes. That was something he couldn't be for Shuuichi, since they'd only known each other for such a short time, but Kaito? And Maki, though obviously not in a relationship sense... That was important.

Kokichi laughed softly and littered Kaito's chest with soft kisses. "Absolutely acceptable. If, somehow in a terrible timeline, I ever cheat on Kai-chan, he can shout to the whole city that I'm a horrid, rotten cheater, and I'll deserve all the fallout." He meant it, though the situation was so absurd it sounded like a joke, but then...

Kokichi's expression melted into an absolutely appreciative, proud, smitten look, and he scooted forward a little, inadvertently rubbing his dick along Kaito's on his way to give Kaito a long, deep kiss. He'd said he didn't want Kaito to never fight again, but hearing that he wouldn't fight someone who caught his or Shuuichi's eye? The promise to be better?

He loved Kaito. So much.

Kaito's brow furrowed, actually alarmed at the idea as he said, "Geez, Kokichi, I'm not that big an asshole, I wouldn't tell other peop-mm? Mmmm." Kaito didn't know what had suddenly inspired deep kissing time, but he was more than chill with it, leaning back into the ceramic of the tub and letting Kokichi take the lead on it, just matching the intensity and pressure offered in kind.

He did feel a shiver run up his spine as certain other parts of them were...caught up in the movement, and he immediately went back to mentally scolding himself as he felt his body start to perk up at that smallest bit of attention. Seriously, Kaito? Are you twelve again? Literally someone just has to graze your dick and you're horny again? Get it together. Ya can't fuck Kokichi every time he's naked around you! You're married! He's gonna be naked a lot! It's an unreasonable expectation!

...well, okay, maybe he could at least feel up his ass a little.

Kaito was just letting his hand explore, really, going down his waist, feeling the little bumps and curves of Kokichi's too thin frame, before settling on the small bumps of his ass. He left his fingers there to squeeze gently for a bit, wondering idly, for a moment, if his stitches felt weird or uncomfortable against Kokichi's skin...between his 'accident' with his last prayer session before they left for the trip, the stitches on his arm still there (though Seiko said those could come out in a day or two now, though she had tsk'd plenty when she realized Kaito had done them himself) and the stitches on his palm, his right arm was just a Frankenstein's monster worth of small, black stitches.

But, again, the stitches against the underside of his arm could come out tomorrow or the next day, whichever, and the ones on his palm he was only meant to keep in a week, and she said that at the end of this week, she'd open up the cast and check on the arm to see if he was good to go or needed another...well, another two weeks if not....

But! The point was that he was almost done! And he'd be totally healthy relatively soon! And heeeeeee'd try not to fuck up his arms anymore!! Ha!

Oh! Maybe he'd put his arm back in the sling when the front line fighters got here? Really play up the 'totally not a threat' look? Hmmmm...

Kokichi huffed into the kiss as he felt Kaito's wandering hand eventually settle on his ass, and while he kept one arm on Kaito's shoulder to make sure he wouldn't slip down, he let his other explore in kind, caressing Kaito's chest and abs and hip...

Kokichi knew his ass was practically nonexistent. Anything that wasn't defined by bones pretty much was with him. And the first couple times Kaito had started to grope his flat ass, he'd assumed it was just out of habit, but...maybe Kaito actually liked it? What a concept.

Happily exploring Kaito's mouth, playing with his tongue, it felt too short when he had to pull back for air, though he did nip at Kaito's lip on the way back. But, even with the surge of affection...Kokichi was happy to just kiss. As he caught his breath, he gazed at Kaito with a proud tenderness in his eyes, leaning back in for just a peck.

"...you're a really good guy, you know that? Of all the people to be married to...I'm really lucky it turned out to be you." Even with his anger issues and the Luminous morality that wouldn't fly in Dicea...at the end of the day, Kaito was good. Not because he never made mistakes, but because he tried so hard to learn from those mistakes, to be better than he was yesterday. And seeing all that...it was amazing.

Kaito's face lit up a little at the sincere compliment, a streak of red burning across his face as he looked away from Kokichi, embarrassed but bolstering as he said, "Well, of course! I'm Kaito Ouma Momota, Luminary Prince of the Stars, Dicean Prince of the Cactus Fields! Hero of the fifteen year war! And, ya know..." Kaito laughed, losing the voice as he said, a bashful flush burning his face again, "Sometimes a good kind of guy. At least according to my husband, who is, just, so biased." Kaito teased said husband, placing a big, obnoxious kiss against Kokichi's cheek.

"I should come up with a title for you," Kaito mused, settling back into the ceramic, staring at the ceiling as if it might have a title waiting and available for him. "You don't want to wait for other people to do it, trust me. They always wait until, like, a hundred years after you’re dead to give you a cool ass title. You want a title for yourself while you're alive? Gotta just go ahead and make one yourself. It's the only way. Tragic, I know, but that's the truth of it."

"Hmmmm..." Kaito hummed to himself, looking down at Kokichi curiously. "Maybe...Kokichi Momota Ouma...hmmm...you like plants. Maybe something to do with plants...Dicean Prince of the Gardens? That's pretty, but it doesn't say much on its own...I picked stars because they're amazing, of course, but also because I was born the same week Atua's star shows in the sky, ya know? So I figured, when I was a kid, that being the Luminary Prince of the Stars was both an ode to Atua, and also, like, suggesting that I was cool and big enough to claim a place among them. Stuff like that. Symbolic and stuff. Hmmm...Kokichi Momota Ouma, Dicea Prince of...maybe it doesn't even have to be in that format? I'm biased because of my own title. It could be...hmmmm..."

Kokichi settled back down on top of Kaito, watching, amused, as his husband expounded on having a title, and what Kokichi's should be. So cute... "Mm? Oh, you said why you came up with a title, but not why that one in particular--that's cool. Kind of like an astrology thing, like how people used to think that being born under certain things meant that you'd do certain things in your life."

He snorted softly as Kaito thought through titles to give him, and he shook his head a bit. "You know, I've caught people calling me the Light of Dicea? Ridiculous, in my opinion, but people can call me whatever the hell they want. They seem happy to use it, anyway."

He'd always heard people refer to him like that with pride and fondness in their voices, so at least it wasn't a sarcastic nickname. He had no idea where it had come from, considering he had never really done anything in particular to...lead the country or anything, just the normal stuff, but...it was a kind sentiment all the same.

"Oh! Kokichi Momota Ouma, Light of Dicea? That's so cool! ...waaaaaait, whaaaat?" Kaito gaped, looking down at Kokichi in open surprise. "They...you just got a title!? From, like, your own people!? That's...wow, Kokichi! That's really cool!" Kaito gushed, ignoring that slightly jealous ping in his chest. It wasn't fair of Kaito to be envious. Kokichi was the future king of Dicea, and he was going to be an amazing one on top of that! It made sense that his people recognized that! Awesome!

"Light of Dicea...that's really pretty too...it suits you. Kokichi Momota Ouma, Light of Dicea...I love it." Kaito grinned, kissing the top of Kokichi's head. "I'm gonna start introducing you as that to people. You can't stop me. This is happening."

Kokichi shrugged a bit, flushing at Kaito's gushing. "Like I said, I've just heard people say it. Like...I'll catch people talking about me, and they'll use the term... I don't think it's an actual title or anything..."

While he rolled his eyes a little, Kokichi huffed a soft laugh and nuzzled Kaito's chest. "Sure, hun, whatever you want. I'm still gonna introduce myself as 'Kokichi', but people can just call me 'pipsqueak' for all I care. I never really got the fuss over titles and all that."

"Like...I know why Aiichi does it; to instill a greater sense of community, but it does make him sound like a high and mighty pretentious fuck sometimes."

Kaito raised an eyebrow. "Does he have a title? I don't think I've ever heard it? ...you don't mean 'Boss', do you? Because that sounds less like a title and more like a...fuck, I don't know. Something you call the guy fixing the carriage or something...like, playful. Ya know?"

"Mm. Boss and brother. Like, barely anyone calls him king or your highness or any of that other stuff, and that's how he likes it. Helps people avoid thinking that...I dunno, he's above them or something. Weird worshippy elitist stuff." Kokichi rolled his eyes a little, not thinking about how his husband interpreted all that stuff. "And, like, people still call him other stuff too, but just using his name or those two are what he insists on. As long as you can tell someone's talking to you, I don't see why it matters so much."

Kaito went quiet for a moment, wondering if this was...something he should...

...no. Just keep it to yourself. You don't...you don't want to argue your mother’s points to your husband...you probably don't even really understand her points, and you'd explain them wrong, and Kokichi was happy with you right now and...

Yeah. Keep it to yourself.

Though, on that topic...maybe he should warn him about... "Um. I think...maybe some of the castle staff might be a little mad at me? So...I don't know. I'll take care of it, but if you hear anything, don't worry about it, okay? Like, I might just need to take some time to...get people less annoyed with me. Is all."

Kokichi blinked up at his husband before raising an eyebrow...and then looking away in sad regret. That...came kind of out of nowhere, but maybe it had just been on Kaito's mind. Sure, Kaito shouldn't have tried to beat Budd to death, but...he was going to accept the consequences of that. Everything that happened after...wasn't his fault.

Some people would look for any excuse to hate Kaito, though.

"I'm gonna worry," he sighed, hugging around Kaito's waist again. "People shouldn't blame you for that...but if they do...I'll be here for backup, alright?"

"Hmmm. Thanks babe," Kaito said, hugging him back, before grinning brightly down at him. "But it's totally gonna be okay! I'm gonna be, just...way better, okay! I'm your prince-consort, and, honestly? I've been...super neglecting that part of my status."

"Like, back at home, half my job would be public relation stuff, usually. Like, I'm supposed to be making the royal family look better...I mean, that's what I thought my job was going to be coming here," Kaito admitted, shrugging a little. "Mom didn't have a lot of time to teach me, because we both only found out a few months out when my father finalized the agreement with yours, but my mom tried to prepare me for what I'd be expected to do when I got here. Work with the castle staff, keep up favorable relations with the Dicean elite, try to present a positive image of the family to commoners, establish trust...that sorta stuff. Public relation stuff."

Kaito laughed, shaking his head, "Man, the culture difference though...pfffff, man, I can't even imagine trying to explain to my mom there isn't even a Dicean elite." And he'd never have to. Now. "She'd be so confused...actually, ya know what? I can imagine it. She wouldn't believe me. She'd probably be convinced her poor kid just can't figure out who's who, shaking her head over my letters and trying desperately to explain to me what to look for, thinking the stuff she told me just hadn't sunk in properly...yeah, she tried to teach me some stuff about being a consort before I left."

She had also had a lot of marriage advice for him. Don't forget that you're a spouse in his house. The second you forget it, someone will remind you. Respect his position, but carve out some rooms strictly for yourself. Don't trust the servants. Don't trust the elites. Don't trust anyone. Don't fight with him. If you're angry, remove yourself from the area, rather than argue. If it gets really bad, take a trip. When you have children, don't make friends with the nannies, and replace them often, but pick your tutors carefully and keep them for life.

Convince your husband to adopt as soon as you can. Once you have children, it's harder to justify replacing you to people.

...yeah. A lot of...very...eye-opening conversations, Kaito had had with his mother those last few months. He had found himself looking at her totally differently, by the end. Every protective instinct flaring up. Just...alarmed and worried...

And Kaito had, apparently, been right to worry.

But not about his father.

Who'd have guessed.

His voice soft, sentimental, he said, "...that wasn't all she did though. I mean, it's what was expected of her, but she ended up getting involved in a lot of programs on her own. Trying to kind of...make up for some slack in those departments. She wasn't raised to do that stuff and...honestly wasn't very good at it. And a lot of people sabotaged her efforts...but she really was trying. We have, like...another famine coming up? By the end of this generation? That's what all of our farmers are telling us, anyway, and when Mom found out, she started trying to fix the pay-discrepancy and unemployment issues we have, hoping, I think, that doing so would put the population in a better position to prep for a famine...but a lot of the resources she needed ended up always going to the war, and the wealthy suuuuper didn't like some of the ideas she was putting out, and most of them didn't go anywhere..."

"But she did try." Kaito sighed. Feeling tired and far-away all of the sudden. Exhausted even. "...she deserves better than what people say about her. She wasn't...she didn't..."

Kaito grit his teeth, sucking in a breath, closing his eyes, brow furrowed...back tensing...that rage starting to build in him again...

...and he let out the breath, laughing. "Sorry. Tangent. Gotta love 'em. Anyway...I'm gonna get out in a sec, babe. Put my posters up. Talk to Seiko with Maki. Be back by the time dinner gets sent up. Yeah. That's the plan! Since I'll have to go out to town to talk to Seiko, do you want me to bring you back anything?" Kaito asked, the tension gone from his face. Relaxed and cheerful again.

Sure, the spouse of the leader could do public relations stuff if they wanted. Ideally, the leader's spouse would be complementary to them, strong in places the leader was weak. It didn't always work out that way, but that was the idea behind how the leader was supposed to marry. The only person in the kingdom who was expected to marry, the only person in the kingdom who was expected to have a kid, whether biologically, adopted, or just taking a young person under their wing to mentor. And by the leader and the leader's spouse ideally having a well-rounded understanding of the world and leadership, then the heir would be able to absorb those lessons and be the best of them both.

So...yeah. Depending on what they were good at, the leader's spouse could handle public relations, or policy decisions, or grant funds, or...really, whatever they could do. Miyako hadn't had much time to do anything, but...she brought an eye to the sciences and the biases in the field. Kokichi knew that the grant system for research had been heavily altered during her time in the castle.

Kokichi listened to Kaito talk about his mother, a more muted ache of grief in his chest, along with the worry of...an upcoming famine? That was...something he'd need to think about. Probably with Aiichi...

But, for all of the horrible things that had happened during Kaito's parents' rule...they were still people, and from Kaito's perspective, at least...his mother had tried to change things. And even if it hadn't worked out...trying still meant something. He knew Kaito was biased. But...he still wanted to believe that Leon and Sayaka were people who just made a lot of mistakes. It wasn't the whole story...but they were people who had been cruelly killed, and for that, Kokichi could sympathize with his husband.

Sighing softly, Kokichi kissed Kaito's cheek. "...your parents didn't deserve that, and I know it's hard to talk about, but...I really am sorry, Kai-chan. I'll let you get to your shrine, though."

Kaito wasn't allowed to grieve, and giving him the space to would only stress him out. So Kokichi would say his piece and move on, not expecting Kaito to respond. Hopefully in whatever space he could think about it, his condolences would help.

Moving to the other side of the tub, Kokichi got off of Kaito and stretched out in the water. "Okay. I think I'm actually gonna wash up, and I should be done by the time you and Maki-chan are gonna head out, so I can hang with Shuu-chan." Giving his husband a smile, Kokichi half-shrugged. "I think I'm alright for now. Thanks though."

Kaito gave Kokichi one more kiss before taking himself out of the tub, the water splashing out a little at their movement as Kaito stretched. Those little moments with Kokichi were...kinda hard, sometimes.

Hell, those moments would be kind of hard with anyone...Kaito knew better than to try to talk about his parents to Shuuichi or Maki. He knew his sidekicks hated them. A lot of his friends did. Some people had been kind enough not to say it around Kaito, but he had still known. No one had hated them more than his own mentor, after all.

And his own brother.

Kaito laughed to himself. Fixing his hair in the mirror real quick. Deeeeeefinitely not thinking about that!

Anyway. Besides all that even, everyone in Dicea either didn't know anything about them or hated them by reputation. Kaito knew that too. Which was totally understandable! Fifteen year war! It'd be super weird if they didn't have a reputation. Right??

Honestly....only Kokichi was probably really willing to listen to anything he had to say about them, just because, well...he was Kaito's husband and...he loved Kaito and stuff.

...Kaito...didn't really know how Kokichi felt about his parents and probably wouldn't want to know. He knew what their reputations were. He knew that there were...a lot of toasts like the one Budd had given, happening now, and would probably happen on the day of their funerals. It hurt to think about it, but...they were...stupid, and bad at their jobs, and Byakuya would do better than both of them on his own, and it wasn't okay to grieve them...

Oh. Right. The funeral. He should probably check his mailbox. There was probably an official invitation in there by now.

Enough! Enough, enough, enough! "Alright, I'm going! Love ya babe! Me and Maki will bring Shuuichi by in a bit! Love ya, love ya!" Kaito called out, heading to the closet and throwing some clothes on before grabbing his posters and heading out the door.

Kokichi watched Kaito go, worried. It would be hard enough for anyone to go through what Kaito had, but then he wasn't even allowed to think about it? No matter what happened in the future...that was something he would never forgive Byakuya for. Kaito couldn't be angry, so, even more than just loving him...Kokichi would be furious on his behalf.

"I love you, Kai-chan!" Kokichi responded before sighing and starting to wash himself up.

-

Waku made the bed in quick, practiced movements, pulling the sheets smooth and tight. They'd all had a briefing, that their old coworkers might choose to move somewhere else after returning from the war, but for the time being, their rooms were being set back up. Well, those of them that had lived in the castle before, anyway.

She couldn't imagine Ikuo moving out--along with Mr. Fukui, he was one of the most senior members of the castle staff, and this was where Kokichi lived, of course! No way he would want to live away from his son.

Sei had sold his place when he left so he'd probably be staying in the castle until he could get a new one...and IQ was probably going to stay with his brother? It seemed likely, at least. And Kirumi... Waku wanted to say she would stay in the castle again, but there wasn't enough evidence to see without seeing her again.

Well, making sure her room was nice and clean would probably help!! Waku made sure it was damn near spotless before she left, locking the door behind her and taking away the old bedding.

And immediately panicking and running down the hall when she heard the tell-tale tempest that was Kokichi's husband...

Kaito had apologized to her before, and it had been sincere. Waku knew that there was something scrambling his brain at the time, but...the prince was still so...aggressive and suspicious, constantly. Wanting to kill them...

Waku squeezed the sheets to her chest, trying to wait for the prince to pass by so she could head back downstairs.

As Kaito wrangled the three posters in his arms, heading down the hall, it occurred to him that he'd need tape. Obviously...

Where would he find tape?

Probably one of the offices in the castle. Maybe down in the med bay? Would they have just...normal scotch tape? Who could he ask...he could go back and ask Kokichi, but that felt a little silly. Kaito was a grown man. He could find tape without going back to his still washing husband and sheepishly asking where some was. He'd just ask someone! He'd ask someone...um...

...he could maybe just go back downstairs and knock on Maki's door?

Come on, Kaito, stop being an idiot. Just ask a Dicean. There's SO many staff members in this castle, all the time. There were so few parts of this castle at literally any point that didn't have people in it. Literally ask anyone. Who was there to ask...

Kaito glanced up and down the hall and...didn't see anyone.

...well, whatever. Usually there was someone.

Kaito had no idea what the other doors on this floor led to. Maybe one of them was an office? He'd just...

The Luminous Prince just started opening up random doors, giving small little knocks on the other side and when no one answered, just opening it up. Bedrooms. Hm...what about this next door...another bedroom. Was this floor all bedrooms? What, just a bunch of bedrooms and one random room and storage closet for painting? Bedroom...oh wait. A dance room? Weird spot for a dance room...

Oh, no no no no, he was searching for something? He didn't forget where that closet he was using was, right? Boss had let them know that the old art closet was being used for religious worship by the Luminous Prince and that the closet was to be taken out of the cleaning rotation. Haneda said that it smelled like old blood...

Waku knew the boss wouldn't let someone be, like, killing animals in a closet, but, still, it was weird and gross! Super creepy!

Waku backed up as Kaito looked around, trying to circle around, but...maybe she could just...dart past? Sure...the prince had been startlingly fast that first day...had held her arm so tightly she was sure the bone would break, had a sword about to come down at her...

Swallowing in fear, Waku made a break for it.

As Kaito marveled at the wall to wall mirrors...man...having sex with someone in here would be amazing...too bad both of his lovers were so body-shy. And they were so pretty too...some people had all the luck and just didn't realize it. Kaito had never looked that pretty as a stick. He didn't look nearly as good without muscles. Freaking pretty boys...well, heh, at least they were his pretty boys...wow Kaito was so luck-huh?

Kaito turned back from the dance room, just in time to see a flash of pink whip down the hallway towards him, a housekeeper (he knew this one. She was the one he had to apologize to) clearly meaning to rush past, a look of anxious fear on her face...

"Hey? Are you okay? Uh-" he asked the approaching blur, watching her run for a second...

And then Kaito immediately snarled. Squaring his shoulders as he looked down the hallway where she had come from.

Something dangerous was down there.

He let her run past, immediately moving to the middle of the hallway to put himself between her and whatever she was running from, eyes darting around. Where was it? Who was it? Someone in one of the rooms? What would make a small, pretty housekeeper in an otherwise isolated floor make a panicked run for it but not stop and ask him for help? Something had happened that had embarrassed her, maybe?

...Fuckers.

Rage started to lick at Kaito's blood. Tossing his posters aside onto the ground, he moved down the hall. Determined to find the asshole.

Waku held her breath as she ran down the stairs, not hearing heavy footsteps follow after her. Okay...okay...she was safe...she was safe here. Kokichi and Aiichi promised that she would be safe...

That was before they had invited a monster into the castle. One that guilted Kokichi out of the safe castle, made him so sad and sick...one that would kill everyone else... Waku trembled and felt that old, frantic fear well up inside her...and she took a breath and let it go. Even if killing the monster would save everyone else...she couldn't be sure of that.

...she needed to talk to Aiichi. Get her head screwed on right again.

Kaito checked room after room.

He did indeed find an office-looking space, near the end, but he dismissed it when he didn't see anyone in it, continuing his search.

The floor was literally barren. Was it always this empty up on the fourth floor right wing? Other than originally putting together his shrine, Kaito hadn't had too many reasons to visit up here before. And it seemed like there were a lot of event rooms and bedrooms. Just...no people?

Maybe that was why he had been given the storage closet to use as a shrine? Lack of traffic up here?

What the fuck was she running from? Kaito turned the corner and went past the lounge area, and at least down this side of the wing there were more people. Some sort of...class it looked like? Or maybe some sort of summer club? Of young adults hanging outside of a room, a few of them wearing goggles around their necks or on their heads, clearly waiting for someone to come unlock the door and let them in. Was it someone down here? But there was no privacy to hurt someone here...

What had probably happened was someone had been down the hall, harassed the housekeeper, and then left from the other side when she ran. Yeah...that made sense. Shit, Kaito should have moved faster. He had been trying to be somewhat sneaky. If you knew you were about to get into a fight before you actually got into it, it usually didn't pay to give yourself away if you didn't have to. But if he had ran, he probably could have caught the fucker before they got to the next wing...

...shit.

Okay...he'd talk to the housekeeper about it later. What was her name again? Wak...u? Waku. She was safe now, having gotten away from the person, so it didn't seem urgent...and Kaito didn't want to try to catch her while other people were around. There was nothing worse than airing someone's business out for anyone to see, especially when it came to stuff like...what Kaito suspected happened. He knew that better than anyone. But he'd get her alone and ask her who had frightened her. Promise to deal with it for her. Hell, she was the one he had attacked when drugged, right? He owed it to her anyway.

Feeling content with this reasoning, Kaito gave up the search, determined to revisit the problem the second he could get her alone in the future. Heading back to the east wing, Kaito picked up his posters where he had left them (stopping by the office he had found to grab some tape from the desk), and headed to his shrine.

-

For once, Kokichi was brushing out his hair, still a little damp from the bath. It didn't do much to make it look any neater, but if he left it for too long then the tangles would get super painful to brush out. He could always just cut them out...

He snorted to himself, imagining Kaito's reaction if he realized that half the reason Kokichi's hair was uneven was because he couldn't be assed to brush his hair as much as he should, and so just cut the worst of the tangles out. He would half expect Kaito to demand to brush Kokichi's hair every morning after finding that out.

Kokichi had originally picked out a pair of fuzzy pajama bottoms and a loose, sleeveless shirt to change into, and while it was comfortable...

There were bruises on his shoulders from where he'd been tossed against the carriage and the ground...red marks around his wrists and elbows from the rope...

After he finished with his hair, Kokichi returned to the closet with an uncomfortable expression on his face, picking out a long-sleeved sleep shirt instead. Idly rubbing his wrists for a moment, he looked around their room, lost...before heading down the hall to Maki's room, giving it a few knocks.

Maki answered, of course, and Kokichi likely knew her well enough by now that he knew she only opened the door halfway because she was holding a weapon on the other side of the door, ready just in case, a brief moment of suspicion in her eyes...before they softened at seeing who had stopped by. "Oh. Hello, Kokichi."

Opening the door wide, tucking her two daggers back into her skirt, she called back into the room, "Shuuichi. Kokichi's here. Did you want to come in?" She asked the Dicean Prince, stepping aside, to let him in if he wished, "Or did you need something?"

Kokichi gave Maki a smile as he came in, though only a few steps. "I was wondering if I could hang out with you guys for a bit? Kai-chan and I finished unpacking and he went to go deck out his shrine, and..."

...and he didn't want to be alone. Sure, they had planned for him and Shuuichi to hang out while Kaito and Maki went to town, but...from how Kaito had phrased it, it felt like they were just expecting Kokichi to be in their room. And his room was comfy and everything, and he wouldn't mind if he and Shuuichi went back over to hang once Maki left, but...

...he just wanted to be around people. Not with his own circling thoughts.

Playing with his sleeves a bit, Kokichi shrugged. "...Kai-chan went down to ask if someone could bring dinner up for all of us later, so...I dunno. If you wanted to hang out til then and eat together?"

There was a brief moment of hesitation on Maki's face. She was a little worried about Shuuichi right now. He had been quiet and notably stressed looking, ever since they got in this afternoon...and all of her blueprints and stuff were still out, which could stress Kokichi out...

It was okay. One problem would solve the other. Kokichi being around would probably soothe whatever was wrong with Shuuichi, and Maki could just put her plans away. It was probably unhealthy for her to be obsessing over them right now anyway. She was just trying to distract herself from her own stress...with a different kind of stress. Sigh. She really didn't know how to take a break, honestly.

"Of course. I apologize that there's not a lot to do in my room though," Maki said, a tad sheepishly, as she moved aside more to allow Kokichi in.

Maki's room was a bedroom...technically. By this point. In the relatively short time Maki had lived here, she had stripped the room for parts and repurposed everything for planning purposes, training purposes, and defense. Her window had a clearly home-made and unsightly looking reinforcement around it, making it more difficult to break into, and a black bug screen on the inside, to make it harder to see inside unless you were on the outside of the window specifically peering in, but her curtains had been taken down entirely, not wanting to miss anything if someone was trying to sneak in or past her window. On the ground in front of it was a weapons case, open, but Maki had taken one of the curtains for the windows and repurposed it to be put over the crate, so that she could just pull the curtain back to get at her weapons, but could keep them hidden when she wasn't using them, and also give any dumb bastard who crawled in through the window and assumed the crate had a solid top a painful surprise.

Otherwise there were things Maki had just straight up scavenged from the rest of the castle...wooden planks that she had hung up onto the walls with circles and numbers drawn onto them, covered in impact marks from weapons of a variety of sizes. One part of the room was clearly refurbished to be a sort of make-shift gym, a variety of items stacked there that would result in a variety of weights to work with, such as cinderblocks, some tied or glued together to create heavier cinderblocks, a heavy, decorative stone she had stolen from one of the walking paths, and a rope that she had tied to the ceiling and used for body strength training.

And on the far wall, on the other side of the bed Shuuichi was currently resting on, the curtain rods that she had disconnected from around the window were nailed into the wall, and the remaining curtain was put up, with a desk in front of it that had been a vanity desk, but the mirror was taken off and was leaning against the other wall, abandoned. The curtain, currently pulled aside, if allowed to fall, would have covered Maki's...well...

Put plainly? The desk was covered in blueprints and notebooks, but the wall was covered in pictures and strings, notes attached haphazardly to the pictures (most drawn in Shuuichi's style, but a few of the spots where clearly a portrait was supposed to be were just names and titles on a piece of paper, neither Shuuichi or Maki knowing what they looked like), and staring back from the wall were dozens and dozens of people of...'interest'. To Maki. Connected to each other by colorful bits of yarn, each color holding significant meaning to Maki and her research.

She went over to the wall and loosened the rope keeping the curtain aside, letting it fall over the wall, as she started to put away the blueprints. Saying as she worked, "Of course you're welcome to spend as much time here with us as you want. You're always welcome, Kokichi. And if you wanted to bring anything from your room to work on in here, that's fine with me."

Shuuichi glanced over at Kokichi from the bed, still holding his pillow, and smiled to see him. "Hey Kokichi...weird being back, huh?"

Maybe if Kokichi hadn't known Maki as well as he did by that point, the state of her room would've been startling. As it was, it was mostly amusing...and a little sad, but Kokichi didn't allow himself to dwell on that feeling much. Maybe one day Maki would feel comfortable enough to...maybe not train every day, or meet someone and not immediately think about all the openings they had. But, for now, it made her more comfortable to keep up her vigilance, and it wasn't like she had ever gone out to attack anyone without a reason even a Dicean could get behind, so...it was just very her.

Kokichi stuck his tongue out as he went over to sit on the floor in front of the bed, right by Shuuichi, giving Maki an amused look. "Nu-uh--Maki's not obligated to entertain me in her own room, and I'm happy to be here because it's where she and Shuu-chan are."

He saw the blueprints. Understood what the concept wall was after a moment. But...she wasn't asking him about them, so they didn't have to talk about it. He was still waiting on a response from Kaede, after all, and there wasn't anything he could do until then.

...at least his letter would get there before news would...

Tipping his head back, Kokichi smiled back at Shuuichi, trying to stow those wobbly feelings away. "Yeah. Like...I haven't really talked to anyone yet, but... I dunno. I've spent my whole life here, but now it kinda feels different? Is that normal for taking a trip?"

Shuuichi shrugged, then paused, considering the question seriously. "...sometimes," he decided, adjusting the cap on his head up a little to get a better view of Kokichi as he mused, "I had plenty of trips away from the capital that, when I returned, nothing felt different...but there were a few that made everything feel a little foreign and strange. I imagine if I went back now, for instance, it'd be incredibly startling."

"The place doesn't change. You change," Maki said simply, finishing packing her things away, looking the desk over...before starting to feel annoyed. Restless. She couldn't really be still right now...

One by one, she took all her daggers out of her skirt and placed them on the now empty desk, before taking three of them and going to the opposite wall of one of her hanging planks. As she did so, she said idly, just wanting to be a part of the conversation, but also having opinions on this subject, "You can't expose yourself to new places, people, and things without it influencing you in some way. Or, if you can, then you're probably an exceptionally closed minded piece of shit who was doomed from the get-go."

She looked between her hanging planks, trying to decide how difficult she wanted to make this for herself...she was a week out of practice. Probably could go with the medium one. "Travel...maybe this is a morbid metaphor, but it's its own kind of death, really. Same as any big life experience. The person who left isn't the person who comes back, if the experience is new enough. That's why familiar things feel foreign. You're looking at it through a new person's eyes...and if you're lucky, the person who comes back is better than the one who left..."

Shuuichi listened to this...and snorted a little. Giving Maki a raised eyebrow and a small, fond smile. "That's very poetic, Maki."

"Shut up. It's true. People need to travel. Every selfish asshole on the planet should be required to travel a year on their own." One by one, she started to throw each dagger, rapidly hitting certain numbers she was aiming for, throwing the last dagger with a particular amount of angry force as she said, "Make them humble as they struggle. Gives them perspective as they learn to cope. Maybe changes how they talk to people..." Before going to collect the daggers, pulling them from the plank...and then glancing at Kokichi. "Would you like a go?"

Kokichi nodded a bit at Maki's explanation. It was sort of something he'd figured, but...actually having left the city for the first time, it was kind of startling how true it was. He knew some of it was because everything that had...happened hadn't...left him in the best mindset, and he was probably tired from travel, even if he didn't really feel it at the moment, but the castle felt...colder. More distant. Quieter.

...or maybe it was like Maki said, and it was him that was those things.

That nervous uncertainty was back, and Kokichi watched Maki throw her daggers, frowning in worry at her anger. "...it's important to experience different perspectives. To get outside your comfortable bubble. Apart from, yanno, seeing amazing things, that's why I'd wanted to travel so much..." And...well, he had seen different perspectives, for better or worse.

Kokichi took a slow breath, fussing with his sleeves before he looked back up at Maki, a little surprised that she'd offer...but she'd be able to deflect if his aim went wide. She had said she wanted to give him another lesson soon.

Getting up from the floor, he gave her a nod and a small smile. "...should I aim for one target, or try to get one dagger in each, or...?"

Maki looked at Kokichi for a moment, considering...before saying to Shuuichi, "Hey. Go sit by the window."

Shuuichi gave Maki a slightly startled look, before nodding. "Okay," he agreed, standing up and, taking his pillow with him, heading to the window. Like Kokichi and Kaito's window, there was a small ledge that was fairly comfortable for sitting on if you wanted to, and careful to go around the weapon crate, Shuuichi sat at the window.

Maki did some mental logistics, working out the odds of a trajectory heading in that direction...he'd be good. Looking back down at Kokichi, she said, "Throw one after another. Just as hard as you can. Really put your whole upper body into it. I don't care if you hit the target, or make a mark. Just put all your strength into the swing. And since Tim isn't here, we're not going three at a time. I'm gonna go collect the rest of the daggers from the desk, and keep handing you more until I don't have any left."

She did so, going to the desk and collecting them, placing them carefully in her skirt just to hold them, and then, after a moment of consideration, she went to a corner of the room that had a pile of random junk she hadn't found a use for yet, and pulled out a small, thick chunk of wood that Maki had considered using as a sharpening block but found the texture slightly too sturdy for. Going back to Kokichi, one dagger already in her hand, the block in the other, she handed him the first dagger, saying, "Don't be afraid of bounce back. Don't worry about myself or Shuuichi. Trust me to take care of anything that could go wrong. Just focus on throwing as hard as you can, as fast as you wish to."

Taking a step back from Kokichi, she said, almost as an afterthought, "...and while you do, why don't you tell us what seems different about the castle, now that you're back."

Kokichi was a little surprised at his goal. Like he'd thought before, wasn't it more important to be able to aim than to hit something really hard? But...well, she was the teacher in this situation. No harm in trying it out.

Setting himself in front of the target wall--he did kinda wanna hit the wood if he could, to make future repairs easier--Kokichi took a look as he stretched his shoulders. Before giving Maki a startled glance. Though...when she handed him the first dagger, he adjusted himself into the stance he'd used last time, rearing back and used the horizontal force she'd showed him, launching the dagger at the wall.

"...I don't really know how to explain it...and we've barely been back, so I'll probably feel differently later..."

He did manage to hit the blade against the wall, it making a clanking sound before thudding on the ground. He threw another.

"...it feels colder. Or...like it's...smaller than I thought." He hit one of the planks and was a little pleased to see a mark in the wood. "Though...I think that makes more sense. The amount I've seen of the world, physically, has literally...doubled? More than that? If you count the roads we traveled on...though the town was smaller than the city... And, well, the ocean is now the biggest thing I've ever seen in perspective. Like, obviously the moon and every star you can see is bigger, not to mention space itself, but they're so far away that I don't think they really count..."

Kokichi rambled softly, focused on throwing the daggers as hard as he could, hoping to accomplish whatever this lesson was about. Even if by the fourth he was already breathing heavier.

"I remember feeling that way about the...well, about my first home away from the orphanage. It seemed so big and important while I was there, and then...when I left for awhile and came back, the first thing I noticed was how low the ceilings were. How cramped it all felt," Shuuichi observed, watching Kokichi throw at the wall, recognizing what Maki was trying to do, and...well, he appreciated her trying to help, though he wasn't sure if Kokichi was suited for this. It worked on Kaito pretty much every time, and it worked sometimes for Shuuichi...but Kaito was used to releasing his tension and anxieties in a physical way, and Shuuichi usually had to be tricked into it for it to work for him, otherwise he tended to just give up before getting the benefits.

He wasn't sure if Kokichi would get that same release that she was aiming for. His boyfriend was a lot of things, but...physical wasn't really one of them.

Still, he was happy to help her try for him, and encouraged the conversation as he added in, "And that was just a physical observation. The people, the things that happened there...it all became weirdly...unimpressive? In comparison to the world around it, I mean. It was a strange feeling. It made me feel both weirdly small and...kinda freeing, I guess. Less bound to it."

"Humbling and perception," Maki agreed matter-of-factly, handing Kokichi a dagger every time his hand was free. "The people thing, especially...that was invaluable for me, personally...it's easy to see someone as all-powerful when you're stuck under their thumb, but then you go somewhere else where their name means nothing and all the rules that dictated your whole life are laughable concepts... and come back? And you realize how pathetic it all is...how fake it all is...or, at least, that's how it was for me, my first time traveling...here, I see you're trying the stance. Watch me for a second. See my hip?" Maki prompted, putting a hand on his shoulder real quick to get his attention, showing him the movement once she had it. "It's gonna feel silly. Like you’re jutting theatrically. That's okay. It doesn't look as silly as it feels, and it'll keep your swing more balanced. Give it a shot. Hard as you can."

Kokichi didn't really feel like the castle was unimpressive now. But...maybe...it felt more just like a building. Like what it was supposed to be, the center of community activities and government assembly rather than...a cage. Sure, Kokichi had been sneaking out for years, but...he'd always been tethered to it. Be back before dinner. Never give anyone your real name. Hide from the guards and anyone who came to the castle often enough to recognize you easily. The moment you get tired, you'll be ushered back inside and stuck in bed...

He still didn't know what Aiichi was going to do. For Kokichi's own decision...he wanted to stay close to home for a while. Even if nothing had happened...the vets were coming back, and Kokichi wanted to be around for them settling back into life, not to mention he wanted to be available to answer very specific letters...or more, if Iruma's machine was actually going to work across hundreds of miles. It was just...both responsible and what he wanted.

But...the moment he'd left home, his husband had been arrested for assault, and he'd been kidnapped. He...wouldn't be surprised if Aiichi discouraged future trips for...a long time.

...and...Kokichi wasn't sure if he'd blame him...

Kokichi frowned at the wall, his gaze going far away for a moment before he refocused on Maki, taking notes on her demonstration and trying to apply it to himself. Giving a test run-through without throwing anything, just so he didn't, like...fall over or anything, Kokichi then did his next throw, trying not to make his breathing audible.

"I dunno... I think I understand my dad more now, though that might just be an age and a 'he's gotten his head out of his ass' thing. And for other perspectives...I mean...those have been changing for a while." Ever since his friends had come to Dicea, really.

Shuuichi shrugged, watching the dagger thump at...well, basically the same force as when he had started. No harder or weaker than before. No emotion behind it at all. Yeah... He doubted this was going to work. Oh well.

"Well, experiences are rarely one for one. If what you got out of traveling was a new appreciation for your home, that's valid too," Shuuichi conceded...before adding in, a tad sadly, "I mean, who could blame you, honestly. Your first trip out didn't exactly go...smoothly."

"That's an understatement," Maki muttered, before saying more clearly, "But also an anomaly. They won't all go like that. And that made this trip...exceptionally educational. For all of us. All the things we did wrong."

Shuuichi's eyes widened, brow furrowing as he looked at Maki in alarm. "I mean...I think saying that," Shuuichi gave a worried look over to Kokichi, "...that any of us did anything...wrong...might be the wrong way of looking at it..."

"No?" Maki asked, glancing over at Shuuichi. Eyes hard and hot. "So we're entirely helpless then? To the whims of others? There's nothing any of us could have done differently?"

"...I...I'm not saying that." Shuuichi glanced at Kokichi again, concern growing, as he gave a more pointed glare at Maki, "...I just think it's maybe...unfair right now...to think like that. When it's all so fresh, at least...honestly, I don't think we should even be talking about it..."

...he hoped it was an anomaly. He had to believe that. That belief that he was capable of more than what people gave him credit for was...all that kept him sane some days. Gave him hope for the future. Allowed him to do more than just lie in bed even when he could get up from it.

If he fell to the idea that every time he left home he would be risking death for himself and everyone he came in contact with...he would lose faith in his people. He would lose his ability to lead. And then...

Kokichi's shoulders dropped along with his gaze, but he still threw a dagger, a bit weaker than the ones before it. "I tried to warn them... I could barely get out a word before they gagged me...and they still disregarded it... I-I couldn't get the ropes to loosen..."

He was trapped and he could barely move and he couldn't say a word and he had tried! They had been willing to fight, but didn't face the possibility that they'd die, a-and then they were...

What was he even supposed to do against Itch?! He talked like he wanted to hurt and kill others, even outside of the ideology of the Remnants! He...he had to wait out time until someone found them so Aba didn't die...right...?

Forgetting the dagger, Kokichi looked up at Maki with almost a desperate expression, his eyes wet and hurt. "What was I supposed to do?"

Maki turned her blood eyes to Kokichi. Cold and...judging.

"I don't know," she said, her tone neutral. Bordering on incredulous. "You're our leader, aren't you? You're not just responsible for your actions, but for ours too. For theirs as well, as your subjects. Right?"

"Maki, stop-"

"So?" Maki said, raising an eyebrow. "What should have happened? What went wrong? And-" she reached out, turning Kokichi to the board, "-I didn't say you could stop. You're not out of daggers. Keep going. As hard as you can."

Something hardened in Kokichi's expression and he turned again, holding the dagger back out for Maki to take, the blade safely off to the side, not pointed at either of them. "And yet I'm stopping."

"I may be responsible for every Dicean, but that in no way means I have all the answers. No one does. I collect answers and shout them so everyone hears. That is the job of the leader."

His eyes still wet and hurt, but with frustration and anger and loss backing them up now, Kokichi huffed. "What should have happened? Kai-chan would've gone to the bar, gotten the drinks, and we could've had a nice night. We never would've crossed paths with the Brockmans, and Aba and them would've missed us."

"But that's not what happened, and trying to plan around happenstance is madness. If you truly tried to, you'd lock yourself in a tiny box and never see another person your whole life. If you did anything else, then you're not actually planning for everything, and just take chances for your own convenience." He sniffled, a few tears escaping his eyes though the anger didn't fade.

"Most people are just trying to do what they think is right...constantly weighing danger and desire. And we'll make mistakes, but the best we can do is learn from them." He swallowed, huffing a breath, that pleading something in his eyes again. "But I don't know where my mistake was and I am not going in a box. So if you're telling me I did something wrong, then tell me."

Maki considered him, taking the dagger back...before shrugging. "I'm not telling you that you made a mistake." She sighed, twirling the dagger between her fingers for a moment...before saying, "I'm telling you I did."

"I personally should have followed through with my and Katsuki's plan to always have one of us with eyes on you and Kaito. Because I knew there was a death cult specifically looking for you, and we were in a big, busy, wide open area. If I hadn't gotten complacent, we would have seen the Brockmans take you as it was happening."

Going to the board, Maki took out two of the daggers that had managed to stick, and picked up from the floors the ones that didn't, as she said, "I had a plan, didn't follow through, and people I care about got hurt...and I know this might sound...odd... but it makes me feel better to see that. To see where the error was, because...then I know I can defend against that next time. To feel less...helpless against it all."

"...but I also feel less helpless when I recognize the mistakes in others...the world feels less random when I see their mistakes. Less like it could hurt me at any moment, for any reason. So..."

Maki suddenly turned a the board, daggers in hand, and threw one as hard as she could, murder in her eyes.

"Where the FUCK was Katsuki!? Why did she leave us immediately!? She made it to you well before any of us got there, but she did it on her own! If she fucking KNEW WHERE YOU WERE, why did she leave us to potentially miss the marks on the road entirely!? She's not invincible, but she still WENT ALONE! She could have failed to rescue you, and she would have been dead, and we would have had NO IDEA where you WERE! WHAT THE FUCK WAS SHE THINKING!?"

Another dagger thrown. This one lodged deeply into the wood, causing a crack in the frame, lodging into the wall behind it. "WHAT WAS KAITO THINKING!? HE LEFT YOU THERE! I know you should be able to be alone! That's understandable! Under normal circumstances, it's fine...but, AGAIN, we JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT A DEATH CULT THAT IS SPECIFICALLY TARGETING YOU!! You left with him! You weren't alone when myself and Katsuki looked away! I should have been able to TRUST HIM to LOOK AFTER YOU!"

"And Shuuichi!?" Maki turned her eyes on her friend, who flinched under the attention, before she looked back at the board and threw her third dagger. Another crack. "WE STILL HAVEN'T FUCKING TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOU KNEW THEY WERE TARGETING KOKICHI FOR WEEK BEFORE WE DID, AND HAD APPARENTLY HAD NO INTENTIONS OF TELLING US!"

Maki took several deep, frustrated breaths, staring at the board as she huffed...before growling, "And that's not even getting into what the Brockmans and those Death Cult idiots did wrong...it's infuriating..."

...Maki sighed. Looking over to Kokichi a tad more warily. A touch of exhaustion in her eyes, but some of the tension having left her shoulders a little as she said, "And I guess I was just trying to find some loophole in your logic that would allow you to be angry with us. You just seem to blame yourself for...everything. All the time. I thought if I implied that our actions were your responsibility...you might allow yourself to see where we went wrong...to get angry at us...to see how we could have done better...and if we did better, things could be better next time..."

Maki's arm suddenly tensed, a flash of fury in her features, and she twisted her body, threw back her arm, and let another dagger fly.

Crack. Went another part of the board.

Maki looked at that crack in grim satisfaction...before sighing again. "I'm sorry...I take a lot of comfort in my anger...I hoped being able to express some of yours would bring that same comfort. I apologize for trying to upset you."

He did understand that... It was far more frustrating when things went wrong and you didn't know where your mistake was. That...that was why he'd gotten snappy with Maki. He'd done everything he could think of...

Kokichi flinched a little as Maki exploded, but...he sighed. "...it's okay. I just...usually feel worse if I get pissed off. Because the things that anger me most are...usually things I can't change."

He shook his head a little and fussed with his sleeves, too aware of the friction burns and bruises hiding underneath. "For bigger things, like this...what's the point in me pointing out where other people went wrong if they already know? Making them feel worse about it isn't going to solve anything. Like...if I yelled at you, what would that even do? You're already angry at yourself, you've pinpointed your mistakes, you know how to take steps to solve them. You don't need me to point any of that out."

Kokichi stared at the floor, tears dripping from his face. "...and for the people who don't care about the consequences or the mistakes they've made...your anger is just something for them to laugh at..."

Maki stared at her prince...saw the way his body shook, the tears flowing down his cheeks...small and frightened.

It was so frustrating. Maki could feel herself wanting to scream at him. Wanting to shake him. Without the anger, you just ended up...scared and sad and helpless feeling. The anger didn't have to change anything. It was just a rush of adrenaline. Adrenaline to make you feel strong, for a moment. To tire you out. To let out your emotions in the same way crying for hours did...but Maki preferred anger to tears. She felt more willing to take action, after being angry. Crying just made her...want to hide and sleep. She had dismissed it from her tool of self comfort techniques years ago for a reason.

(And she was wrong to do so. Maki could probably benefit from a good, long cry...anger spurred action, certainly. But sometimes there was no action to take, and still, Maki stared furiously at the world. Demanding that it change or face her wrath. Her refusal to acknowledge when she was actually helpless sending her in furious circles that she couldn't escape...)

Crying and blaming yourself and refusing to get angry at others? That was a recipe for misery. And it was so strange to Maki that Kokichi couldn't...recognize that. Or recognized it, but refused to tap into it. His fury with his father had spurred him into action growing up, hadn't it? His anger at Kaito when they had first met had saved his life, when Kaito had tried to kill him. Kokichi knew how to be angry. Knew how to use it to his benefit. Maki knew he did. It was the literal first thing she had ever seen Kokichi do...

...maybe there was something about this she just...really wasn't understanding.

Maki nodded, taking the remaining daggers in her arms and going to put them onto her desk. "I see...again, I apologize. I'm...not good at comforting people. I usually just try to do for them what I know would make myself feel better in their situation...but that doesn't always translate. If anger won't ease your fears and discomfort, then I'll stop trying to spark it."

Shuuichi, having been quiet, cowed by Maki's furious look at him...finally spoke up. "Is...is there anything we can do for you, Kokichi? Honestly, I...think we all feel a little lost right now..."

Kokichi tried to smile at Maki. He did appreciate that she was trying to comfort him, but...his anger wasn't the kind that he'd direct at people right now. It wouldn't bring back the dead, and it wouldn't change the brew crew's minds. He was still holding out hope that isolation therapy would work, but...he didn't know. They wouldn't have access to the spores, and Seiko could send her medicine, but...at least to him, it didn't seem like Tom or Itch were on spores. He knew that therapy helped a lot of people turn things around, but...would it work for them? Or was there nothing...

The thing was...Kokichi was more disappointed in Kaito for attacking Budd, but he wouldn't have blamed his husband for taking a few shots. And he wasn't angry at Kaito for leaving him alone for what he thought was going to be...what, five minutes? He actually was angry at Brent for not going against what he obviously thought was wrong, and he was angry at Budd, Bessie, and Bob for covering their ears and ignoring all the efforts the government had made to assure that things were okay. He was angry at Tom and Itch for just deciding that they were evil and not making an effort to do anything about that, if they realized they were the problem with society.

But anger at the dead was low simmering at best, and his anger at the brothers was... It led to a realization about people that...just made Kokichi feel miserable. Screaming at the world would only hurt the people who were doing their best, and that would just make Kokichi feel worse.

So he cried and grieved for the dead and his loss of faith.

Kokichi sighed and looked over at Shuuichi, gently wiping his cheeks with his sleeves. "...you're here, and you want to help, and...that's enough for now, I think. It does make me feel a bit better..." Swallowing, he returned to the bedside but sat on it this time, leaning against Shuuichi a little when he joined.

Shuuichi had gone back to the bed when he realized that dagger throwing practice was apparently done, relaxing into Kokichi as his lover sighed against him. He hesitated for a moment, before putting an arm around his shoulder, hugging him against himself as he said softly, "Okay...I'm sorry that I can't think of anything more to do."

"Same," Maki said, though her interjection was less soft and just more...frustrated. Angry at herself for not knowing how to deal with this. It was easier, with Shuuichi and Kaito. She had known them her whole life, basically. She understood how they worked. And other than her siblings, there wasn't really anyone else...well, mostly there wasn't anyone else she'd be really this concerned about.

But she had a lot invested into Kokichi. He was a friend, for one, and the lover of her two best friends, for another. And...well, she just was counting on him, for another. The wall in her bedroom was useless without his protection from Kaito's influence on her.

He was valuable to her. She wanted to ensure his safety and comfort.

"It's a shame we can't just turn our emotions off," Maki mused, collapsing on the bed as soon as her knives were put away, staring at the ceiling in annoyance. "Things would be much simpler."

"You come pretty close to that, Maki," Shuuichi noted, raising an eyebrow at her, "I've seen you keep calm in really intense situations."

"Sure. In intense situations. That's what my emotional conditioning was for. No one told me how useless it'd be when everything's calm. It's like I want to crawl up the walls. If someone had told me emotional conditioning didn't work all the time? I'd have never done it," Maki pouted.

Shuuichi snorted. "Yep. That's it. That's what would have kept ya from doing it. No other reason."

Maki looked up at him, a small smirk on her face. Comfortable in the teasing as she said, "Yeah, of course. I just thought it was such a good and fun idea. Why? What convinced you to do yours?"

"Oh, same, absolutely. Compulsively giving people random information? I read the pamphlet and just said 'sign me up'. Not having a clear concept of a chain of command was something I specifically requested, by the way. It's a feature, not a bug."

"Oh, of course. It's so quirky and fun. Really adds to the whole 'detective charm', the total inability to keep a secret."

"Right? That's what I thought too."

Mm. The arm around him was nice too. That was definitely something Shuuichi could do to help. Kokichi snuggled to his side and tipped his head against his shoulder, eyes still wet though he wasn't really crying anymore. Hugs wouldn't fix the world, but...they were nice.

...definitely almost enough on their own for him to be in favor of emotions. Kokichi looked back up to Maki in concerned surprise, but Shuuichi immediately started playing off her before he could say anything. And...

Okay, their back and forth was...kind of scary and uncomfortable. And yet their teasing and familiarity was comforting to see. He could tell this was another way of coping--Maki and Shuuichi couldn't change the fact that they'd been brainwashed and enslaved so...may as well joke about it. From his outsider perspective it was still scary, but pointing that out would just be taking away that small piece of comfort that they had managed to take for themselves.

So Kokichi kept quiet and smiled softly at his friends, keeping his sadness to himself as he loosely circled his arms around Shuuichi's waist.

As Maki and Shuuichi comforted themselves by lightly teasing and bantering off each other, Maki stiffened when there was another knock on the door, the ease that had started to come across her features immediately disappeared...before she relaxed a little as she heard Kaito say through the door, "Maki, Shuuichi? Hey, it's me! Can I come in?"

"One second, Kaito!" Maki called out, before glancing at her wall, making certain the curtain was covering everything, everything was put away, before going to the door, letting the Luminous Prince in.

As Kaito came in, his expression immediately brightened to see Kokichi there as well, before glancing at the curtain wall. Something...uncomfortable flashing through his expression, glancing over at Kokichi, before looking over to Maki. A grin on his face. "Still working on your big surprise project, huh?"

Maki nodded. Nothing betraying on her face as she simply said, "Yep."

"Cool, cool...does… Kokichi, you know what Maki's big, crazy surprise art thing is all about? Have you seen it? I know Shuuichi has but...she won't let me see it," Kaito asked, grinning sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"He has seen it, and I've sworn him to secrecy. I told you. I don't want you to see it till it's finished," Maki said, before narrowing her eyes at Kaito. Saying deadly seriously, "If you so much as touch that curtain, I'll cut the tips of your fingers off."

Kaito laughed, holding his hands up in surrender. "I won't, I won't! I promised, didn't I? You have my word, Maki-Roll! Um, anyway," Kaito said, giving the wall another slightly worried glance before turning his attention to his friends, "Maki! I need you to come with me to go talk to Dr. Kimura, alright? Shuuichi, bud? I was hoping you'd be cool with staying with Kokichi while we go. We won't be long."

Shuuichi immediately looked more tired at the 'request'. Man...he had really felt normal for a second there...before he shrugged, resting his head against Kokichi. ""Course. If Kokichi wants to."

An art project, huh?

Kokichi felt another ache in his heart as he looked over the flickers of uncomfortable uncertainty on his husband's face. There had to be a way to do this without killing everyone... The lives of countless people were more important than his husband's feelings, of course, were more important than Kokichi's ethics, but...it wasn't an all or nothing situation yet. He needed more information...

Sighing softly, Kokichi gave Kaito a small smile and raised one of his arms from Shuuichi's waist to pet through the back of his hair, whatever was available from under his hat. "Hmmm, spending some alone time with my boyfriend? I dunno, doesn't sound like anything I'd ever want to do."

Quickly, Kokichi twisted his neck to place a kiss on the tip of Shuuichi's ear, laughing quietly. "I always like spending time with Shuu-chan. Never even a question."

He glanced up at Maki, figuring he already knew the answer, but checking in anyway. "You want us to vacate your room while you're out?"

Maki frowned, looking around. It was...kind of basically Shuuichi's room now too, by this point. Maki was seriously considering just cleaning out Shuuichi's old room and bringing his things over now. Just sealing the damn door shut, or leaving the room for other people to use, at least. She didn't even really want to ask Shuuichi permission to do so, not certain what he would say.

She just knew that she had only seen one damn session with her own eyes, and it made her uncomfortable to be in that room now. She didn't like the idea of her brother sleeping in there anymore. He wasn't safe there.

But, at the same time, Shuuichi (and, frankly, Kokichi too) being alone with a shit-ton of loose weaponry...forget even just hurting themselves on purpose for any reason, which historically both of them had done. They were also both kinda just idiots. She didn't trust them not to have an accident if she wasn't around to supervise. Soooo...

"I'd prefer it, yes," Maki said, sighing. Looking over to Kaito, she said, "We're leaving now?"

"Yeah. I don't know if Seiko's planning to be in her pharmacy all day, and I don't know where she lives. And I absolutely need to talk to her. Sooner we get to her, the better."

"Fine. You," Maki said, looking over at Shuuichi and crossing her arms. "Don't give Kokichi any problems. Don't leave him for any reason."

"Sure," Shuuichi said dully.

"Kokichi, don't let him leave you. I'm trusting you to watch out for him," Maki said, giving the prince a mildly worried look. Maki was also aware that today had been Shuuichi's last dose, and while they had all worked hard to keep the secret...she didn't know if Shuuichi knew or not either way. She had to treat him like he knew already and might be working to 'fix' the issue. She couldn't be kind or understanding or lenient or even subtle.

People kept getting hurt on her watch. Maki had to be better.

Kaito, though, put a hand on her shoulder, giving her an easy grin as he said, "Hey, come on, Maki, it's fine. They'll look out for each other, and they're not in danger here. It's fine. We're coming right back! Let's go, okay?"

Maki shot Kaito an annoyed look, wishing he'd back her up on this...whatever. She'd be the bad guy. She didn't care. Giving both men another stern look, she followed Kaito out, the two of them heading downstairs.

"Maybe I should grab Timothy before we go..."

"That kid is so sick of all of us, Maki. Let's just give him some space today."

"We need to figure out his school stu-" Their voices faded away as they headed downstairs, the two fretting and trying to plan together.

Shuuichi looked over at Kokichi. "Wanna head to your room? Or...somewhere else? Maki didn't say I had to stay in one of our rooms," he pointed out.

He knew Maki's stern caution was warranted. As well as Shuuichi had been doing when it came to actually getting help and trying to get better, they could never be sure when his withdrawals would push him into trying to manipulate them or sneak around to get more spores.

...it still didn't feel great to hear her talking to Shuuichi like he was a small child that needed a constant supervisor.

"Gotcha, gotcha. You guys aren't gonna be long, and dinner will probably be soon-ish anyway. I wanna take advantage of some good one-on-one Shuu-chan time; Maki-chan doesn't have to worry about that in the slightest." He gave her a sincere smile, trying to convey that he'd keep a careful eye on Shuuichi.

Once they left, Kokichi gave Shuuichi a squeeze before getting up with a stretch, thinking about his question for a moment...and smiling. "I don't think you've ever talked about finding it interesting...but have you been to the observatory? On its own it's still a cool place, has a comfy bed and a lot of journals and star charts all over the place..." He blushed a little, fussing with one of the springy ends of his hair as he smiled sheepishly at his boyfriend. "...and there's a portrait of my mom there."

Shuuichi gave Kokichi a curious look, before getting up in turn. "Sure. That sounds interesting. I'm curious to see what your mother looks like. You don't look much like the king, so maybe you get your looks from her? Or no?"

Shuuichi glanced at Kokichi's hands, thinking of offering his...before fussing with his hat instead. He just...wasn't ready yet. That was all. He didn't...he didn't mean anything by it. He didn't know what he meant.

He was pretty sure she'd disapprove of this. He could imagine her hearing about the new relationship and laughing. Could practically hear her in his head. A version of Miss Nao in his mind, that made little commentary on...almost everything he did. All the time. And seemed to only get clearer now that he was actually back at the capital.

'You think you're dating the princes, Shuu? Ha! That's so sweet! The princes convinced their pet it's people~!'

'How long do you think it will take before they're bored of you, Shuu?'

'I'm betting they give you a month. And when they realize you're actually not getting any better? That you're going to be this disappointing forever?'

'Then Kokichi will tell everyone what happened.'

It was just his imagination. A version of Miss Nao, whispering in his ears. Something he had made for himself by accident, trying to imagine her viewpoints on everything, on his way back from the beach. It was all in his head...but that's what made the imaginary version of her he had in his head so difficult to argue with. Just...saying things he already half-believed.

Shuuichi wasn't good enough for the princes.

He knew that.

He wasn't special.

...but...it was nice to pretend a little...so Shuuichi said, with a small smile, "Lead the way."

Kokichi laughed a bit as he opened Maki's door for Shuuichi, making sure to lock it behind them. He had never really been in the habit since his door didn't have a lock, and if anyone really needed to get into a room there were other master keys than the one he'd given Shuuichi and Maki, but he had a feeling Maki would feel better about having her room locked. Or...less of a feeling, and more of a complete certainty.

"My father used to talk about how much I look like my mom all the time. Practically everything I got from her, 'cept for my eyes. Purple didn't run in my mom's family, and Aiichi never knew his, so we have no idea." Kokichi glanced down at Shuuichi's hands as they walked, wanting to hold his, but...Shuuichi had asked not to. Unless they were in private, Kokichi wasn't going to initiate anything.

No matter how much he wanted to lavish affection on his boyfriend.

The walk up to the fifth floor and over to the observatory was relatively quiet. There were people walking around doing chores or using the castle facilities, but there weren't crowds, and people mostly just gave Kokichi waves and sympathetic smiles. Which...were okay. It was okay. And during the walk, Kokichi talked about his mother.

"...so even though Hideki seems like a grumpy old man, he's not that old. He and my mom and all their friends were in university together, and he knew Aiichi because he'd been hired by our last leader while Aiichi was still in school."

"I haven't really had a moment to talk to him, but Mr...um, but Hideki seems a capable sort. I got the impression he said a lot of things that frustrated our head secretary, back when we first got here. He kept asking me to find dirt on him specifically, but in the short time I had, there wasn't anything to find," Shuuichi complimented, only breathing slightly heavy as they started to climb more and more stairs, and feeling a little silly as he did so.

His new proportions still gave him some trouble, and Shuuichi had been mostly entirely stationary the last two days they had traveled back...but he still suspected his weakened state lately was just the lower and lower doses. It had barely burned at all, this morning, and he had started feeling tired halfway through the day.

...Okay, admittedly? All the sweets lately probably weren't helping either. Shuuichi could feel himself gaining a little more weight again, the last few days. It was frustrating. Shuuichi had never struggled with his weight before. Hadn't even had much of a sweet tooth to speak of before. Now? It was literally like he couldn't get enough. He woke up craving sugar almost as much as he craved his dose. It was ridiculous.

"...most of your people didn't really have anything noteworthy, honestly. Well, not anything people didn't seem to know already," Shuuichi conceded, mind racing over the files that he had poured through, personal letters that he had managed to get his hands on, desks opened and shifted through. He had been so tired those first few days...he hadn't really slept. Too much to do. And right after a long trip too...

He remembered being so tired that he had gotten a little giggly, at about two in the morning and desperately trying to read files under a table through literally a sliver of moonlight coming in under the table, and just the memory of his laughing fit tugged a smile out of Shuuichi as he said quietly, "A few of them had some fun things though. I won't name names, in case you don't know already, but I've never heard of anyone just forgetting they're naked before. And apparently another person is stealing towels? Or, allegedly anyway. Hajime keeps writing someone up for it. It was totally useless, but I read all of his write-ups about it because he gets progressively more pissed off every write-up. It was really funny."

Kokichi sighed through his nose a bit, though there was a smile on his face. "Yeah...Hideki really doesn't like Luminary. And with all the shit Tengan tried to pull...Hideki doesn't have the patience for political niceties. He can be kind of rude and blunt, but I don't think there's really any dark secrets to find with him."

For most people, though, admittedly, if they'd tried to hide that kind of stuff then Kokichi wouldn't know about it. But for anything that involved the law? All that was public record, and for a lot of people...the things they had done were public knowledge. It caused Lake a lot of grief, back in the day, when she had applied to be part of the guardforce. Solving a problem with killing wasn't the sort of thinking guards could even consider.

Snorting, Kokichi opened the door to the observatory for Shuuichi, shaking his head a little. "I think I might have an idea of exactly who would forget they're naked. And there have been no requests for a new shipment of towels so..." He shrugged a bit, wondering what that case was all about.

"Buuut, ta-da!! The observatory! Feast your eyes on a cradle of knowledge!"

Shuuichi smiled at Kokichi's theatrics. Between him, Kaito, and Miss Nao...apparently he might have a thing for bold, performative personalities. Kaede had been a little like that too, in a way, though her performative personality was more soft and subtle than all that.

He tried to appear appropriately awe inspired as he walked in, looking over everything with an appreciative eye. It was a nice little place. Weirdly home-y, for what it was. The bed was a strange choice.

Looking around, he was actually confused about who might be the woman in the portrait for half a second, before remembering and nodding his head, looking at the painting. "She's very pretty. And I can see the resemblance. It's very strong on her side of the family."

Shuuichi compared her depth to background items and guessed some typical sizes of them, before comparing them to the placement of her hip... "She was tiny," he observed.

Noticing a few journals out of place, Kokichi went farther into the room to put them back away, laughing a bit at Shuuichi's observations. "That's what Kai-chan said too. And...I think she was about my height? She always wore high heels, though, so I think that might've given the impression that she was a little taller. Even if she was apparently always stumbling in them."

He looked over at the portrait once the journals were safely put away, the same sort of fond, proud, longing look that he had regarded it before when Kaito had been there. "...I've always wished I could've met her, but now...I really wish she could've met you guys too. From the stories I've been told...she seemed like Kai-chan, actually."

He laughed softly and plopped down on the bed, looking at the portrait for a little longer before moving that soft gaze to Shuuichi. "Excited by the potential of other people, I mean. Obviously I'm biased, but...I'd like to think she would've been amazed by how cool Shuu-chan is. All of you guys, really, but you're more of a smarty-pants than the rest of us, so I think you'd really stand out."

Yep. Just smart enough to become a drug addict and accidentally become a plant-hybrid thing. Shuuichi was sure she'd...just love to know that something like Shuuichi was touching her son. Mmhm. Every parent’s dream boyfriend, right here.

The king was going to hate him.

Shuuichi blinked, that particular fear being a new one. Whelp. Just add it to the pile. Dismissing that concern for now, Shuuichi went to the desk beneath the portrait, idly opening up some of the binders and looking them over, most of it over Shuuichi's head, but recognizing a few of the simpler terms and concepts and graphs from Kaito's hobbies over the years. "I'm sure I would have liked her as well. She looks calm. I suppose most portraits of people do, but her wrists suggest she didn't do much labor or physical training over the course of her life, even for someone her size. And..." Shuuichi glanced up at the portrait again, putting the binders back where he found them.

"Her lack of jewelry beyond her wedding ring and earrings, but elaborate hair pinup suggest her day to day fashion choices were scrutinized but practical. But, then, that's obviously observer biased, as I'm aware of her status and job title, and also an official portrait could have resulted in her taking more time on her hair than usual...oh. But that's a pretty good indication of a calm personality. Look, do you see the lid lines, just above her eyes?" Shuuichi asked, pointing up and to her eyelids, the artist rendering faint lines just above her eyelashes.

"That's an indication of someone who spent a considerable amount of their time looking down growing up. Which is pretty typical of calm or passive personalities...hmmm...could be hereditary though, over skin adapting from patterns of behavior...you have the lids a little as well, after all. And I can't imagine you overly shy or bashful," Shuuichi admitted, looking over to his boyfriend.

"Mm?" Again, just like when Kaito had joined him in the observatory, Shuuichi pointed out things in the portrait that Kokichi had never noticed. Or...had ever put meaning to. He loved the portrait of his mother, and it did have a sort of calm, focused vibe, but most of what he knew about her came from stories. Mostly from Hideki and Toshio, as they'd been friends for years, but some from his father, and some from members of the staff that had known her in the brief time she'd lived in the castle.

Hearing almost direct observations...

"I know you didn't see, but the pins I had in my hair at the wedding were hers. Apparently she wore them almost every day, and I could see that--the little grips were super smooth and worn. But the glass gems were well kept and still caught light." Kokichi looked over the pins in the portrait, feeling a little closer to his mother...though he looked over at Shuuichi in surprise. Like so much else, he had inherited Miyako's eye shape, but something so specific...

His smile was a little sad, but not too broken up. "...you don't have to be shy or bashful to have a reason to look down a lot, Shuu-chan... But I can confirm that she was a shy person. Or...at least everyone describes her that way."

"Kind, quiet, shy, a doormat..." He snorted softly. "Brilliant, a dreamer... I'll never really know if people are describing her correctly, but it does give me an image to imagine."

In Shuuichi's experience with witnesses? ...not usually super reliable, honestly. But talking about an old friend to her son was probably a different sort of atmosphere and motivation than giving a character witness. All of it was probably at least a little true.

The detective looked at the hair pins in her hair and tried to imagine his lovers’ wedding day a little. Kaito gushed about how Kokichi had looked in his, as Kaito had put it, 'wedding robe thing'- it sounded like a yukata- whenever you gave him an opportunity to. How expertly his hair had been braided, with little flowers in his hair, and how he had looked in the sun and the park. And he'd blush whenever he mentioned this, as he put it, "Little tie thing he had on? He couldn't take it off himself...it was really cute, you guys..."

Maybe Shuuichi would see him in something like that someday.

Turning away from the portrait, Shuuichi went to go join Kokichi, though his eyes glanced at the massive telescope in the center of the room, noting, "I'm surprised Kaito doesn't spend more time in here. He had a real obsession with star patterns for a long time. Now he has access to his own personal telescope and I never hear about him coming up here at all." Shuuichi sat down next to Kokichi, taking his hand in his, comfortable in the privacy of the room. "...also, why is there a bed in here?"

Kokichi nodded, but there was something a little...guilty in the expression. "Every time we talked about it, and then when we came up here for the first time, he always seemed so excited. But...well...a lot has been going on..." And a lot of him getting sick and Kaito refusing to be anywhere else. Kokichi had told Kaito so many times that he was free to explore pretty much any sort of hobby in the castle and city, that he wanted Kaito to go do fun things and it was fine if Kokichi didn't come along. But...Kaito just stayed with him. It was a sweet sentiment, but...he just felt like he was imprisoning his husband.

Kokichi's gaze dropped a bit before Shuuichi asked another question and...it was enough to take his mind off that for now. "Oh, my mom would fall asleep in the middle of her work a lot, so when Aiichi had the observatory built, he made sure to put a bed in. I'd think it saved her a lot of back pain."

He hadn't heard a lot of stories of Aiichi joining Miyako in her nights in the observatory, but...he could imagine his father wanting to spend time with her, but not wanting to completely destroy his sleep schedule. Even sleeping in the same room as someone was a form of companionship, he'd learned.

Shuuichi nodded, looking down at the bed a tad suspiciously.

...Kaito was absolutely going to try to fuck him on this thing someday. There was no doubt in Shuuichi's mind. That portrait of Kokichi's mother was going to haunt him.

Oh well. He'd deal with that the day it happened. For now at least it was comfy.

"What about you, Kokichi?" Shuuichi asked, drawing up his legs and resting his chin on one of his knees. "Kaito likes space and little model figurines. Maki likes sports and elaborate murder plots. What's your hobbies? I know you draw, and honestly, I'd love to pour over your sketchbooks someday, if you'd let me. But anything else?"

Kokichi shrugged a little but smiled at Shuuichi. "If you want to. I'll warn ya though--I did a sketch of you and Kai-chan at one point, and then another of you, so don't be shocked when you see yourself. A lot of what I draw, though, is the kind of stuff that's on the walls of our bedroom."

"I didn't get the impression that you like to do it as a hobby, but I like Shuu-chan's drawings. Fun caricatures, really." He gave a nod of approval before thinking about his other time-consumers. "Mm...you know it, but I like to read. I love pulling pranks on people...but I haven't had time in a while...for good ones, anyway. The spider one on Kai-chan was alright."

He smirked a little at the memory, though, with how his other attempts turned out...he might have to pass the torch to Tim. He guffawed at the notion that he was aging out, but...until he could get a better read on what kinds of pranks would land, and until he had more time...maybe he could leave pranking to the wonderful innovation of a child.

Flopping back to lie on the bed, Kokichi hummed. "I've had a lot of short-lived hobbies, actually. Origami, for a bit, could never really get knitting down, never really had the patience for calligraphy... Parkour has always been more of a matter of me just being curious than something I did for the act itself."

"...what about you?" Kokichi asked, looking up at Shuuichi.

"Parkour? Oh yeah, Kaito said you know how to climb and jump and flip and stuff. It really impressed him. And I saw all your little paper stars in the jar. Those were cute. It must have taken a lot of patience."

Shuuichi yawned, covering his eyes a little as he tried to rub the sleep out of them with his palm. "I've never had a lot of hobbies outside of work...mmmm...dabbled in medicine once," Shuuichi joked with a small smirk. "But, no, really, um...hmm..."

...huh. Shuuichi really couldn't think of anything that wasn't directly connected to being a detective in some way.

"...I guess the drawings are sort of a hobby. But, I don't know...they're more useful than anything else...I liked a lot of the skills I developed as a detective, when I didn't have to actually...use them for anything important, ya know? That's more why I fill up my journals with observations and analysis than anything else. I just find it interesting to observe the world. People."

Shuuichi thought of laughing to himself as he read the write-up complaints his first night here and shrugged, admitting, "I like learning secrets. I get a small thrill reading things other people don't want me to, and learning things about people that maybe other people don't know. It's fascinating to me. To see layers of people sort of...pulled back. And see a more honest version of themselves. Not to do anything with the information. I just like...looking at it. Observation without interference."

"It's all weirdly...interesting and fun. People watcher? Maybe that's what that hobby is called. I guess I'm a people watcher," Shuuichi said, closing his eyes and humming to himself for a moment, trying to think if there was anything else he could classify as a 'hobby'...before his face turned red a little, looking over at Kokichi bashfully. "I hope that's not too creepy a thing to say."

Kokichi had understood what Shuuichi meant relatively early on in his explanation and... He'd never tell Shuuichi this. But someone had told him something very similar once.

And that person had been Nao.

But other than that comparison...Kokichi giggled softly and sat up to press a kiss to Shuuichi's cheek. "Nah, nah--people-watching is super fun. And Shuuichi isn't using people's secrets against them, so I don't think there's really an issue with that. Sure there are things that are painful to face, but...aren't you better off facing them? Once you can look at yourself and admit the good and the bad and everything in between, and say, 'hey, this is me', I think...then you can really start living well."

...he knew why Kaito did what he did, but...people who lied to themselves was a habit that Kokichi hated.

"All that to say, I guess, is I kinda get the satisfaction you're talking about. Shuu-chan is just a little more proactive in seeing it." Kokichi cuddled against his boyfriend's side and pressed another kiss to his cheek, feeling affectionate.

"Heh. That sounds more like self-reflection to me. I'm not sure I can claim to be particularly good at that. It's much easier to look at other people than it is to look at yourself...too much pride wrapped up in it. Ego. Delusions." Shuuichi smiled softly at the kiss, though he didn't offer one in return. Still a little hesitant and new to the kind of affection Kaito and Kokichi were so well acquainted to.

"I don't know how anyone ever manages to see themselves with any real accuracy, honestly. Observer bias is always so prevalent. Even to believe you've gotten past that bias is inherently observer bias...I got into a fight with a noble Kaito was dating about that concept, once," Shuuichi said, something a tad small and guilty in his voice, but also rather...pleased. By the memory.

"It was this woman named Bailsong. She comes from a very important family in Luminary, and Kaito dated her for a very short period of time, but the two remained friends for years after their failed attempts at dating. Well, Kaito used to invite her to hang out with us when we all went drinking and..." Shuuichi rolled his eyes, "Maki and I weren't fans, to say the least. But Kaede got along well with her, so it was kind of worth putting up with her for that, at least."

"Anyway, Bailsong started this very strange habit of trying to draw Kaito back into a relationship, I'd say...once every nine months? And she always did it publicly, with an audience. Maybe she thought it would pressure him? Or maybe she just liked the audience. Either way, she'd always make this argument of..."

Shuuichi hesitated, looking shy and embarrassed again, as he looked over at Kokichi. "Sorry...this is maybe a boring story...we can talk about something else if you want."

"Sure, but I'd think seeing how other people operate is a good first step to recognizing the same patterns in yourself, at least. Hobbies never have to lead to anything, of course, but when it comes to this sort of stuff, I think it kinda settles into your mind whether you're vying for that or not." And Shuuichi's other point was true too. You could get really close to knowing yourself, but no one got there one hundred percent. But if you were trying, it tended to make a big difference.

Kokichi curled his legs up on the bed as Shuuichi started to explain a story and he braced himself on one arm, not completely leaning on Shuuichi, but touching him. Enjoying being close and comfortable.

And that sort of setting was always perfect for stories.

Kokichi shook his head and pressed against Shuuichi a little more firmly, sort of gently jostling him back and forth. "Aw come on! You can't trail off now that you've piqued my curiosity! What was Bailsong's argument? There isn't much I can imagine Kaito turning someone down for, though that might be different with someone he's already dated."

Shuuichi scratched lightly at his cheek, still feeling like maybe he was taking up the bulk of the conversation, which felt a little rude, but... "Well...I'm not entirely certain why Kaito dumped her, but I do know I was baffled he ever dated her in the first place. She was..." Shuuichi trailed off, just making a face. "...not one of his more pleasant choices. But I knew why she thought he had dumped her, because those were the arguments she'd make against every time she brought it up."

"But, anyway. To make what was probably going to be a too long story short, she'd just explain to him all the ways she'd changed for the better, right? That she was more patient. Less controlling. More in-tune with other people’s feelings. That she was a totally different person than the one he had dated...but here was the thing."

"She made the exact. Same. Speech. Every time she tried to talk him into it. A little over every half year or so, for years, she'd explain to him how she had finally grown and changed from those exact same characteristics. Every time. For years. The first time she did it, fine. Maybe she had. The second time? Okay, maybe she was just trying to reinforce to him that she had. Fair."

Shuuichi sighed, shaking his head. "But she wasn't doing that. She was just having the exact same 'epiphany', over and over again. She'd convince herself she 'changed', tell Kaito about it, fall back into her old habits, have the epiphany again, and then start the cycle all over. It felt like I knew her speech by heart. How she had, recently, come to terms with herself. How she recognized it and had grown from it. How she was in a better place now. Basically the same speech, over and over again, about her recent, amazing personality changes...and finally, one day, when she started her speech..."

Shuuichi's smile grew a little wobbly here. A flash of guilt on his face. "...I just started it for her, and repeated it back to her, word for word, how she had given it last time."

"I know...that's really childish. I was just...I thought if I could show her the pattern, then maybe she'd actually learn from it? Break the cycle of 'solving her problems' when the fact that she had to keep solving that same problem over and over again meant she hadn't actually learned anything. Get her to where she thought she was? ... or, no...that's a lie. I just wanted her to stop doing it. Feel embarrassed about how predictable she had become...I didn't like her very much," Shuuichi admitted. "And the last time she had tried it around us, Maki had just been really embarrassed by some nobles and...I was maybe getting a little revenge. On the wrong people, but..." The golden-eyed boy shrugged, staring down at his feet.

"Anyway, so we ended up having a long fight over whether not she could say she had actually changed or not, and it turned into a shouting match. I have to give her this, for a fight between a noble and an indentured? She didn't pull the 'orders' card. She never ordered me to back down or take it back...she did slap me though. Kaito had to pull her off me. And she never came to hang out with us after that...no love lost really..."

Shuuichi blinked, suddenly frowning. "I'm sorry. I know I had a point with all that, but I kinda got lost in the memory. I didn't mean to talk so much."

Kokichi's eyes widened a little, just...amazed at the woman's tenacity, if nothing else. After being dumped and then turned down again...and again... You'd think she'd just give it up at some point. Realize that it didn't matter if she had changed or not--Kaito just didn't want to be with her. He...wondered if that sort of pushiness came from relationships being more politicized in Luminary...

So...Kokichi didn't really feel bad when he snorted at what Shuuichi had done. It was ultimately harmless, just some embarrassment and maybe hurt feelings, but...at least to him, it wasn't a matter of love at that point. Just someone calling someone else out on their bullshit.

"Aw geez..." Kokichi murmured, more in response to the slap than anything else. Though he soon snorted again and nosed against Shuuichi's shoulder, pressing a kiss to the apex of the curve. "You don't have to have a point to tell a story, and Shuu-chan never has to apologize for talking. I love hearing what he has to say."

Sighing a bit, Kokichi snuggled up to his boyfriend's side a bit more. "I kinda wish I could've seen her reaction when you started the spiel, though. It kind of sounds like she wasn't even aware of the cycles, so it must've been a huge shock that you already knew what she was going to say."

"Yeah...she was pretty un-self-aware," Shuuichi said, again, sounding a little pleased with himself, resting his head on Kokichi's. "I can tell you her reaction made Maki laugh so hard that she had to excuse herself and leave. Which was for the best, honestly. Maki might have lost it if she had seen it turn physical. Attacking the eldest daughter of the Linn family? Not even Kaito could have gotten Maki out of that one."

Kokichi giggled softly, wondering about the next time he'd get to see Maki laugh openly, though he sighed softly. Not really disappointed or anything, but just...he didn't know. Begrudgingly accepting? "I get the concept now, but...I don't think I'll ever really get the social hierarchy in Luminary. People are people, bags of bone and flesh all the same."

Shuuichi nodded. A tired look in his eyes. "Agreed. But some of those bags of bones have all the resources in the world to turn the rest of us into farm-fertilizer. It's easier to accept a person's place above you when you've seen for yourself what happens to someone who doesn't...and honestly? Most people don't even need the demonstration. Most people don't even need to be threatened."

"People...internalize power structures. No one likes to think of themselves as a coward, and already-established bodies of power are incredibly difficult to effectively fight...so we just...convince ourselves that, even if it's not for the best, it's fine enough. Some people even convince themselves it's the only way...you know how Maki is. You know her beliefs. You know who fights hardest with her about them? Who argues for the benefits of the program the most fiercely out of everyone?"

"Indentureds," Shuuichi said. A far away look in his eyes. "Especially the ones who are finished, or closed to finishing. Also, maybe surprisingly, the ones who are put in as adults, rather than raised into it...they get so...defensive about it. That it's for the best. That it's a good program. Almost all Indentured runaways are from the orphan departments. And no one is more angry at the returned runaways than the non-orphaned indenturdes. It's...it's absolutely a kind of madness...but it's so common...I've seen it drive Maki to tears, arguing against the program to non-orphan indentureds. She always looks so betrayed by how passionately they argue with her...I think maybe because they're the only ones who really make her doubt herself."

Kokichi's expression tightened, darkened, that old anger and despair at the state of Luminary making him clench his fists...before relaxing himself to really listen to Shuuichi. As furious as it made him...he wasn't someone who had it surround them as reality. So...the best things he could do would be to listen, and to support the people trying to break free.

Who...weren't everyone, and not just because they'd have to fight their brains too.

Kokichi didn't pull away from Shuuichi, but he looked up at his boyfriend in utter shock. From how...all three of his friends had described it, there was nothing good about the program. He...he could maybe understand making yourself accept that that's just the way things were, just so you wouldn't lose your mind, but...to not even be excited by the hope of change, or allowing yourself to dream about a brighter future?

...there was...so much more to fix than he'd thought...

Kokichi sighed deeply, quiet for a moment before he spoke. "...Maki-chan told me about her plan. I don't... I'm hoping there's alternatives, but...something has to change. Doing nothing would be approving the extortion and murder of people, and personally, and as the future leader of a neighboring nation who will do business with Luminary and...honestly, is likely already protecting refugees...I cannot allow things to continue as they are."

His voice was firm. Angry, but in the form where that anger strengthened resolve and action. Though, it did soften soon enough.

"...I sent a letter to Kaede before our trip. There's not much in it, just condolences and an expressed desire to correspond more, but... I've already decided to do something. I just need to figure out what will actually help..."

Shuuichi shook his head. "Maki's plan is insane. It's literally a suicide mission, and a part of me thinks she knows that. It'd only work if there were ten of her, and she's seriously preparing to do it alone. I've been trying to talk her out of it ever since Kaede put the idea in her head."

Kokichi frowned, a little surprised by Shuuichi's plain disregard. Then...he dropped his gaze to the bedspread, quiet. Feeling...naive and foolish and...thankful that he hadn't agreed to it right away.

"...I don't want anyone to die. I really do think things can change without just...eradicating so many lives. But...that change can't come from me." Kokichi sighed, very recent failures making him curl up a bit, his voice quiet in the room. "...Kai-chan says that Byakuya will make things better, but...I know I can't...take Kai-chan's perspective as the clearest vision of his brother. Also...he's just kind of a raging asshole that threatened to re-start the war because of personal feelings, and has decided that he can call Kai-chan back to Luminary whenever he damn well feels like," he growled.

Before closing his eyes with another little sigh. "...Kaede is already in a position that benefits from the current structure, and while her promise to get rid of the program is promising...a promise is just a word unless you have a plan. I...I told Maki-chan that I needed proof and confirmation that things would actually get better before I'd let her go over."

"...it just feels like people are pointing fingers all over the place as to why things are so horrible. I wish I could even tell where the real roadblocks are..."

"...honestly, there's a very real part of me that doesn't want to discuss this with you," Shuuichi admitted. No real shame in the confession. Just sad understanding. "Because you're like Maki. Cause you think things can be better if you, personally, just work at it...I really wish Maki would stop thinking about it all. Would stop obsessing over it... I don't really believe it's something that can be fixed, and it's not your responsibility anyway. Luminary isn't your kingdom. And Maki is just one indentured who was taught how to stab people and avoid being stabbed."

"...I convinced myself for literally just one day that maybe I could do something about Luminary. I thought, if I had the resources of a multi-continent wide terrorist organization...if I could convince Itch, or whoever was in charge of him, to focus all their efforts on Luminary..." Shuuichi grit his teeth. An unusual anger and determination entering his eyes, looking more like Kaito or Maki in this moment than he ever had in Dicea before. "...I really believed it was possible. For one whole day."

That angry, intense look lingered for a second...before Shuuichi sighed. His shoulders dropping. Something hopeless and accepting in his gaze as he said, "Then a lady asked to come into my room and reminded me that I'm small and helpless and powerless and...thank god that she did, honestly...it was crazy to think I could do anything..."

Shuuichi sighed again, rocking his body slightly into his legs...before saying, reluctantly, "But if I had followed through on the thought? Longer than a day? I wouldn't bother negotiating with the nobles or targeting the elites or royalty or all that stuff. Not if all you want to do is end the Indentured program. The Indentured program is...a business, ultimately. It's written contract and debts and extremely protected buildings full of secret training techniques that are so highly classified that even King Leon...or, sorry, King Byakuya, doesn't have the authority to get it all in one room to read it over and learn how it all works. And it's taking a lot of gold to organize all that information in an effective way. It's a big, complicated beast of a business that no one within that business itself has a full, comprehensive idea of how it works. At least, I don't think they would. In theory, only five people really understand how the program actually functions, that being its five board members."

"And it's a monopoly. So...if that business were to fall? To fail?" Shuuichi laughed...before shaking his head. "I don't know. In theory, that's it, right? No one else knows how to recreate it. They have no active competition to step in. The Togami Company fails? The program disappears with it...in theory. I don't really know if that's true. Maybe it wouldn't be hard to recreate it from the ground up, if people wanted it returned badly enough. But the whole reason the Togami Board is even on Maki's list is because Kaede believes it would destabilize the program long enough to make policy changes uninterrupted. So, to get rid of the program, based on Maki's plan? I don't see why you'd need to go after the nobles and the wealthy and the priestesses as well. It'd make things easier on Kaede, sure, but for the program? Just...Byakuya and the Togami Board. And not even really the Togami board. More the buildings where the classified information is all kept, I'd think. Make it impossible for the program to function the way it's supposed to, let Kaede inherit the throne to ban its rebuilding."

Shuuichi was clearly a little lost in his head now, finally able to tell someone out loud a theory he had been rolling around in his head...before his brow furrowed. "But...you shouldn't do any of that. Because that would, also, be crazy. And also probably wouldn't work. Because I'm not a politician or a master strategist, and I don't actually know what would actually work."

"...even if I really can't do anything myself...I think it's better to try anyway. That way, if everyone thinks that they, personally, can make a difference...then it's not just one person, is it. It's everyone. And everyone together makes a big difference..." The idea of community. Kokichi didn't say it as a big revelation or anything, but just as a concept that was always in the back of his mind. The thing that allowed him to convince himself that things in Luminary weren't as bad as it seemed to him because why would the people allow it?

Luminary wasn't his kingdom, and its people were not his responsibility. To say they were was an act of war. But Kokichi just couldn't...bear the thought of how people were treated. He could protect people if they came to Dicea, but getting out of Luminary was an ordeal in itself, and waving a big sign saying 'Hey! Tired of your leaders leaving you to die!? We'll take care of you here!' was...also an act of war.

Kokichi's thoughts were already dropping, but when Shuuichi admitted to what he had been planning...he was torn. Because the Remnants would kill everyone, but the alternative to how Shuuichi felt about that... He...didn't know what to say, but Shuuichi kept talking regardless.

And what he brought up... Kokichi's expression shifted from a pained sadness to deep, contemplative thought, his brow furrowing as well. "...If there was a way to nullify all contracts...to declassify people as government property...to redistribute wealth so the company literally cannot keep functioning..."

He sighed, pressing his face into Shuuichi's shoulder. "...I really wish that resistance groups had a way to organize... Change can't come from outside, but I would support internal efforts any way I could. It's just...frustrating. Power should never be used to hurt the people you're supposed to protect, but that's all it looks like Luminous people do."

Shuuichi wouldn't argue that. It was possible to argue. Kaito would argue it poorly. Byakuya and Kaede would argue it well. And Shuuichi, technically, could...but he didn't want to. Just because his hatred of Luminary was passive, didn't mean he didn't have it. Fuck Luminary.

"It's nice Dicea exists. It's good to know nice places exist in the world...and it's awful to know places like Luminary exist...that it's hurting people. But, honestly, Kokichi... I don't care about all that," Shuuichi said honestly. Eyes cold and impassive, looking over at Kokichi clearly in the eyes. Trying to convey his point as seriously as he could.

"I care about Maki's physical well-being and your mental well-being. Not to mention what her plan would do to Kaito...I can't even begin to guess what he'll look like by the end of it. I just want them to be okay. Maki and Kaito, specifically. And you too...you're inheriting a beautiful kingdom. You'll have your hands full just maintaining that, someday keeping it working, improving it. Right? Dicea will suffer if you split your attention, trying to save your doomed neighbors."

There was a pause...then Shuuichi's gaze softened. "Besides, Kaede is smart, talented, and ruthless. She doesn't need Maki or me or you. She's more than capable. If anyone can take down Byakuya, it's her, Maki or no."

Kokichi startled again, looking up at Shuuichi in shock...before dropping his gaze in...not quite shame or guilt, but something like it. He would never apologize for caring about people, and he did believe the overall well-being of a kingdom's people far outweighed the feelings of a few select people, but...

...Shuuichi had a point about Dicea. While things were generally alright in Dicea, it was because they were constantly monitoring it to keep it alright. To never stop trying to improve life. And even then, what had just happened...

Kokichi was able to handle his responsibilities right now, but once he became the leader? When it wasn't just as many letters as he could get his hands on (which had been an embarrassingly low amount this past month, though he'd gotten a good chunk done that week Kaito had been on bedrest), but when he had to go to court every day and address the needs of anyone who wanted to talk to the leader, and have regular check-ins with all the town representatives, not to mention keeping relations with other nations...

...he...he couldn't manage two kingdoms at once. He didn't want to, for one, but in...what? Storming in and trying to fix all of Luminary's problems? It wouldn't work for them or for Diceans.

With a deep sigh, his thin shoulders not buckling under the weight of his responsibilities, but sagging from them, Kokichi curled into Shuuichi's side. "...I need to prioritize Dicea... But, if she responds...I'm going to keep talking with Kaede. If he ever stops smelling his own farts, I'll talk with Byakuya too. If nothing else...the communication between our kingdoms is god-awful. Maybe by explaining how things work here...things will get better there. And if I see an opportunity that won't put Dicea at risk...I'm going to take it."

'That's all fine.' Shuuichi didn't say.

'Just don't send my best friend to her death.' He didn't add.

'And don't drive our lover literally insane.' He didn't finish.

What he did say was a gentle, "Okay, Kokichi." Putting an arm around his boyfriend’s shoulder and holding him close. "That all sounds like a good idea to me...thank you for listening to what I had to say. I know that kind of came out of nowhere. I've just been worried about Maki's plan for a long time, and she won't hear me when I tell her it's a bad idea so...and it's not like I can talk about it to Kaito or Kaede."

Shuuichi closed his eyes, (It's fine. He likes it) and kissed at Kokichi's temple. "Again, thank you for listening. I really do appreciate you...I sometimes can't believe someone like you is real," Shuuichi admitted, opening them up again. Mildly surprised, as he always was, that Kokchi was still there. Still sweet. Still kind, and intelligent, and...willing to listen to and touch and maybe even kind of like something like Shuuichi. It didn't feel real...

Glancing over at the portrait, Shuuichi observed the calm, shy intelligence in her gaze, and said, "If she's half as brilliant as people tell you she is? Then you take after her."

Kokichi nosed Shuuichi's shoulder, enjoying the arm around him, and hummed softly, taking slow, deep breaths. "...I think I might've scared Maki-chan...'cause I kind of shot her down when she first explained it. It wasn't a full no, but...so much of her presentation was focused on finding the people to remove, and how to go about it, but...that's not the problem. And when I asked about the problem...she doesn't know, and Kaede doesn't know, and...I don't think anyone knows. But things can't stay like this, so we'll have to find an answer."

Maki focused on the assassinations, because that was what she could do with her own two hands. It was within her control. A plan to stick to and carry out. But deaths wouldn't change anything without a purpose behind it...or at all, from Kokichi's point of view.

There just...had to be things they couldn't see that would spark ideas that would work...

"I'll always listen to Shuu-chan. Really...it's more like I should be thanking you for wanting to share your thoughts with me." Kokichi gave Shuuichi a smile before flushing, looking down now out of bashfulness as he nudged Shuuichi a bit. "Thanks...I can only hope so."

Taking a bit of a risk and hoping that Shuuichi wasn't uncomfortable, Kokichi looked back up to gently kiss his boyfriend on his lips, giving him a soft, loving smile afterward. "I appreciate you a whole lot too. I love talking with you, or even just sharing space. It...I'm really happy that you decided to date me an' Kai-chan. Shuu-chan is wonderful and interesting and funny and playful and amazing and all sorts of things that if I try to list them all out I'll go tongue-tied. I know we haven't known each other long, but...I do love you."

Blushing hot from the kiss, taken off guard like he always was when one of them did that, Shuuichi then listened with a small, shy, fond smile as Kokichi...basically kinda showered him with praise. It was a little much, and Shuuichi didn't really know what to say to any of it. It was a lot like when Kaito did it. Incredibly generous. A little overwhelming. Not much to do about it other than kinda let the words wash over you and feel their warmth...

But at the last part, a small, strangled sound caught in Shuuichi's throat, and he looked away from Kokichi, face bright red but his hat going low over his eyes. Startled and alarmed at the word.

He...he didn't think that was actually the first time Kokichi had said that. Hell, he was pretty sure he remembered similar sentiments back the first time Kaito and Kokichi had taken him to bed...but it was kind of the first time Shuuichi really comprehended him saying it. In a way that felt...sincere? Like he meant it the way that word was supposed to be used. Shuuichi had a hard time even thinking it. It was so strange...that he could actually mean it. Did he mean it? It sounded like he meant it...

'You're so delusional!'

Shuuichi cleared his throat. Nervous and uncomfortable as he said quietly back, "I...I'm sorry. I don't...I'm...I'm not really ready to say something like that...say it back, I mean...I'm sorry..."

Kokichi wasn't startled by Shuuichi's reaction. He'd told Shuuichi he loved him before, but, well, this was a rather intimate moment. It had the right amount of vulnerability from both parties, not much else was going on... But Kokichi was sure in his words and what they meant. He didn't know what love was supposed to be, but who cared about that? This was his chosen love, an intentional act of care that Kokichi wasn't taking lightly.

But he wasn't demanding reciprocation.

Gently stroking Shuuichi's back, Kokichi's voice was kind. "You don't have anything to be sorry for--I'm not expecting you to feel the same. Maybe you will one day, maybe you won't, but I want you to always know how much I care about you. How much I value Shuu-chan as a person and as a friend and as a lover."

"...the first time Kai-chan said he loved me, I didn't say it back, did you know? I wasn't ready, and I didn't know what to feel, or how I was feeling. So you don't have to know any of that stuff either. I'm just happy to be by your side."

Shuuichi nodded, a little relieved he hadn't hurt Kokichi's feelings. "Thank you...I'm still sorry. I want to be able to say it. And I do care about you a lot. I...I want to stay by your side too, as long as you'll have me..."

It was weird, to be loved by someone and not certain you loved them back. At least, not in the way they were talking about. And Shuuichi...didn't love Kokichi. He was pretty certain. He couldn't. He didn't trust the prince yet, not really.

And it wasn't the pollen causing that this time. Over the last week, his trust in Maki and Kaito had gradually returned, like it had never left. Some of the things they did were frustrating or hurtful...but he wasn't finding himself trying to fight back or getting enraged because he trusted that they did these things because they loved him and they were doing their best to protect him and get him back to a good place mentally. It was hard to resent that kind of devotion, even if it was stifling sometimes.

And Shuuichi could trust, when Kaito said he loved him. He's always loved him. He proved it over a lifetime. Adding sex to their relationship was more just...well, it was a necessity the first time, but now Shuuichi both...kind of liked it (it did feel good, Shuuichi didn't dislike doing it....though Shuuichi found he had gotten back to a place, mentally, where he'd probably not notice if he went long periods of time without it...thank god), but also knew Kaito REALLY liked it, and was pleased to make his best friend (boyfriend) that happy.

When the time came that the princes found they were tired of Shuuichi (which of course they would), it wasn't Kaito that Shuuichi was afraid would pull the final trigger on him.

It was Kokichi.

And as long as Shuuichi believed that...it was hard to love him. Despite the fact that Kokichi was kind, and caring, and had really in-depth, interesting conversations with Shuuichi, and touched him so gently, and made him feel like he could forget the inevitable future and just pretend that it was going to be like this forever...

"...I...think I'm still in love with Miss Nao," Shuuichi confessed. Taking his arm back from Kokichi and wrapping it around his knees, tucking his head into the curve of his arms to hide his face as he said, ashamed, "I'm sorry to say that. I'm not even saying that as a...honesty thing or anything like that. I just...needed to say it aloud to someone, and I can't say it to Maki or Kaito. They'd be so angry with me..."

"I know all of that was...bad. And I shouldn't want it all again. And I don't...or, at least, I don't think I do. I want to be with you and Kaito. I want the way you two make me feel. Happy and...and safe...but..."

Shuuichi pulled his head out of his arms. His eyes far away and...soft. Adoring.

"But Maki and Kaito don't understand. Her treatments...her horrors had come with little moments that...I'd never felt more looked after than I had in my entire life..."

"She'd clean me and wrap me in clean towels and put me to bed when I couldn't walk....she kept to the schedule because she knew I was always waiting for her to come back. That I was suffering without her. And I was suffering, Kokichi...Miss Nao's visits were the only thing keeping me from losing my mind...I was losing it and no one would touch me..."

Shuuichi suddenly snorted, his eyes going wet with burning, humiliated tears as he said, "God, that sounds so pathetic to say out loud...so...dirty and creepy...but I can't explain how bad the heat was. I can't explain it. What you and Kaito dealt with that first night together? Me...acting crazy and begging you to fill me up like some over-eager slut...that was a calm day. That was nothing compared to how I acted with her. I was disgusting...and she still stayed..."

"And in between all the...all the awful stuff? Stuff I had literally begged her for...there had been gentle moments," Shuuichi confessed. Smiling adoringly now. Entirely lost in the memories. "Moments I'm pretty certain Miss Nao hadn't even meant to do. Softer touches that she'd let me lean into for a few seconds. A-and sometimes she used this sweet, little cooing voice when she was mocking me that made the words sound less awful...she spent the night with me to make sure I would be taken care of, because I was struggling to move so much...she washed my hair...and told me about her friend...she gave me water..."

Tears started to fall down Shuuichi's face, his words broken by little sobs as he laughed at himself again, shaking his head in exasperation. "She gave me water...god I'm...so fucking pathetic...I can't believe I'm telling my sweet, kind boyfriend I can't bring myself to love him because my torturer gave me water...I-I'm actually insane..." Another little laugh. Another small sob. "I-I don't get how you can even stand me..."

That was enough. That was more than enough. Shuuichi didn't have to love him, but if he chose to care and stick with Kokichi, then...well, that was love to him. Shuuichi didn't have to recognize it as that for Kokichi to appreciate it all the same.

As much as he wanted to believe he'd always feel this way about his lovers, Kokichi had never been in love before. One day he might not feel the same. With Kaito, they couldn't nullify their marriage, not without an international hubbub. But with Shuuichi...they really could break up. But even then, Kokichi didn't think he'd ever hate the detective. Shuuichi was his friend first, a Dicean second, and then his boyfriend. No matter what, Kokichi would always care for him.

Even with the difficult things.

Kokichi kept his hand on Shuuichi's back, light and unobtrusive if Shuuichi wanted to pull away, but there as a reminder that Kokichi wasn't going anywhere. And he listened, even as his heart ached and broke, all until Shuuichi started crying, and Kokichi couldn't hold back.

Wrapping his arms around his boyfriend, Kokichi held him close and kissed the top of his hat. "...maybe this isn't fair to you, but I was kind of expecting that. If nothing else, she was your first relationship, and it's hard to just let that go. ...I don't think you remember, but...when you took Seiko's medicine for the first time? You told me you were in love. And you were just...so excited."

"...she did really horrible things to you but..." Kokichi sighed, nuzzling Shuuichi's head gently. "I feel like I can't even talk about it right, because Nao has...well, she's been Aunty Nao to me for so long. She's good at being scary, and she's not the most compassionate person, but...despite what she did to you...she's not a horrible person."

"All those little things that you just said...I don't think she could commit to being your nightmare. And...I think that just hurt you more. Because she couldn't commit to being someone you could fully hate." The world wasn't black and white, and Nao couldn't pretend that it was, despite her attempts. Because the same person who had convinced Shuuichi that he was a loveless whore was still the person who sat Kokichi in her lap as she'd read to him.

"...but just because she wasn't as bad as she could be didn't mean that that wasn't abuse. Even if you were consenting. But all that...how you're feeling is not a mark against you, Shuu-chan. I care about you, and I want to see you grow. To heal from this. Because even through the spores messing with your brain...you were still the person who didn't let me die, and was thinking of your friends the entire time. And that's amazing. And I adore that."

"So, it's pretty easy to stand you," Kokichi punctuated with another kiss.

Shuuichi laughed again, rubbing the tears from his eyes, soothed by Kokichi's words, though he still felt incredibly foolish. "Thanks...we're all such a mess. Me, Maki, and Kaito...I never realized how crazy we all really were until we got here. It's so ridiculous...honestly, I don't think you could have put up with us for this long without being a little crazy yourself," Shuuichi teased, nudging Kokichi back a little.

"Maybe so," Kokichi gently chirped. "But I'm okay with that."

Kokichi and Shuuichi spent the rest of the time until dinner up in the observatory, Kokichi getting his cuddles in and sharing some of his favorite charts. And, after calming Maki and Kaito down from not being able to find them immediately, they had dinner together.

Which...Kokichi mostly pushed around his plate, still not that hungry.

The evening was fine, and night was...

Kokichi woke up early the next morning and headed down to the mailroom, making small talk with the people who were already out and about and...his smile getting tighter with every person who offered their concern and sympathy.

Sitting down at his new desk--it had been Maki who bought it, and he'd thanked her and tried to pay for some of it, though she didn't let him...but looked to Kaito--Kokichi got to work. It'd been too long.

Kaito had been deep in sleep when Kokichi had woken up, left for a while, and was still asleep for a while after that after Kokichi returned. He was tired. It had been a long, difficult week, and as much as the castle itself didn't really feel like...home or comfortable or anything like that, their room? Their room was almost always a refuge in the storm. Kaito could happily spend the next few days just lying in here, just...getting back to zero, mentally.

So, of course, Maki knocked at the door.

"Kaito! Training in an hour! Meet me in the yard. Don't make me come back up here and drag you down!" Then, after a moment, she called out, "Good morning Kokichi!" before silence.

Kaito groaned into his pillow, pulling the blanket over his head for a moment...before calling back, in case she had waited around for a response, "Kay Maki!...Be there in an hour!...urng...."

While Kaito blinked under the blanket, he was actually a little surprised how much light was bleeding through. Whatever time it was, it wasn't first thing in the morning. So Maki had at least let him sleep in a little. And Kokichi...where?

Coming out of his blanket, Kaito looked around in confusion, before seeing Kokichi at the new desk. Just...surrounded by paperwork.

"Morning babe...surprised to see you awake already..." Kaito looked at the stack of letters, half on one side of Kokichi, the other half on the other...was that right half a...done pile? "You been up awhile, 'Kichi?"

Kokichi had distractedly called out a morning greeting back to Maki, but it took a few more moments before he really pulled himself out of his work. And it was probably a good thing he hadn't gone right back to it, considering Kaito was awake enough for conversation now.

"A little while," he downplayed, stretching out his wrists as he turned to Kaito with a soft smile. "G'morning. I would hope I didn't wake you up, but it sounded like you were out.

Laughing a little, he looked back over the work he still had to finish, and the letters ready to be either archived or sent out. Then, a little sheepishly, he turned back to his husband. "I've kinda gotten a system down, so I don't think I'll join you guys for training, but I'll see you after, okay?"

"Yeah, alright babe...I'm..." Kaito yawned, "...I'm getting up..."

Kaito laid there for roughly another twenty minutes, which felt like literally a blink to him, before he startled up and said, "Up, up, I'm getting up, don't let Maki in!"

Rushing out of bed, he went to go do his hair real quick, threw on his clothes, and went to go kiss Kokichi on the back of his head, saying quickly (because he didn't actually know how long he had fallen back asleep for and was assuming the worst) "Love ya 'Kichi! Don't work too hard! I'll be back up in a few hours. Oh!" Kaito paused at the door, giving Kokichi a worried look, "Did you give Shuuichi his dose this morning? Did he...notice anything different about it?"

Kokichi chuckled lightly at Kaito's drowsiness but quickly got back to work. Some people had written in expressing a desire to stay at the castle while they were in town for the Harvest festival. The castle pretty much never ran out of rooms for people, but it was a nice notice to get so they could prepare more. Especially if there was anyone coming who had mobility restrictions or needed other accommodations for their room. There was a reason the ground floor of the residential area was usually empty.

Tearing his attention away when Kaito said his see you later's, Kokichi gave him a reassuring smile and a nod. "I stopped by earlier, yeah. Apparently he was still sleeping so I passed the sticker off to Maki-chan--she'll make sure he takes it, and I'll be surprised if she hasn't already. You can ask her about it during training? Or maybe even Shuu-chan himself if he's down there. I don't think his mind would go whirring if you're just asking how he's feeling."

"Love you, sweets! See you later!"

Whirring. That was a good way of putting it. Man, he hoped Shuuichi hadn't noticed anything. Seiko had said that, based on how Shuuichi described the sensation of taking it, her solution to trick the initial feeling was, funnily enough, dousing the sticker in whiskey, and then after it dried, dousing it in red wine. She couldn't say for certain if the taste would match up or the initial 'burn', as Shuuichi called it, would match his experience, as she hadn't tried the pollen herself.

But she had given them both a small, tired shrug and said that it was the best she could do, having never tried the pollen herself, basing it on his description. And that if he questioned it? To not really answer him and only make comments to encourage him to rationalize it for himself.

"Oh," Maki had said, understanding lighting up her eyes a little, "like conditioning. Got it."

And that had made the doctor a little uncomfortable, which in turn had caused Kaito to notice how tired and stressed out she looked and Dr. Kimura, is everything alright? He had finally asked, concerned for his sidekick.

That was when Maki and Kaito had discovered that two separate attacks had been made on Seiko while she was gone. Someone had tried to burn down her pharmacy, and a few days later, someone had tried to break into her home. A mixture of concerned citizens and the guardforce had protected her place of business and residence, but...

It was obvious, by this point.

Someone was targeting Dr. Kimura.

The assassin and Luminous Prince had both assured her they'd do something, but Dr. Kimura had waved their concerns away. "I-it's okay...the castle is, apparently, already well aware of the a-attacks...my pharmacy and home are both now of-f-ficially part of the guards’ rotation, and some former patients of mine have already, heh..." Seiko looked tired again, rubbing her fingers over her forehead, "...well, they've all decided to take turns watching over both places full times themselves...I a-appreciate what they're doing, b-but I worry they're overexerting themselves..."

Funny. Based on what Seiko knew about how the Luminaries had handled Kokichi and Shuuichi's illnesses...maybe she shouldn't be as surprised as she was to discover so many former Luminous refugees and their friends, taking that same mentality about her. You could apparently take the refugees out of Luminary, but you couldn't take the 'twenty-four hour watch' mentality out of the refugee.

Maki, in turn, asked for the names of the patients that were setting up the watches, offering to reach out to them to put herself in part of their rotations. Seiko appreciated her concern...but knew she couldn't give these people away. Not to her. So she simply shook her head and said, "I-I'm confident that everything is fine. The guards are keeping watch, and a-again, I'm hoping they'll ease up on watching themselves. I am c-certain everything will be okay..."

...and Seiko was also...feeling a little determined...and a little excited?

Someone was trying to destroy her work. That was clear. Two attacks had been made against her now.

Which meant she was onto something. Something in her research was alarming someone enough to try to silence her...to frighten her off or destroy her...

And she really wanted to know what it was now.

Kaito had thought about telling Kokichi what had happened as soon as he got back, but then he and Maki had sorta freaked out when they weren't in their room and they weren't in the mess hall and they had even checked the library before finally finding them in the observatory, and by the time they had found them, Seiko's issues had been entirely forgotten, Kaito just endlessly relieved to find his husband and boyfriend okay.

He'd tell him later. When he was done working, so that Kaito's news wouldn't distract him. Probably by noon then, right?

When Kaito got to the field, he saw Shuuichi, asleep, under the usual tree, Chase curled up into his side with him. 

"It was like before. Vomiting and exhaustion...but apparently he's been feeling nauseous this whole time and hasn't been telling us," Maki practically growled when Kaito asked after him. "And I did what Seiko said when he asked about how strong his dose was, and he eventually reasoned out to himself that he was still just tired from traveling. So, at least he doesn't know he hasn't been dosed, but...but he looks sick, doesn't he? I'm not crazy, right? He looks pale?"

"Maybe a little but...withdrawal, right? We'll keep an eye on him. Seiko said she'd come check in on him as often as she can. We're on top of this. He's gonna be okay."

"Right...okay. Go join Tim on his laps, he's already on the third one. I want you to have caught up with him by the time he hits his sixth. Go!"

"On it!"

After Kokichi had taken his letters and reports down to the mailroom and to the archives, he'd stopped by his father's office, getting caught up on what had happened during his time away and notifying Aiichi of the information Itch had given him about the Remnants. Nao had resigned practically as soon as they'd left, and while she was still going to be in contact with the castle for any information she found out about the Remnants, the situation in Luminary, and just general strong sentiments in Dicea, she had made it clear that she wasn't going to come back to the castle for anything less than an emergency situation, and...she'd declared that a verdict of domestic abuse be placed on her record, and that she'd be attending additional therapy for it.

That was...something he'd probably have to tell Shuuichi before he found it out himself.

Along with the attacks on Seiko's home and work (which...Kokichi had been half-thankful she'd been out of town for), the disposal of any remaining beer in the brewery (with a small portion being taken for study), Kaito's anger management courses, the encouragement for any celebrations of King Leon and Queen Sayaka's deaths to be private affairs...there had been a good amount to talk about.

Least of all Aiichi taking his son aside and reassuring him that he didn't have to get right back into work, that, as always, there were resources for him to use when it came to therapy, and that everyone was there for him...

Kokichi had just given his father a tired smile and headed back up to his room with another batch of letters.

Kaito was back to watching Kokichi from the bed, having showered after his training session, and eating the last of the curry that had been brought up for lunch.

It felt weird, watching Kokichi work. His husband had been working on those letters when Kaito had left, and was still working on letters when he got back, and was still working on them now, through lunch. Lunch that he...wasn't eating, if the entirely still full plates beside him were any indication.

Finishing off his plate, Kaito glanced somewhat worried at Kokichi's plates, before saying hesitantly, not certain if he should distract his husband while he was working, "Um...I'm gonna head downstairs to bring my plates back...do you want me to bring something else to eat up? If you're not feeling the curry? I can ask the kitchen to make you something specific if you want, 'Kichi..."

"Hm?" Kokichi looked up from his work, then over to the full plates pushed to the side of his desk. He hadn't eaten breakfast so...he should probably have something... Even if eating didn't sound great...

"Ah, whoops." Setting the sales record he'd been referencing down, Kokichi moved a few things around before bringing the curry in front of him, smiling apologetically at his husband. "Sorry for worrying you. It's really easy to tell yourself you'll eat after this letter...and then you'll find that it connects to something else so you start working on that...then you just forget, you know?"

Moving his spoon through the thick stew and rice for a moment, Kokichi forced himself to take a bite, not really...getting anything from it. Like, it did taste good, but...he couldn't bring himself to enjoy it any. He just...wasn't hungry, and eating was such an idle activity. One that left a lot of time to think...

"My bad. Thanks for the reminder, sweets."

Kaito grinned, a little relieved. He hadn't seen any signs that Kokichi had eaten this morning either...but hey! People skipped breakfast sometimes! That was a-okay! It did not mean anything was wrong! And...well, okay, things were wrong. But Kokichi was just working, right now, and caught up in it. Which made sense. They had been gone for a week, and Katio had been kinda distracting him from work for a month before that. He was probably struggling to catch up by this point.

Hovering. Kaito was hovering, he realized. He needed to give his husband some space.

"No worries, beautiful! Look, after I put away my plates, I think I'm gonna go spend some time in my shrine. Maybe read a bit in there. I don't want to come clambering back in while you're in the middle of a thought, so I'll come back when you're ready to break for the day. When do you think you'll be done working?"

Kokichi made himself take another bite, nodding to Kaito's plans to spend some time in his shrine, though his eyebrows drew in when... "You're not a bother, Kai-chan. This is more your bedroom than it is my office. And even if I sound distracted, I really don't mind if you wanna talk for a bit or whatever."

Kaito wasn't a nuisance, and he never wanted him to think that he was. He didn't want Kaito to feel like he had to tip-toe around him.

...but...he still had so much work to do...

Taking a sip from the glass of juice that had come up with lunch, Kokichi rubbed the tension out of his neck and gave a little half-shrug. "Er... I'm not sure... I've kinda been letting things slip...and then with everyone coming back tomorrow...I kinda wanna try to get ahead of things before then, yanno? Especially since everyone else will wanna greet the vets too, so I don't think really anyone's gonna be working much tomorrow, so..."

He gave Kaito another apologetic smile. "Come back whenever you like. I really won't be bothered at all."

Kaito hesitated...he should offer to help. That's what he should do. Pass him a few letters! He could do this! He got this! Dual-kings, right??

...Kaito glanced at the letters, thought about the things Kokichi had explained were in them before this, and immediately lost his nerve. He didn't know anything about farm resources or bird rotations or, what had been the latest thing...some sort of big, cross kingdom veteran art project thing? Which took permits and organization between the towns’ leaderships and hiring of artisans all across the country and Kaito remembered listening, wide eyed, as Kokichi started talking about how environmental studies in the areas the projects would be put up and traffic controls and...

Kokichi's job seemed to require either knowing a lot about a bunch of seemingly random and unrelated fields, or at least knowing how to study up on those things quickly to offer genuine advice on the matters. It...it literally looked like, to Kaito, that his husband did by himself, in his bedroom, organizational tasks that had taken specialized teams of people to work on in Luminary...

...fuck Kaito really didn't want Kokichi to see how fucking stupid he was...

So he swallowed his offer to help and just said brightly, "Okay! I'll just be back sometime this afternoon then! And I'll definitely be in the shrine if you need me for any reason, kay babe? Don't worry about disturbing me either!"

Yep. You just stay here and work on matters of running the kingdom, and Kaito would just go...tell Atua what a fucking coward he was for awhile. Yep. Yep.

Kaito gave Kokichi a quick kiss goodbye, encouraged him to eat a little more, "It's really good, babe! They did a great job!", before heading out, going upstairs. Feeling guilty and frustrated.

Kokichi gave his husband a more genuine smile and kissed him back, watching him go with slight concern for a moment. And...he did get himself to eat a little more of the curry. But it wasn't long before the smiles faded into a far away, melancholic expression and...Kokichi shook himself, pushing the plates away and getting back to work.

If he was working he wouldn't have the space to think about anything else. If he was working, then he was helping people. Addressing the needs of the people who looked to the Ouma family for direction. But...what about the people who never wrote in? Sure, they could send notices to every town, but...people could just not pay attention to them. And then people who were traveling, and people who preferred to live on their own...

How...how could he protect everyone? It...it wasn't enough...

Shuuichi was picking at his nails in Maki's bed...not really doing anything. Just sitting and staring at his feet...picking the dirt from his fingers while Maki busied herself on her stupid suicide plan...

...he frowned to himself. Just tell her you're going. Just go. You don't even have to tell her. You're a grown man. She can't keep you here. You're allowed to make decisions for yourself...

Shuuichi, feeling determined, stood up from the bed, looked at the door...and stopped. Hesitating.

He could feel eyes on him.

He glanced to the desk, and saw Maki had stopped working and was looking at him. Expression...accusatory and tense.

"Are you going somewhere?"

"..." Shuuichi opened his mouth to tell her that he was just going out. That he just was going to take a walk. That it was none of her business...before closing it. Lowering his cap over his eyes as he found himself suddenly staring at the floor, back tense and, weirdly enough, aching (so much of him ached right now...why was his body so sore?), he said, "...can I go to the library?"

"No."

Shuuichi flinched, immediately wanting to argue. You couldn't keep him here! He wasn't a prisoner or a child or anything else! He could go to the library if he wanted to! He could see her if he wanted to!

"...okay," Shuuichi murmured, lamely looking around for something else to do. Guess he could just...go back to sitting on the bed...

Maki saw the disappointment and frustration radiating off him and sighed. She'd be the bad guy. She didn't mind being the bad guy. But she wasn't thrilled to be treating Shuuichi like this either, and tried to think of some way to appease him... "Do you want to go visit the princes? I can walk you down the hall."

"...I don't need you to walk me-"

"I can walk you down the hall," Maki growled. Clutching her pen tightly in her hand as her eyes narrowed. "If you want."

Shuuichi nodded, shoulders tensing up to his ears as he said quickly, "Yeah, yes, okay. Thank you, Maki."

Maki relaxed, giving Shuuichi a tired look...maybe it wasn't fair for her to dump Shuuichi on the princes while he was trying to look for ways to weasel going downstairs on his own, but dammit, it was depressing having him just sit in here with her. Kokichi and Kaito's room at least had games to play and things to read. Maki was going to go collect Shuuichi's things from his room. Today, while the veterans were still away. Tim, Kaito, and Shuuichi would all be staying with her tomorrow for all that, and she didn't want them to have nothing at all to do the whole day. She'd tell Kaito and TIm to bring stuff for themselves as well. And she'd nail down all ends of the curtain wall today. She didn't want Tim getting curious and looking behind it. Didn't want Kaito to be tempted to break his promise either.

"Okay then. Let's go," Maki said, getting up and doing as she said she would. She walked Shuuichi literally just down the hallway, and knocked at the princes' door. "Kaito, Kokichi? It's us. Can we come in?"

Kokichi perked from his work, looking guiltily over at his half-eaten food for a moment before sighing. What was he going to do--hide it? He wasn't starving himself, and he'd eaten as much as he wanted. He just hadn't taken his plate down yet. Maki wasn't his...

"Yeah, come on in!"

Kokichi shuffled some of his work together before turning in his chair, smiling at his friends as they entered. "Did you guys need anything? Or we crashin' this room for hangout time now? Kai-chan's at his shrine, if you were looking for him."

"Dropping Shuuichi off. He was bored," Maki explained, looking around the room. Everything seemed okay in here. She was surprised to hear Kaito had left for his shrine. She had expected Kaito would want to stay with Kokichi while...well, she supposed nothing was really 'happening' right now. But still...she was surprised.

Her eyes glanced over the food on his desk...lunch was hours ago now...before turning her blood eyes to Kokichi. "Did you eat breakfast?"

His gaze softened but...Kokichi didn't say anything. Someone really did need to be around Shuuichi all the time right now. But if Kokichi was bristling at the idea of his boyfriend being treated like a child or a prisoner...he couldn't imagine how frustrating it'd be for Shuuichi.

Or...well, he kind of could, but the situation was still different.

Kokichi could tell where Maki's eyes glanced to and he gave her a half-shrug in response. "I stopped by the dining room when I was dropping off some work around breakfast. Grabbed some hot chocolate--wasn't super hungry, you know?"

"I am eating, Mama-ki-chan. You don't have to worry," he smirked at her.

Maki nodded. "Fine," she agreed. Looking to Shuuichi, she started sternly, "Don't-"

"-give Kokichi any trouble. Don't leave the room without him. Don't make you come looking for me." Shuuichi smiled slightly at Maki's frustrated expression. "I won't, Maki."

"...good." Maki sighed, tugging at her hair a little before saying, "I'll be in my room. Come get me if you need me. Shuuichi, you should finish Kokichi's food, you didn't eat enough at lunch either."

He had, actually. Maki just didn't want to say that he had thrown up too much of it after he was done. Though, with that in mind, she said, "Eat it slowly."

"Sure Maki. Will do." Shuuichi sighed, giving her a small wave as she left, closing the door behind herself. He sighed when she was gone. "Man...something is freaking her out today...she's been relentless this whole time, but today it's like she thinks I'm gonna really make a run for it...anyway." Shuuichi glanced over at Kokichi, eyeing the letters as he went to go sit on the bed. "I'm sorry to intrude. You look busy. Are you working?"

Sitting down, Shuuichi gave Kokichi a curious look. "Anything I could do to help?"

She was probably worried about tomorrow. About people who had fought against Luminaries returning to the castle, likely had lost friends and loved ones right in front of their eyes to people who simply hailed from the same country Maki and Shuuichi and Kaito and Tim were born in. Who, in particular, might've fought against Tim's comrades. Maybe even Tim himself but...Kokichi hoped that chances of that worked in their favor.

He sighed softly, understanding Maki's worry very well, but...there was nothing more to prepare.

That, or she was stressed over Shuuichi’s spore-free day. But there was no way he was even alluding to that to his boyfriend.

"Yeah, I've been trying to catch up on work today, and...actually, yeah, you might be able to help, but..." Kokichi drummed his fingers on his chair, just... He needed to tell Shuuichi. But he had no idea how his boyfriend would react. But it wasn't fair to keep him in the dark. "...I talked to Aiichi about stuff that happened while we were away. And...about Nao..."

Shuuichi looked away from the letters, suddenly worried. Kokichi had talked to the king? Oh no... "Is everything okay? She...she's not in trouble or anything is she, or..."

Shuuichi suddenly went quiet. Swallowing hard. A stone in his stomach.

"...did she tell on me?"

Kokichi gave Shuuichi a confused look. "...tell on you for what? Getting an addiction, in the terms of our laws, isn't your fault, and it's not something you're in trouble for."

Shelving that for a moment, Kokichi sighed and drummed his fingers some more, figuring that...this probably wasn't going to go well at all. "...I mean...she essentially turned herself in for domestic abuse. Gonna go to additional therapy and all that. She quit, like she said she was gonna, and, like...if there was going to be an official restraining order, it'd have to come from you, but...it sounds like she made it pretty clear she's not going to come by the castle at all anymore. That she's trying to keep as out of your life as possible."

"It's..." Kokichi pressed his lips together as he stared at the ground, trying to think of how to explain. "...Nao did all this because she knows she did something horrible to you, Shuu-chan. She wants to give you the space to heal, and she's embracing the consequences of what she did. It's not a punishment for you."

Not for the addiction. For Itch. For Tom and Aba. For...joining a terrorist group and not telling anyone about it...for the thing Kokichi said he was going to tell people about and never did...

But the explanation of his fears caught in Shuuichi's throat. Again, that irrational idea that he was just in some sort of...bubble that could pop if he pointed it out filling his head. Certainly there would be consequences for all of that. King Aiichi couldn't possibly want to allow Shuuichi to stay in the castle if he knew. There'd be a trial. It had to be against the law to aid and hide terrorists, right?

He couldn't bring himself to say any of it. And...his fears were wiped from his mind as he listened to Kokichi go on...

Shuuichi's eyes widened in alarm at the very first thing brought up, immediately trying urgently to explain, "She can't do that!? Turned herself in...what?? She didn't abuse me, she didn't-"

And he listened to the rest of it...starting to shake...

...oh no, oh god, he had ruined her life. Oh no, no, no, she had quit!? He hadn't actually thought she would...Kokichi said she had been working here his whole life. She quit!? What if she couldn't get another job!? What if she ended up in debt somewhere! She couldn't quit! She...

...she wasn't...coming back?

...she didn't want to see him anymore...

Oh god, Shuuichi had ruined her fucking life...stupid, selfish whore...what was wrong with you...

Why didn't she want to see him anymore?

Shuuichi's eyes burned with tears before he even realized he had started to cry, and he put his head in his hands, his whole body shaking. "I...I-I don't understand...w-why would she do all that? I d-didn't...should I leave? Should I go? Will she get her life back if I l-leave?"

Kokichi jolted out of his seat at the first sight of tears, kind of...not entirely surprised, but...he had been trying to explain that this wasn't Shuuichi's fault. That Nao left for his own sake. But...sometimes things just didn't get through.

Standing in front of Shuuichi, but not touching him yet, not if Shuuichi didn't want to be touched, Kokichi spoke softly. "I can't speak for Nao, and I wasn't there to hear her resignation or her criminal report. But she's not the type of person to convince themself that they've done nothing wrong. She hurt you so badly you couldn't walk, isolated you, used manipulation tactics to lower your self-worth and make you dependent on her...that is abuse. Even if you consented to it."

"...this is my own perspective, but from the things she said at the meeting... As soon as Nao was sure that you would be taken care of, she wanted to take her penalties." Slowly, Kokichi sat on the bed next to Shuuichi, still not touching him. "...her life is still there, Shuu-chan, and...personally, I don't think she'd apply for her old job if you left. Though..."

"...that might be biased. Because I really don't want you to leave," he whispered, turning his gaze from Shuuichi to the floor.

Shuuichi felt a shudder of repulsion as Kokichi gave the laundry list of what she had done...it hurt to hear it all just...said. He knew all that, he did. Hell, he was okay pointing it out himself, and had often enough now. He knew she had hurt him. Tortured him. He got that. But...he didn't...he didn't blame her...he had needed all of that...j-just because...he had....

He wasn't worth all this. He wasn't worth her losing her whole way of life. Not over something like Shuuichi.

"I needed her...I needed her..."

He could hear Kokichi, but he could barely register what he was saying, his heart wracked with grief and guilt. His love was on a list somewhere. For hurting him. They didn't keep secrets in Dicea. What if people judged her for it!? They didn't know how worthless he was! They didn't know he deserved it! She was just trying to help him!

"I've h-hurt her so badly," Shuuichi sobbed, leaning into Kokichi's shoulder and crying. "I didn't w-want this for her...I wasn't w-worth this...K-kokichi, I'm so sorry...I sh-should have never g-gone to see her wife...I could have kept it all h-hidden if I hadn't done that...I-I just w-wanted her to l-love me...I w-wanted her to keep me..."

Kokichi kept quiet in the face of Shuuichi's pain and regret. Shuuichi needed to know that she was gone, but...well, at least he'd told him in a safe place. Shifting just a bit, Kokichi finally put his arms around Shuuichi and let him cry. Maybe one day Shuuichi and Nao could meet again and talk, but for now... Shuuichi was still so deeply affected, and, knowing that, Nao would refuse to come near and risk hurting him more.

He really wished he had magic words to make it better, but...he just held Shuuichi and rubbed his back as he sobbed.

"This was her decision, Shuu-chan, and Aunty decided that you were worth it. Your health and happiness is worth a job to her. That's really special, honey pie. You're special."

Shuuichi sobbed for a while. His mind racing at first, heartbroken and horrified that someone he was so devoted to had lost so much because of him. He felt so powerless to do anything. So selfish and disgusting. Stupid dirty whore. Stupid dirty whore!

But then, after awhile, his thoughts kinda emptied out, his body exhausted to begin with, and his sobbing not helping that in the slightest. He leaned against Kokichi for a while, feeling guilty about this too. What an awful boyfriend Kokichi had. What a terrible, awful situation he had lumped onto the Dicean. What a waste. What a waste...

Shuuichi told Kokichi he was sorry again, and Kokichi whispered more kind platitudes. Special? Him? Shuuichi didn't feel special. He felt so hopeless...

Eventually Shuuichi felt his eyes get heavy and tired. The world far away. It was almost like he couldn't see, for how adrift he felt. At some point a door opened, and a concerned voice (Kaito?) started talking to Kokichi, but Shuuichi was too tired and numb and lost in his own head to really pay attention to any of it. He felt hands, large, calloused hands, touch at his face, wiping tears from his eyes, and a kiss was placed on Shuuichi's cheek that made Shuuichi shiver in repulsion. He didn't really want to be touched right now...

"...onna lay down with him a bit. You sure you're oka..."

A soft, patient response. Don't worry. Just getting a little more work done. And with something apparently decided, Shuuichi was gently taken away from Kokichi's shoulder, strong arms guiding him back to the pillows of the bed, Shuuichi encouraged to lie down.

"...'re okay, handsome. Hey, man, you're good. It's okay. I've got yo..."

Someone laid down with him, wrapping his arm around his waist and pulling him into his chest (Kaito. It was Kaito. Kaito was holding him) and Shuuichi stared down at the arm around him. Scars. Thinner than hers, but more frequent. Too much fighting. Too much bloodletting. Some of the cuts looked shallow but fresh. Shuuichi looked at those fresh cuts and felt his eyes burn with a fresh new wave of tears, and he turned himself around, burying his face in Kaito's neck, Kaito's hands now on his back instead.

Atua, if you're out there. Please help. Please save them. Maki wanted a suicide mission. Kaito was going to casually rip himself to shreds in your name. Kokichi literally couldn't walk outside without something happening. And Shuuichi...

Shuuichi just didn't want to exist.

Kaito sighed, rubbing Shuuichi's back soothingly, feeling his detective start to nod off against his chest. Looking over at Kokichi, who had immediately headed back to the desk, he said, "Thanks for looking after him, babe. Just...Maki will come back eventually to collect him. Wake us up when she does." Kaito glanced at the half-eaten curry and the mile high stack of letters...at the lines under Kokichi's eyes... and said again, "You're sure you're good?"

Kokichi held Shuuichi for what felt like an eternity. Just letting him cry, maybe just from shame, but maybe for some of the hurt that had been done for him. Maybe that was Kokichi trying to feel better about this. But he held his boyfriend, rubbing his back and reassuring him over and over that this was not his fault, that he was amazing and worthy, and that things would be okay. Even if Shuuichi didn't believe him.

He hadn't wanted to let him go when Kaito came back, but...maybe just taking a nap was best for Shuuichi right now. And...it wasn't the best for Kokichi at the moment. Trying to sleep meant...idle thoughts. Actually getting to sleep... Kokichi was lucky to not dream very much, but...he didn't know if that luck would hold out. And he was not curious in the slightest to find out what his dreams would be right now.

So...bad to work it was. At least that was something he could do to actually comfort people. To make things better more than words that people could choose to ignore.

Nodding at Kaito, Kokichi just gave him a small, sad smile, his gaze drifting over Shuuichi's form. "Yeah... I'll watch over you guys. Don't worry."

-

Tim had spent basically all of the last two days avoiding everyone that he could.

He was angry. He wasn't sure at what, or who. But he was. It brimmed under the surface of everything he did. He ate angry. He walked Chase angry. He ignored Miss Kawai angry. He trained with Miss Harukawa angry.

And he was furious when he listened to her tell him they were all going to hide in her room when the fighters came back.

Why? He wasn't afraid of them! Why should he be afraid of a bunch of dirt jumpers!? He had fought with them then, he could fight with them now! He wasn't afraid of anyone!

(Feeling startled when the atmosphere suddenly shifted. Small and helpless when panic started to spread among the adults. Where was the prince? Tim, did you see the prince go anywhere?)

(No. He hadn't seen.)

And Miss Harukawa's impassive, constant anger, staring back down at him. You're not fighting anyone, period. They're not enemies. Not here. They're people returning home.

We're the outsiders here.

We have to respect that.

I'm asking you to be mature about this.

And Tim had ducked his head the way he had seen Mr. Saihara do before and gripped his fists the way Prince Kaito always did when certain Diceans walked by and tried to swallow his emotions the way his mentor always tried to. Trying to be more put together than he felt. Trying to ignore the swirl of awful, dwarfing emotions he felt. Trying to be as strong as the adults around him.

(Why is Mr. Saihara always sleeping under that tree when we train?)

(He's not feeling well.)

(...still?)

(Why doesn't Prince Kaito do push-ups with me?)

(He hurt his hand.)

(...again?)

And just feeling lost. The world never made any sense anymore. Things were sometimes good. Sometimes they were amazing. New puppies. Magically dry cotton candy. Carnival rides.

And then...every time...

...Tim laid in bed and stared at the ceiling. Wide awake and unable to sleep. They were going to go hide in Miss Harukawa's room tomorrow. The front line fighters were returning. They were coming back...

...Tim reached up and touched the ridges of the scar that ran all the way across his face...

Tim felt a shock of surprise run through his heart when there was a sudden knock at his door. What? It was...it was late? Miss Harukawa?

Getting up, straightening out his pajamas, Timothy warily went to his door, hesitating at first...but his brow furrowed when he heard a small, familiar voice, whispering urgently on the other side...what?

"Come on, come on, Tim, hurry up! I know you can hear me, you buttface, wake up!" the voice whisper-shouted, knocking lightly at the door again, "Come ooooon!"

Timothy opened the door, giving his...friend? An incredulous look."...Cali?" Tim asked, looking around her to see if anyone had come with her, and seeing no one else in the hallway. "What are you..."

"Get your stuff packed!" Cali insisted, shoving a backpack into his arms, carrying a full one on herself, a proud, determined smile on her face. "We're running away!"

Miss Maki's order wasn't in effect here. The time duration had been for one night, and in a different location. There were no rules about children going out at night, no enforced curfew on the city--anything enforced in that case was left up to guardians' discretion.

But Katsuki was paying close attention to this group. Failure was not acceptable.

So, for this different mission, the guard chose a different path.

Aaaaand, that was how Haneda found herself sitting on the third-floor stairwell, rubbing sleep out of her eyes and silently fuming over the kids that were supposedly heading her way.

Timothy stared at the empty backpack in his hands.

It had a picture of a unicorn on it.

"...we are?" Tim asked. Stepping aside as Cali walked in, putting her hands on her hips and looking around the room, excitement and fire in her eyes as she nodded enthusiastically at his question.

"Yep! Just in time too! I was going to run away before, but then I thought, Tim isn't back yet, and if I ran away before he got back, he'd have no one to run away with! And that just sounded sucky. So we're running away together!" Cali explained, heading to a closed door and saying, "Is this your closet? You're gonna need clothes! And get out of your pajamas! Where we're going, we won't need pajamas anymore!"

"We won't?" Timothy asked, following her to his closet as she opened it up, satisfied to find Timothy's modest wardrobe there. "Why not?"

Cali shrugged. "I don't know. We'll probably live in the forest, right? Or under bridges? I read a series of short books where some runaway kids found an abandoned caravan to live in in the middle of the woods, and I don't think they ever mentioned them wearing PJ's. Kinda just seems silly, doesn't it? Being out in the wild in PJ's," Cali observed, taking clothes at random and shoving them into the unicorn backpack until it was mostly full. "Do you have a toothbrush? We probably still need those."

"Yeah..." Timothy said, going to pet Chase, who had woken up when Cali had walked in and was excitedly yipping now. Dad! Dad, look! The pink-haired girl's back!! Look!!! "Why are you running away?"

"Same reason you are, duh! All the volunteers are coming back tomorrow," Cali said cheerfully, heading to his bathroom and picking up his toothbrush and toothpaste, shoving those in as well. Then she frowned, a dark look coming over her face as she said, "And my mom with them...I'm not sticking around for that."

Timothy rubbed the back of his neck, watching Cali flit here and there, collecting things she thought he and Chase would need. Inclined to help, Timothy went to put the leash on Chase's collar, and grabbed some of the bags of food he had prepared for the caravan trip that Chase didn't end up getting through, popping those into the backpack as well, before saying, "I wasn't...planning to run away."

"Why not?" Cali asked. Sounding genuinely befuddled.

"I'm not afraid of the front line fighters."

"So? I'm not afraid of my mom. Doesn't mean I want her around me. She wants to just leave me and daddy? Fine. She should have just stayed gone." Cali said, her voice still unbeatably cheerful, before she turned those light green eyes to Tim and pointed her own face as she said, "And they gave you that scar, right? That's what you said?"

"...yeah," Timothy said cautiously. When Cali had asked before, Timothy had just told her he got it when he was a soldier, and she hadn't asked anything more about it. He had wondered if she realized what he meant...guess she had. "...but I don't know if... I should leave...Miss Harukawa will come looking for me..." ...Probably?

Cali paused, looking at Timothy in confusion. She hadn't expected him to not want to go. Not even for a second...

Feeling suddenly more uncertain, Cali gave Timothy an uneasy smile. "Oh...okay. I mean, if you don't want to... I thought you'd be excited...but, that's alright! I...I can go by myself! It'll be an adventure! I'll send ya letters!" Cali said, that determination returning to her. Refusing to falter for anything! ...though the unease returned to her as she said, somewhat sheepishly to him, "...if you really don't wanna go, I mean?"

Timothy stared at the pink-haired girl warily...he didn't think this was a good idea. The world was...scary. Dangerous. Violent. You looked away for a second, and suddenly people were taken away, or men started to beat each other, and soldiers popped out of the ground...

...Cali didn't know how to fight...

Timothy sighed. Taking the backpack from her and putting it on.

"Alright," he said, "Let's go."

Cali's face lit up, excited and relieved as she ran over to him, throwing her arms around his shoulder and cheering. "Yes! This is going to be so much fun! We're going on an adventure, Timmy! This is gonna be great!"

Timmy? Sure. Whatever. "Alright, but come on. We have to get out of the castle first," Timothy said warily, putting a finger to his mouth to indicate quiet. "I've never tried to leave the castle at night before."

"They just let me in," Cali said with a shrug, "And no one stopped me on my way up here. Let's just walk out."

"Yeah sure...shoot," Timothy said, as the two headed out the door, already seeing a problem. What was she doing here? Putting a hand out to stop Cali, he pointed at Miss Kawai's back. "Look...we already have a problem. That's my stalker."

"Haneda? I thought she was your nanny."

"What's a nanny?"

"Uh...nevermind! How do we get past her?" Cali whispered.

Timothy frowned, trying to think...Miss Harukawa had cut him for trying to climb outside the observatory before...but it was tempting to try something like that again. He had watched Miss Okuniji walk the walls plenty now. It looked easy...but getting Chase down would be hard. And he didn't know how balanced Cali was. Though, from playing with her, he knew she was fast. Hmmm...

...well, it was Miss Kawai. He was kinda practiced at this already.

Taking Cali's hand, picking up Chase with the other, Timothy simply said, "Just keep up with me, kay?"

And then ran.

She could be in bed right now. Sleeping. Being in blissful unconsciousness. Dreaming of actually using her vacation time and taking that trip out to Kishuku's farm. But no. Boss looked at a couple twenty-somethings trying to look after a child and thought, 'you know what they need? Another twenty-something to help out. Surely no one in this group needs actual child-rearing skills! Perfect!' And now Haneda was a nanny to a child that wanted nothing to do with her.

Karma was a bitch, wasn't it.

Stifling a yawn, Haneda thought about just telling Katsuki to keep an eye on the kids if she was so fussed about it--she wouldn't. This was her job, and Tim was her responsibility--when she heard the quick, quiet pats of feet and--

"Oh, for fuck's--!"

Hopping off the railing, Haneda sprinted after the kids, the fury of hell in her eyes.

Cali giggled in delight as the two ran down the stairwell, looking back with mischief in her eyes at the furious nanny, giving her a wave as she said, "Hi Haneda! Bye Haneda!"

Timothy, in turn, brow furrowed and determined, pulled at Cali, getting her to refocus as he said urgently, "Hurry! She's faster than she looks. And the old lady can run for a real long time before she needs to take a breath! Come on!"

The two children ran down the stairs, Tim's furious caretaker not far enough behind them, and Tim thought quickly to himself as they ran. They needed to lose his stalker. They had size on their side but not much else. Where could they use size...

Timothy ran out the front door, and made a hard right.

"Timmy, where are we going!? The gates the other way!"

"I know where they park the caravans and carriages. We just have to hop a fence! Come on!"

Heading to the stables, Timothy ran past the stable barns, and came across where he knew the two caravans they had traveled in were being kept for now, along with quite a few others with them. Fenced off away from the horses, which grazed nearby, Timothy and Cali went under the short, wooden fence, and bolted to the nearest caravan, ducking underneath it.

They continued moving, coming out the other side of it and, at Tim's prompting, immediately ducking under another, before moving the opposite direction. At the third one, he took them from under it and to its side, heading to the door. The caravan door opened, to Timothy's relief, and motioning for Cali to be quiet, they headed inside.

Timothy went up to the window, peeking out. Hoping that his stalker had lost them in the confusion of ducking and weaving through the caravans and carriages, and wouldn't guess which one they were hiding in...

A raise. She was going to demand a raise for this. Or at least overtime--this was definitely outside of normal working hours. And as soon as Tim was settled and okay with the routine of school, she was taking that vacation.

Haneda had kept close enough that she had seen the kids duck under the fence to the, essentially, parking depot, but then... With a grunt, she hopped the fence and looked around, widening her eyes in the dark to catch any little moving shadows. At first, she walked to the outside of the depot, at least able to see the kids if they tried to leave the castle grounds.

But...they weren't around...

...she had never liked being the seeker in hide-and-seek. Haneda felt a sudden wave of disgust come over her, feeling just like the adults who had tried to find her in her youth. Remembering the anxiety of hiding in small, cramped spaces, or precarious overhangs...but feeling the thrill of outsmarting a pursuer, of getting away scot-free.

Haneda sighed, catching her breath as she scanned the depot, not finding any sign of the kids. And then she snorted, calling out into the night. "Chase?! Chase, where are you, girl?"

Mom? Mom! Mom mom mom!!

"Noo, shhhh, quiet Chase!" Timothy desperately hushed as the puppy immediately started yipping in excitement, hearing her other trainer calling for her. And Timothy couldn't bring himself to just straight up cover the puppy’s mouth as she looked up at him with happy, stupid excitement, her little butt wiggling in her arms as she barked cheerfully up at him. "Shit!" Timothy cursed to himself, grabbing Cali's hand again, "We gotta go!"

He headed for the door they came in through, and when he opened it-

"Back door, back door, run!" Timothy said, pushing Cali towards the back of the caravan, dodging away from the grip of his stalker.

Gotcha.

Haneda opened up the caravan she could hear Chase barking from and immediately hopped back out with a roll of her eyes when the kids ran, going over to the back door. "What the hell are you two even doing? You're a little young for sneakin' out for a midnight smoke."

Timothy's eyes widened when his stalker moved so quickly to the back, glancing down at Chase and over at Cali, whose face had grown tight with frustration and worry...

"Oh no..." Cali said in a small breath, realizing they were cornered. A touch of fear in her voice.

And that was what did it for Tim.

He shoved Chase into Cali's arms, and vision turning red, leapt out at Miss Kawai, full body tackling into her shoulders, using the height advantage of leaping from the caravan. It hurt to tackle her, her larger frame just barely knocked off kilter at the force of the blow, but he did manage to knock her onto her back as he shouted, "JUST STAY AWAY FROM US!!"

He grabbed at the dagger in his pocket, blunted by the walls but still terribly, terribly dangerous, and pulled it out and over his head. With all the fire and fear and overwhelming hatred that had given him the strength to bury one into Prince Kaito's back twice over a month ago, that had given him the strength to cut into that woman's chest, to spear that man in his hole’s side, Timothy reared back the dagger in furious rage and-

"Oh my god!! Timmy stop!!"

Cali threw her whole body onto Timothy's arms, pulling his arm back and dragging him off his nanny, absolutely shocked at what she had seen. She had never...she had never seen anyone do anything like that before. "What are you doing!?" she cried, taking her small hands and prying Timothy's hand open, taking the dagger from him and backing away, holding it to her chest, staring at him. Frightened. "You can't do something like that!"

Timothy looked at her in open confusion, the red still in his vision...th-they had been running...Cali had sounded afraid...

Weren't they in danger?

"Ooph!"

Haneda stumbled back, but it wasn't enough to keep her balance and she fell, trusting Tim to catch himself so she didn't have to worry about the whole-ass nine-year-old on her chest. Because, well...she did need to worry about herself.

Haneda brought up an arm to try and block the blade, but...

She sighed. Sat up. Shook some dirt out of her hair. Looked over the frightened, angry children in front of her. This wasn't a battlefield, but it was hard to look at anywhere and not see one when you grew up there.

"...Cali, you can give Tim his knife back. You did a good job watching his back--you always need someone you can trust there." Looking dully over at Tim, Haneda shrugged an arm out of her jacket. "If you're angry, cut me. I can take it. But you're my ward, and I trust myself to be extra backup for the both of you for whatever you two are planning tonight. Maki can't get as pissed if you have an adult around."

"Are you crazy? I'm not giving him this back! Timmy, you tried to stab her!" Cali said, wide eyed as she took another step back, before giving the two of them a worried look. "D...didn't you?"

Timothy panted on the ground a little, blinking fiercely as the red left his eyes a little...they weren't in danger...stalker lady was Miss Kawai...she had gotten him a puppy...why had he thought they were in danger?

Cali had sounded afraid. And she sounded afraid now too.

Timothy sat up, glancing at his friend in concern, before looking warily at Miss Kawai, his mouth thinning as she presented him her arm. Timothy had quite a few cuts on him from Miss Harukawa's anger...from moments she was afraid for him, or furiously trying to instill some lesson or another...

Just because he understood why he was cut all the time didn't mean he wanted to do it to others. He didn't like being cut. It hurt.

So he looked away from Miss Kawai, embarrassed that she'd even offer...that she'd think he'd want to do that as he said, "I don't wanna cut you, Miss Kawai...I'm sorry I hit you." Timothy ran a hand through his hair, his brow furrowing in confusion as he said, realizing this was true as he said it and confused by this realization, "...I forgot where I was..."

Cali huffed, feeling a little better every second as things calmed down, still holding the dagger but stepping closer to Tim as she said, "That was wild! Don't do that again, okay?! Wow!"

"...Sorry Cali."

And that was all she needed, that bright, stubbornly optimistic smile back on Cali's face as she stepped even closer to him, saying simply, "It's okay! That was actually a lot of fun, right up until the whole stabbing stuff! You can really run, Haneda!" Cali praised, finally standing next to Tim as he stood up, brushing off his pants as Cali looked at him sternly. "I'm giving you this back...don't...stab anyone! Unless they're bad! Or a monster! Or a frog," Cali said darkly, handing him the dagger back, "Got it?"

"Got it. No frogs," Timothy said, taking the dagger back and putting it into his pocket. He felt a bump against his leg and looked down, reaching down to pick up Chase's leash, who leaned against him, still pleased as punch with their nighttime walk. "Sorry," he said again. Just...generally.

"Mmmhm," Cali said, hands on her hips as she gave a theatrical, dramatic sigh, shaking her head at her strange friend, before looking up at Haneda. "We're running away! Since we can't shake ya anyway, wanna come?"

Haneda just waited as things calmed down, not moving, not making herself bigger than the kids. There was a lot you could force on people, but they'd really resent you for it. Maybe even to rebel and break free in a bigger explosion than the initial confrontation, if they were the type to. Sometimes you just had to be there until they could help themselves.

Nodding a bit, Haneda accepted the apology, frowning under her mask. He was so young for that sort of trauma...but he had it, and so they'd deal. Making sure he wasn't getting into trouble in the middle of the night was a start, probably. "I'll forgive you. It was a good move, kid. Unbalancing your opponent is a tactic not enough people use--lucky for you, who knows that lesson already. Easy pickings."

Putting her jacket back on, Haneda nodded at Cali's compliment, a little amused by her resilience. Slowly, she got up and dusted herself off before raising an eyebrow at the plan in play. Running away... Just because Tim just came back, or because of who was coming back tomorrow...?

Sighing, Haneda held a hand out. "Sure. Lead the way. I'll be your higher vantage."

"Awesome! I read a book like this once too! These four kids were all orphaned and being taken in by their wicked aunt, so they made a run for it, and they were found by this big, giant homeless person who was kinda simple, ya know? And he went with them and protected them from robbers and bandits! You can be the big, simple homeless person!" Cali enthusiastically told Haneda, before looking her over and saying seriously, "You'll need to grow a beard."

Timothy followed Cali as they walked towards the gates, feeling less...certain than Cali was that this whole endeavor was going to work out if they brought Miss Kawai along, but not really feeling up to arguing either as he said, "Girls can't grow beards. That's why uniform regulations don't require they bring a shaving kit with them."

"I've seen girls with beards! There's this merchant that my dad takes us to to buy clothes from, she always wears these beautiful, flow-y gowns, and she has a beard that's real dark and she curls it at the end. She's really pretty!"

"If she has a beard, she's not a girl. Girls can't grow facial hair," Timothy argued, certain this was true. They wouldn't have made the distinction in the regulations if it wasn't. "She's probably just a guy in a dress."

"She is too a girl! Her name is Mistress Madea! And she always gives me peppermints. I wish she was my mom. That would be so much cooler!" Cali said, ignoring the somewhat baffled-looking guards at the gates.

"Everything alright there, Haneda?" one of the guards, who recognized Haneda from taking breaks in the lounge together while she was a housekeeper, asked, looking down curiously at the two small children, both who seemed determined to walk right by them in the middle of the night.

Haneda just let Cali talk, not exactly...thrilled to be a big, simple homeless person. Kids would have their games. She'd demand a raise. She'd get her vacation.

...she'd need to deal with Cali's father too. Great. No matter what she had told the kids, Maki was going to freak out when she heard that Tim left the castle, but...well, she was a huge control freak with stress bigger than the sun. Tim hadn't been coping well in just the day they'd been back, so if he needed to blow off some steam by walking around with his friend at night? The city was safe, and Haneda was there if it wasn't.

"We're good," Haneda tersely replied to the guard, more from her usual tone than any extra annoyance. They might just walk around the city for a while, they might even make it into the outskirts, but she had a feeling that running away wouldn't last more than a day. A roof over your head was a comfort you didn't know you craved until it was gone.

Once they'd gotten out of earshot of the guards, Haneda looked back down at Cali, not really wanting to interrupt the kids, but needing to know this. "Cali. Did you leave a goodbye note for your dad, or is this a surprise?"

Cali frowned, a hint of guilt flashing in her eyes at the question. She fiddled with the end of her shirt, saying quietly, "I left a note..." before giggling, clearly still uncomfortable but fighting through it as she said, "Don't worry! I have a great excuse! I wrote him a letter saying I had gotten accepted to a magic school! And that I couldn't tell him because I knew he'd want me to go to regular school instead. I told him I'd write when I get there. So, ya know...I'm sure he'll be sad. But once I send my first letter, I'm sure he'll feel better!"

"...I'm sure he'll be busy anyway. Is he excited your mom is coming back?" Timothy asked, looking around curiously. Everything out here looked different at night. It was nice...if a little creepy...

...he peered into the darkness. He had to be vigilant. He was the assassin-in-training here. Cali was wrong. If something was in the dark, if something tried to hurt them? It was Tim's responsibility to protect Cali and Haneda. They were civilians. He was an indentured assassin. He had a responsibility.

(...he didn't see Prince Kokichi go missing.)

(It was his turn to watch for danger.)

(He didn't see anything.)

Cali's little hands bundled into fists, clearly...upset by the question. Before shaking her head. "He cries a lot now...he doesn't know I know he does it. He does it when he thinks I'm sleeping. But he cries a lot."

She fiddled with her shirt some more, brow furrowed...before saying, "...Dad made a new friend while mom was away. We got a letter, a few years ago. Mom had died, and then after a while, Dad met Sarah. She comes around a lot. She's nice. And then about six months ago...we got another letter? There had been a mistake...Luminary had been keeping her, but she had left them and...now Sarah doesn't come around anymore, and Dad cries a lot..."

Timothy frowned. "Oh. She must have been a prisoner. We had to let them all go when Prince Kaito agreed to come here. My commander was real mad about it. He made a whole speech about it." Timothy glanced over at Cali, something...conflicted in his expression as he said, "She's lucky. We don't keep a lot of prisoners long term..."

Cali shrugged...before her face twisted in fury, her little body shaking as she spat out, "I wish Mom had just stayed dead. We were happier when she was."

That wasn't the best thing to find when you found your kid gone, but...hopefully Cali would want to go back home that night. Part of her was annoyed with Cali's father for not talking through such a big issue with his daughter, but...it would be hard to do that if he was still figuring it out himself. Still, he had a responsibility to his daughter.

One that was now transformed into Haneda's responsibility, walking around with his kid in the middle of the night and making sure she didn't get into trouble.

And...that was all she felt qualified to do. She wasn't a parent, but watching someone's back? That was easy.

...but she was an adult, and they were children. She had a home now, a steady job...she had grown. She couldn't keep acting like she was in her teens, hanging out in the alleys behind pubs.

"...it's pretty mature of you to leave, then," Haneda grumbled, keeping her sweeping gaze on the streets and spaces between buildings. "Instead of sticking your ground and battling your mom to the death. Goin' off to make your own happiness somewhere else... Not a lot of people have the courage for that."

Some of the anger seemed to deflate out of Cali at the compliment, clearly...conflicted by it. "Yeah...maybe. I just didn't wanna...Daddy says that I have to be nice to her. To listen to her. 'She's your mother, Cali'," she said, her voice low. Mocking in its imitation. "'That never stopped being true. You gotta love her, Cali. A lot happened to her, Cali. She left to protect us, Cali.'"

"Stupid. She left cause it was more fun than staying. Go play at being a soldier. If she had loved us, she'd have stayed."

"...play?" Timothy asked. Giving his friend a confused look. "...it's not fun to be a soldier..."

Cali looked over at Tim, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean? You sound like you miss being a soldier. You talk about it every time I come over."

Timothy shrugged uncomfortably at this. "I...miss the ways some things were. I miss my squad. I miss them a lot...and I miss..." Tim hesitated. Not sure what the right word for the feeling was. That expectation that you knew what you could expect, from day to day. There was definitely a word for it..."...the sameness? Of it all? But it wasn't really fun...and I don't know if it was fun to be a Dicean soldier either. They didn't look like they were having a lot of fun either..."

"And it definitely wasn't fun to be a prisoner. We tried to keep them busy, make them work on stuff. But they usually refused to do stuff, no matter what. So we ended up just keeping them in rooms a lot. Not fun...but she's still really lucky that she's coming back at all. She wasn't supposed to. None of them were."

"That was why my commander was mad. I think we had just started sending them to the Togami buildings a year ago? Like, we couldn't keep prisoners alive for a long time, but then two years ago they started saying to capture people if we could. As many as we could. The goal was a thousand a year. He was really happy..."

Cali frowned, looking over at Timothy with renewed interest...and suspicion. "I thought you just played music...why do you know all that?"

"Because of my job. Drummers work at the side of the highest ranking officer on the battlefield. And officers tend to get attached to their drummers," Timothy said, shrugging a little. "So, I was usually with my commander, when we weren't out training. He liked me. He used to talk like he thought I'd be a commander someday...he'd call me General Tim, sometimes. People would laugh when he did it but..." Timothy shrugged, a small embarrassed smile on his face. Clearly still flattered by the memory. "Anyway...my commander and general had been working hard for years to make some sort of trade? And my commander was so mad that we had to start releasing prisoners, because they had worked so hard to get the trade?"

And, having no idea how fucking all kinds of CLASSIFIED what Tim knew was, having just put all this together as a kid allowed to listen in on the kind of adults who forgot kids had a brain to listen with, Tim said, "They were supposed to go to the Togami building, and then they were supposed to go Danganronpa. My commander was so angry when he was told we weren't doing that anymore, that we had to release them all immediately, he threw a table at the guy who brought him the letter."

"Why was he so mad? Did he hate prisoners that much?" Cali asked. A flash of real concern for her mother now.

"Nah...he was mad because that meant we had to send some of our Indentureds instead. He had really been trying to prevent that, I think...he was really proud of how the military handled people like me. He'd talk about it all the time, how Indentureds flourished in the military. I think he felt bad sending so many away all the time."

"What's an Indentured?"

"People like me."

"Oh..." Cali said, not really feeling like that clarified anything, but not willing to ask twice.

As they walked, Cali said, hesitantly, "...you really think she didn't have fun? For real?"

"Yeah," Timothy said. His eyes tired. "Probably not."

Cali bit her tongue. A newly concerned look on her face.

Haneda didn't try to correct Cali. Just let her talk out her feelings as she kept watch. For one, she didn't know Cali's mother, so she couldn't say what the woman's reasoning behind going to war was. Hell, she'd only been hired at the castle after pretty much all of the staff that had left had gone. All the people coming back tomorrow weren't any she knew. And trying to stay out of the gossip circles, she didn't know much about them period.

However...from every person she'd interacted with, not to mention just knowing what war was...it wasn't a place you headed to have fun.

While Haneda didn't speak up to interrupt Tim and Cali, she did furrow her brow to herself. Luminary was sending POWs to a corporation? And Danganronpa? In the place of its own people? The fuck?

...she should tell Aiichi. But not lead it back to Tim. It might be dismissed as the rumor of a housekeeper, but...it was better than someone demanding difficult questions of a kid who was already struggling enough.

...maybe.

Haneda nodded to a guard out on patrol, giving them a thumbs-up--with...maybe her fist clenched too tightly--when their concerned, curious gaze lingered on the kids. Ain't nothing wrong or even slightly illegal with taking a walk in the middle of the night, especially with a chaperone.

"...I still wish she wasn't coming back," Cali admitted, now staring at the dirt as they walked, though clearly what Tim had said was weighing heavily on her now too. "I don't even really remember her now...I don't know her. She's just this weird woman who's going to be living in my house now. Sarah never visits anymore. Dad's clearly scared to see her, but he refuses to say it...she just makes everything worse.."

"Yeah. I think Prince Kaito is scared of Miss Harukawa too," Tim sighed, thinking of his own guardians. "I think everyone's a little afraid of my mentor..."

"Why do you call her that, anyway?"

"She's not my mom, Cali."

"You talk about her like she's your mom."

"She's not. I don't have any parents."

"Why not?"

"I don't know."

"If you don't have any other ones, then I think Miss Harukawa should just be your mom...and is...Kaito like, your dad then? I've never seen you two spend time together. But you talk about him like that too."

"...I don't know. He's my guardian or something..." Tim murmured. Then shaking his head, he said, "No, he's not my dad. I don't have any parents. I don't need any parents. I'm an indentured."

"Oh..." Cali still had no idea what that was, but as they started walking through the markets now (it was so strange to see it empty. She wondered if they could break into a store and steal from it. Live in its attic and only come out at night. That'd be cool!), her eyes suddenly lit up. "If Kaito is your dad though, are you a prince?"

This seemed to actually startle Timothy, looking over at his friend in bafflement. Was he a...what? "No?" he said, looking shocked she'd even suggest it. "Of course not. He's not my dad."

"But if he was?"

"He's not. I'm an assassin, not a prince."

"You're an assassin because Maki is, right? So she is your mom then."

"That's...no??"

"Timothy Green: The Indentured Assassin Prince...that's really cool actually!" Cali giggled.

"I'm not..." Timothy said, something desperate in his voice. Endlessly confused by Cali's assumptions.

On top of the whole child soldier trapped in a foreign nation thing, the 'parent' conversation was another set of issues for Tim. Maki pretty much only talked to her to sync up schedules for Tim, but as far as Haneda knew? Maki and Kaito never actually talked about what their relationship with Tim was to him. And, judging by Tim's unclear answer, she was on the money.

It was quiet for a moment before Haneda spoke up, her voice blunt. "You don't need parents. I don't have parents. Aiichi doesn't have parents. But, Tim..." She looked down with just the slightest hint of curiosity. "You said you don't have or need 'em. But do you want them?"

Timothy shrugged. "I don't know...what do they do?"

"Go off to war and cry a lot," Cali offered.

"Hmmmmm." Timothy thought about this. "Prince Kaito...whines a lot? That's kind of like crying. And I feel like Miss Harukawa would probably start a war, if she could," Timothy joked, in no way comprehending how right he was.

"I just don't know what the difference is. Grown-ups are kinda worthless...no offense."

"The way you talk about your commander guy makes it sound like you liked him," Cali pointed out.

Something sad crossed his face. "That was different."

Haneda shrugged in kind, not taking offense to the views of a couple nine-year-olds. But at least to them adults were worthless and not villains. Incompetence could hurt all the same, and sometimes failed attempts to help hurt worse, but incompetence you could work around. You could move forward on your own path.

Against "evil", sure, it gave you something specific to fight against, but you'd never make progress. Always held at that wall until you won...and then you'd always been on the lookout for the next villain. Always reacting, never making your own plans, never finding peace.

...god she was old.

Haneda noted the sad look on Tim's face but asked anyway. "Different how? Because he was in charge of you and wasn't horrible at it?"

Timothy hesitated...then nodded his head in agreement. They were starting to get to the edge of town, it looked like, and Timothy was starting to wonder how far they were actually going to go. Because, if Miss Kawai was here, they weren't actually running away. Cali had to know that. Right? So he just wondered how long they were going to pretend. Or, maybe, she was hoping they'd get out of town and then make a run for it there? Try to escape her?

Or maybe Cali wasn't thinking of anything, and was just sad and walking and wanting to hang out with one of her friends.

"Yeah? He was smart. And people listened when he talked. If he told someone to do a thing, they did it. And he always had answers. If he told you to do a thing, it was right. It never...sometimes people tell you to do things, but they don't actually know what they're talking about. They're just saying things because they feel like they have to. I had a squad leader who knew nothing about drums, but because he was put in charge of a drumming division, he had to pretend like he knew what to do, and he always made everything worse. The commander wasn't like that. He said things and you knew he wasn't bullshitting. You could...you could trust him."

"...and he saved my life," Timothy added in quietly. Staring at his feet. His stomach twisting in fear at the memory.

"I was...we had been ambushed. I got separated from everyone and I couldn't find anyone. And there was a dir...there was a man in a hole. It was an accident I knew he was there. Diceans make these holes that usually you can't see until it's too late. But the hole didn't close properly and I saw the edge and...and when you see that, you're supposed to take your spear and poke it down. Don't open the hole. Just spear down the hole as much as you can and then leave it. That's why we all had spears assigned to us in the first place, for the holes."

"I was scared but...I had to, right? So I speared it and almost as soon as I did, a guy popped out. He had a knife and he was way bigger than me and..."

Tim went quiet and stopped moving. Just staring at the dirt in front of him. Lost.

"...Timmy?"

"Hm? Oh, sorry. Anyway, the guy looked at me and stopped for some reason. I don't know what he was thinking. And he tried to say something to me but I couldn't really hear him...and then my commander showed up out of nowhere and scared the guy away. And he picked me up and he didn't even bother grabbing my drum...he should have. I was supposed to start relaying his orders again when I was reunited with him, but I had blood in my eyes and couldn't see and he promised me I'd be okay...and I was."

"...he was the one that got me sent to Dicea. He was proud that his recommendation for me to go was approved. Said I had earned it..."

Tim's face suddenly scrunched up. Eyes burning red as he clenched his fists.

"...said he had something he wanted to talk to me about when I got back...s-said his wife and daughter were e-excited to m-meet me..."

...well that was a compelling reason to not want to think of Maki and Kaito as his parents.

Haneda had never been adopted. Was the picture of a problem child. Angry at the world and its social code. She had grown up in a tiny alpine town, and while she had known kind adults, she had never really...bonded with any in a parent-child sort of way. Sure, the caretakers at the orphanage looked after her, there was always a meal on the table and a warm bed to return to. But it just felt like a house. They were just people.

So if Tim ended up not wanting parents, she got that. There were plenty of other forms of love out there.

But having that feeling, and then having it ripped away...

The story wasn't public, but Haneda knew enough to put the pieces together about what story the 'assassination challenge' was covering up. And, knowing Tim a little more now...he had probably been ready to die, at least conceptually, when he had stabbed Kaito. But now he was left to face the consequences.

"...we're almost at the forest line," Haneda noted. "Trees don't care if you want to scream or hit them. Or just sit under them for a while."

Timothy looked warily at his stalker, his small emotional outburst already back under control, his eyes drying as he asked, "Why does that matt-oof! Cali!"

"Come on, Haneda! Keep up! We got to the get to the trees!" Cali said, laughing joyfully, pulling Timothy along. Chase keeping pace with them as the two children ran.

Cali didn't let up until they were a few feet into the woods, having ran top speed the whole way. The traveling roads were nearby. The town was still in sight, not far, though its lights were a little distant. Distance enough to sort of convey a sense of...otherness, in the spot. An in between spot between civilization and woods. People and the wild. Order and true freedom.

And in that space stood Cali, Timothy, and Haneda. Huffing and puffing...

And Timothy flinched throughout his whole body when Cali suddenly screamed.

"SHE LEFT!!" Cali screamed. It was a full body scream too. She took a deep breath, putting her whole chest into it, clutching her fists and screamed, "SHE LEFT US! SHE DOESN'T JUST...GET TO COME BACK! LIKE NOTHING HAPPENED! SHE'S NOT MY MOM!! I DON'T KNOW HER!! FUCK YOU RACHEL!!!"

By the time she was done screaming, her eyes were closed and her cheeks were bright red from effort, parts of that red spotted white. When she opened her eyes, there were tears at the edge of her vision, and her body dipped to one side, slightly, having made herself dizzy.

...and then she laughed. And jumped and spun. Looking to Timothy, happy tears in her eyes. "Your turn, Timmy!"

"I don't-" Timothy was cut off, Cali grabbing his hands. Jumping as she held them, that bright smile never leaving her face.

"Your mom cuts you!" Cali said cheerfully. Like it wasn't something horrifying to say. "And your dad doesn't spend time with you! And some guy in a hole cut your face! Fuck them! Fuck all of them!!" Cali said, giggling widely each time she cursed, entirely pleased with herself, before saying, "Like this!"

Another deep breath-

"STOP CRYING ALL THE TIME! YOU'RE SCARING ME! YOU'RE MY DAD!! I NEED YOU TO BE MY DADDY!!!"

Timothy watched as his friend gave each scream her all. Each time she did it looking like it physically hurt her...and ending each time with a bright, happy laugh. Something free and bouncy and unashamed in everything she did. Something so out of reach for Tim that he stared at it like the treasure it was.

He swallowed hard.

Took a breath.

...and immediately choked on it. Closing his eyes as he tried to shout through strangled grief, "I-I'M SORRY!"

"I'M SORRY I'M NOT COMING BACK!!"

"I'M SORRY I MESSED UP SO BADLY!!!"

"I...I WANTED TO MAKE YOU P-PROUD!! ALL THE GUARDS KEPT S-SAYING...THEY S-SAID WE WERE S-SURRENDERING! I...I THOUGHT..."

He sobbed. Grasping Cali's hands. His whole body shaking.

"I'M SORRY!! I'M SORRY!! I'M SORRY!!! FUCK. FUCK!!!"

Cali laughed, holding Timothy's hands, her excited, ecstatic jumping and bright, giggling tears a strange mixture with the way Timothy's whole body leaned forward, as if he might collapse, face lined and pained with grief. Both of them overwhelmed with emotion and expressing it in their own ways...

...and then. After a moment. Almost like a switch, Timothy started to laugh. An embarrassed, excited giggle, and Cali stilled and, still keeping his grip in her hands, leaned back her head and just started to cry. A long, heartbroken wail, grieving the family and life her father had tried to build, losing two moms in a lifetime and not knowing what to do with that pain.

And it was very strange. And weirdly beautiful. And after a while, they both stopped, just giggling to each other. Not the hysterical laughter of before, but just giggles of two people who had found themselves bonding over the weirdest fucking things, in the weirdest fucking way...but when they were finished, they were still holding hands when they went to Haneda, their faces red but dry, as Cali said, "Okay, fiiiiiine. I guess we don't have to actually run away. I like pajamas anyway. It'd be weird to sleep without them."

"Can you take us home, Miss Kawai?" Timothy said, quieter than his friend, but a small, tired smile on his face. "Miss Harukawa will get real mad otherwise..."

Haneda winced at Cali's volume, putting a hand over one of her ears. The trees didn't care if you screamed, but she kind of did. But she just took a step back and leaned against a tree, crouching down when Chase came over to her for pets before returning to her master, howling along, wanting to participate.

It was loud and obnoxious...and they really needed it. The world could be really cruel, and you just had to deal with that. But sometimes...you just needed to scream at it, air out the pain and grief that sometimes wasn't even your fault, and even if it was, why hadn't anyone helped?! Sometimes you had to feel pain spiking through your fists, knuckles splitting open as you demanded the world hear your suffering.

And, well...if these kids could do it where the trees wouldn't care and there wouldn't be even more consequences waiting for them for just expressing their pain...it was the least she could do. The goal was to be better than what had been done for you, right?

Haneda sighed when it looked like the kids were done, and she nodded, turning back to the city. "If tonight's not the night for running away, sure. Probably a good idea--I heard it's going to rain tomorrow."

"And Cali, you should probably leave a note like you did this time, at least, but if you two want, sleepovers are a thing."

"Oh my god, Timmy! We should have a sleepover!!"

"Why?"

"What do you mean why!?"

"Like...you just want to come over to sleep?"

"No!!! You don't sleep at sleepovers!! You stay up all night and play games and share secrets and steal pastries from the kitchen!!"

"Oh...I know a really good way to sneak into the kitchen then. It worked out really well in the past..."

-

Kokichi dully watched the first rays of the sun start to light up the sky from around the castle, hugging himself from under a spare blanket. He'd worked until late, and Maki had yelled at him to go to bed, and...he'd tried. He'd snuggled up to Kaito like usual, tried to fall asleep...

And then he'd woken up with a start from a nightmare and...

...Ikuo was coming back today. Something in Kokichi's heart ached for it, wanted to cry and jump for joy over seeing his daddy again. But...the fear was still there. That Ikuo would look at him in that way of his that made everyone fall apart, and would ask him why the hell Kokichi was still acting like a little kid. Why he was waiting for him, even though he wasn't his parent.

That Ikuo would see the mess he was and would be ashamed. Would be disappointed and surprised that he hadn't died yet.

...he felt sick.

Kokichi sighed through his nose and hugged himself tighter, feeling both dread and excitement for every little bit the sky grew lighter.

...there weren't...little Kokichi noises.

That was what was wrong. Kaito had woken up, leaving his eyes closed, on the verge of falling back asleep any second. It was early still. He could feel it. He still had a few hours before Maki came to beat him up again. Just a few more hours...

...he felt Kokichi. He was in his arms.

Where were the Kokichi noises?

"Hrrrnnnn...." Kaito opened his eyes, breathing out. Blinking through his sleepiness as he said, testingly, quietly, "...you up, babe?"

Kokichi glanced over his shoulder, a little surprised, but... That night in the caravans...Kaito had said he couldn't hear him sleeping and it had worried him... Even still in his husband's arms he still messed everything up...

"Sorta..." Kokichi murmured back, tipping his head onto Kaito's chest. "...it's early, go back to sleep." He'd need the energy for training. And...it would probably be better if he tired himself out during it, since the Luminaries were planning on staying in Maki's room the whole day. Feeling unsafe in what was supposed to be their own home...

Kokichi closed his eyes and huddled back into Kaito's warmth. Feeling just...mixed up and confused, and bad about everything.

Hmmmm...more sleep sounded good...Kaito was always so tired lately. Just busy days, he guessed...

...Kokichi had gone to bed really late last night. Kaito had tried to coax him to bed a couple different times, and Kokichi had dismissed it every time. Worried, Kaito had finally gone next door and knocked and, sheepishly, asked Maki for help...

He didn't know what had actually persuaded Kokichi to bed. Maki threatening to pierce Kaito's tongue or the fact that Kaito had felt worried enough to go to her in the first place, but Kokichi had finally put the letters down and...

...it was so early...

"...have you slept?" Kaito asked. More to confirm his fear than anything.

"Yeah..." Unfortunately. He knew Kaito and Maki were just worried about him, but...all-nighters were nothing new. And he really could've done without...

...he hadn't heard any of the Brockmans scream. Just thumps. Sounds that, just for a moment, while he and Brent locked wide, frightened eyes...he had hoped weren't...permanent.

His brain didn't care about that, apparently. Aba's screams had been loud enough to make up for it. Those awful sounds Kaito had made when Timothy stabbed him. Shuuichi's sobs. Maki's roars. Aurim's panicked apologies before he...

Kokichi let out a carefully measured breath and found one of Kaito's hands, giving it a gentle pat. "Go back to sleep, sweets..."

Kaito stared down at Kokichi, blinking slowly through his sleep-muddled brain. Kokichi...wasn't happy. Of course not. Why not? Literally everything...everything all the time...

No. No no. That wasn't true. There were...his dad was coming home! That was good!

...Kokichi thought his dad didn't love him anymore. Kaito was certain it wasn't true. How could it be? He knew it would be a happy reunion. But it was probably filling Kokichi with fear, waiting for it. One of those things that won't feel good until it is done.

Shuuichi spent all day yesterday crying over a woman that Kaito still kinda wanted to kill. Sobbed into Kokichi's shoulders until Kaito had come back and gently pried him off him. That probably hadn't felt very good either, watching your boyfriend sob over another woman...

...plus just...

Everything.

Everything else.

All the time.

Feeling his hand on his, Kaito turned his palm up and captured it. Bringing his hand up and gently kissing at the skin, pressing his lips against his knuckles, joint by joint...lingering on a part of Kokichi's hand that was cut catching himself on the road...gently kissing the ridges on his wrist that were a healing rope burn...kiss at a bruise...

"...wanna be up if you're up..." Kaito insisted, kissing down his arm. Some of the sleep leaving him as he pulled Kokichi's arm to him, placing his hand on his cheek, taking comfort in feeling it there. "...you're gonna be so busy the next few days...greeting your people and welcoming them home...I want to be selfish and take my moments with you when I can get them, ya know?" Kaito said, giving Kokichi a small smile, before leaning down to kiss him on his cheek.

Each of Kaito's kisses was a salve. Or...no. Like disinfecting alcohol. Each soft, kind, sweet gesture made Kokichi's eyes burn and he couldn't even let his husband take comfort in him because his hand started to tremble.

There was a small catch of breath, and then... "...what if they hate me?"

Not just Ikuo. Kirumi and Sei and IQ and everyone else coming back with the ghosts of so many more who wouldn't.

"They - they put their lives on the line to protect our home...s-so many people died in that stupid war... A-and while they've been fighting...I've just been in bed." Sick. Sleeping the days away. Wasting his already short time. Not helping. Not enough...never enough...

"E-everyone's sacrificed so much...wh-what if they realize that...that it wasn't worth it?"

Worth it?

This woke Kaito up. Staring down at Kokichi. At the real, honest, doubt on his face.

Not, 'what if they think it's not worth it'.

'Realize'.

Like it was a certainty.

...

"...help me with something, okay?" Kaito asked. Sitting up. Giving Kokichi a soft grin. His expression...a little exasperated. But not with Kokichi. With himself. "This is going to be really silly, okay? But...I kinda need you to do it. Okay?"

Waiting for Kokichi to sit up as well, Kaito took both of his wrists and, again, feeling ridiculous, he put Kokichi's hands over both of Kaito's ears, clasping his own hands over his. "Testing...testing...one two three...'Kichi's super sexy with a cute, skinny little butt...heh. That works," Kaito said, giving his husband a wink. He could still hear himself, of course...but it sounded like thoughts in his head. Not something he was saying aloud.

He could say it all before. But that was back when his father was king. Now it was...different.

But Kokichi still needed to hear it.

So Kaito closed his eyes and said,

"Luminary was going to burn your buildings."

"We were going to starve your people to feed our own, and enslave your people to set the food we stole on our tables."

"We wanted to devour Dicea of its resources. Abuse its people. Make ourselves bigger by tearing you down."

"Dicea is a beautiful kingdom, well maintained and well loved by its rulers. Its people are genuinely happy. Your laws and philosophies allow them to flourish in a way Luminary can only dream of."

"...there was no sacrifice too great for the freedom and prosperity and happiness of their friends, family, and neighbors."

"And their Light of Dicea is a part of that happiness. Your warriors are going to return. And they're going to rejoice. Because they're going to watch their prince one day make bloom the fruits of their labors. And they're going to see the results of all their hard work. And they will see for themselves, and see for those who couldn't make it home, that all of it was worth it."

Kaito kept his eyes closed for a moment...did the very few mental tricks he knew...before lowering Kokichi's hands. Opening his eyes and grinning at him brightly.

"Or, I don't know. I think it'll be okay, 'Kichi. They're probably just going to be so thrilled to be home, ya know?" he said, laughing. "And they're going to be thrilled to see you. I bet you've grown one, maybe two whole inches since the last of them saw you! They'll be amazed you sprouted up so much!" Kaito teased, leaning in and giving Kokichi a peck on his lips.

Looking at his husband in sad confusion, Kokichi did as he was asked, not in the mood to laugh at the little compliment that would make him giggle on a good day. He wasn't sure what Kaito was doing, but-

His eyes shot up in shock. Just...amazed, in almost a horrified way, as Kaito listed the atrocities that Luminary would've committed if they'd won the war. Or if...no one had joined the fight. If no one had thought that Dicea was worth protecting.

...after their (one-sided) fight, after Ikuo had left...Kokichi had gotten a letter. Over and over his father had told him how much he loved him. That...as lucky Ikuo felt, getting to see Kokichi grow up, getting to be a part of that, enjoying every day together...the thought of knowing that Kokichi wouldn't grow up at all would've killed him. That he loved him so much that Ikuo couldn't bear to allow a future where Kokichi wouldn't get to do all the amazing things he was capable of, even if it meant Ikuo wouldn't be there.

I love you. I'm going to protect you. I'll be thinking about you every day. You're going to be wonderful.

And now...Kaito was pushing against the brainwashing he always ignored just to...

The burn in Kokichi's eyes overflowed and he surged forward into his husband's arms, hiccuping sobs. "I-I can't - aaa-haaa - wait t-to see them...!!!"

Kaito laughed, catching him and rubbing his back, holding Kokichi patiently as his husband sobbed into his shoulder blades. "You won't have to, 'Kichi! They're coming today, remember? You get to see everyone today!"

Kokichi just sobbed something incoherently, filled to the brim with longing and love and so, so much relief. He knew that just because you chose something of your own free will it didn't mean you wouldn't regret it. But...Dicea was worth protecting. He hadn't done enough...but he'd still done so much and he wasn't stopping.

He'd told himself so at the time, building a shield to protect him from the empty, horrible things Itch said...but he needed to remind himself that he and any other Remnants in Dicea...they were outliers. The work Kokichi and Aiichi and every leader before them did was worthwhile, all to greet spring again with a smile that everyone could take part in.

Everyone coming back would be different. Would hurt in ways Kokichi couldn't imagine. But they would still be Diceans. Proud to protect everyone they were coming back to. And his dad would still love him.

Kokichi sobbed into Kaito's shoulder for a good while until his cries weakened into sniffles. Tiredly nosing into the crook of Kaito's neck, Kokichi let out a shaky sigh. "Thank you... Really...thank you, Kaito. We...we can go back to sleep now...sorry."

"Oh, good! Because it really is going to be a long couple days and we'll probably need it." Kaito sighed, grasping Kokichi and falling backwards into bed with a F-WOMP sound. "But it's going to be good! It's all going to work out just fine..."

The Luminaries didn't have to be afraid...Kokichi would look after them. They wouldn't have to fight anyone. Hell, if Kaito has his way, they won't even talk to anyone for the next few days. Just...lay low for a while and let Kokichi do his thing. It'll be fine!

It'll be fine.

-

Kirumi Toujou took a deep breath.

She took in the smell of the market...fresh breads lingering and mixing with ripe fruit...pies, still warm and half cooking in their pans, already being displayed in windows to draw in the hungry early noon crowd...the scent of the gardens, in the distance, but its sweet pollen filling the air in a way so unlike the forests of the borders...

It wasn't something she had realized she would miss, the smell of the place. But now that she was back, her heart ached at it. Relieved and overjoyed. She closed her eyes and took another deep breath.

The front line fighters had traveled, more or less, as a group back into the heart of Dicea. They had lost many members of their traveling party to their hometowns, smaller groups of fighters veering off on their own paths to head to their homes to the left or to the right of the traveling party’s straight line through Dicea itself. As a resident of the capital, which stood in the center of Dicea, Kirumi's journey would end today. But within the next few days, after they've rested and re-stocked, much of the traveling party would continue on, heading to towns and cities and villages past the capital, deeper into Dicea. Their journey not yet complete.

But for now, with a huge bulk of the front line fighters here, traveling by caravan, by carriage, by horse, a few steadfast people straight up walking far, far behind, until a means of transportation could be found for them, the capital was full and bustling with additional thousands of people traveling through it. In a very real way, they would be a burden, the front line fighters knew this. The capital would need places to let them sleep, bathrooms opened up to wash them, tables full of food to feed them. They had been a burden to every town they had passed so far for the same reason. It was always difficult to accommodate new, temporary travelers.

The Diceans didn't care.

They were thrilled to see them returning home.

It was almost...overwhelming. Everywhere the traveling party had gone to now, it was a party. A parade. A massive celebration, each town greeting them with cheers and gifts and tears. There was music, almost always, and people would follow the travelers around, wanting to be around if they needed anything, wanting to hear their stories, thank them. People would sometimes reach out to touch them, almost reverently. Either due to gratitude for what they had accomplished...or, very often, seeing in them something of someone that wasn't returning. And just wanting to be close to it while they could.

In the last town, for instance, an older woman with a bright smile and tired eyes had come up to Kirumi at a restaurant where some of the travelers were being treated for the night. She had started some small conversation, and Kirumi realized right away that the old woman was assuming that Kirumi was the wife of one of the fighters, joining their spouse on the journey. Kirumi didn't resent the assumption--she knew her clean, put together look defied both expectations and the realities of the other fighters, who looked tired and haggard and a little filthy from their time on the road, coming from the border forests. But when she gently corrected the woman, the old woman's eyes had filled with tears, and she had grasped Kirumi's hands to her own and said, "My son would have been your age." She had sobbed, likely assuming Kirumi was much younger than she actually was, "He fought too...but he was also the fussy type. No offense dear. But he was particular about his clothes and his hair and shoes...always wanting to look nice. Took pride in it, like you seem to..."

And then the old woman had ducked her head mournfully and said, "It breaks my heart...thinking that when he died, he had probably been dirty. Covered in sweat. I know that's a silly thing to focus on...but it breaks my heart when I look at you too. To think, a beauty like you...that you were ever in the heat and the dirt and the trees. You and my son deserved better. Deserve better. I hope you're clean and comfortable for the rest of your days, love."

And Kirumi had smiled softly at this. Touched by such a simple, yet sincere, concern. A woman just unhappy to know that Kirumi had ever been filthy, let alone on a battlefield. It was the sort of thing you'd never hear in Luminary. Dirt was almost a point of pride there, for a certain class of people. Luminaries went from work to the pubs, and bragged about the dirt beneath their nails. Their latest cuts and bruises. The burn marks they had gotten in the kitchens. And display these filth and hurts proudly, because hey! It meant you worked for your living! You weren't one of those prissy noble or wealthy assholes! Too good to get your hands dirty! There was honor in an honest day's worth of labor. Dignity in aches and pains! Pride in fighting for your place to survive!

There wasn't.

It was just the sort of thing hopeless people told themselves. And Kirumi loved that this woman wouldn't expect it of her. That Dicea wouldn't expect it from her.

And as Kirumi looked at this woman fondly, a man nearby said, "Hey...did you all hear what happened to the prince?"

...Kirumi took another breath. Watching the world pass from her carriage, filled with some of her fellow travelers. Watching the streets of people they passed celebrate their arrival with music and cheering and dancing.

It was good to be home.

-

Kokichi had ended up sleeping in a bit, his body trying to make up for a day of non-stop go. And neither Maki knocking nor Kaito getting up for training woke him--if they even did those things at all. He wouldn't be surprised if they did everything quietly to not wake him.

But he had gotten up and had squirreled away a late breakfast, getting a few relieved smiles here and there between the people hustling and bustling about. It was almost as busy as that morning the Luminary Party had arrived, though instead of determined panic, an anxious buzzing, there was joy and excitement and impatience. Tears too, before the fighters had even arrived, some people already overwhelmed.

Kokichi felt all of that too--it would be difficult not to get swept up in the atmosphere--but it was all weighted to the joyous side of things. Kaito was right. Sure...there would be difficult things to come. Adjustment wouldn't be seamless. People would be different. But for right now, for today...it was a wonderful occasion. Friends and family and fellow citizens back for good. No more war.

There was no big speech planned, but Kokichi ran to the entrance-way as soon as he finished eating, too impatient to wait for anything else. Aiichi was waiting there too, not for a production but...to thank each of the veterans personally. To talk face to face instead of through letters for the first time in years, for most of them. To express his gratitude as their leader and friend, and personally promise that their sacrifices would be honored.

Mostly...Kokichi was just waiting for his dad.

-

Training had been canceled early, because Shuuichi had started vomiting again.

He and Kaito were in Maki's bathroom right now, Kaito rubbing his back and holding a cold washcloth to the back of his neck, attempting to soothe him a little as Shuuichi gasped over the toilet bowl. "I think...there's something wrong with me..." Shuuichi finally admitted, giving his boyfriend a nervous look, eyes red from the pressure of being so physically sick the last few hours. "I don't feel good, Kaito..."

Kaito gave Shuuichi a strained grin, knowing what was wrong with him (or, he thought so, anyway) but unable to say anything as he said, "We'll ask Seiko to come look at you, okay bud? I'm sure you just caught a bug while we were traveling back. Some people have all the luck, huh handsome?"

"...you really think so?" Shuuichi said, sweat dripping down his forehead, his face exhausted as he admitted, "I...I think my doses are getting too low...I think I need stronger doses..."

"We can ask her about that too," Kaito promised, his stomach twisting with guilt.

He wished he was more surprised when Shuuichi looked over at him and whispered, so Maki couldn't hear, his eyes wet and desperate, "C-can I have another dose...just for today? To feel less sick? Please?"

"Shuuichi..."

In her bedroom, Maki was just getting finished unpacking the rest of Shuuichi's things, adding them to her own mostly bare bookshelves, as she looked over at Timothy, who was lying spread eagle on her bed, looking bored up at the ceiling. "I thought I told you to bring something to do."

"I don't have anything to do."

"Bring over a book you want to read, or some game or another. We have time to get through a few today. Or bring over a toy."

"I don't have any of those things."

"...what? Which one?" Maki asked, giving her charge a concerned look. "Any books?"

"Any books, games, or toys," Timothy said dryly, staring at the ceiling. "I only brought to Dicea my drum and some clothes, Miss Harukawa."

"..." Maki pulled her hair a little. Fuck. When was the last time she had even been inside of Timothy's room? It had never even occurred to her to check if he had any...toys or anything like that. Why would it? She was his trainer, not his...

"...we'll go shopping soon. Get you some recreational items. Start thinking about what you want now, so you know what to ask for when we go," Maki said, turning back to her task, putting on her bookshelf Shuuichi's magnifying glass, and reaching back into the box for his handcuffs. "Feel free to let your imagination go wild, though I can't promise you everything you ask for."

"Yes, Miss Harukawa...are we really staying in here all day?"

"Yes. And maybe tomorrow as well."

"Why?"

"We don't want to start any fights. And our presence alone may cause some tension for the first few days. We want to give everyone time to settle in. Find...other things to do with themselves," Maki explained for the thousandth time to him.

"I'm not afraid of th-"

"It's not about you. Or me. Or any of us. These people have been gone from their home for a long time, and a bunch of people are very excited to see them. We're not ruining their moment. So, we stay in here. Understand?"

"Yes, Miss Harukawa..."

There was a small sob from the bathroom, and after a moment Kaito came to the bathroom door, gave Maki a sheepish smile, and closed it. Maki stared at the closed door and then sighed. Whatever. Let them work out whatever that was. They'd come out when they were ready.

"...well, if you have nothing to do, let's practice some techniques."

Timothy sighed. "Yessssss, Miss Harukawa."

-

Kokichi recognized people from town lingering by the gates and in front of the castle and...all around, really, cheering and singing and holding boxes and bags of food and gifts for their loved ones and the people who they could thank for their freedoms. He could spot Kyuu's brother on the other side of the entrance, holding himself high and gazing at the approaching caravans and carriages with an expecting gaze. He could see Chiaki and Hajime speaking to each other, along with others who frequented the game shop, likely excited to tell Sei all about the campaigns that they'd played while he was away.

Each vehicle stopped in front of the castle, letting most of its passengers off before going off to park and unload in the depot. Some people rushed forward, unable to wait another second before embracing their loved ones, others hollered and waved, beckoning their friends over to clear the way a bit, and maybe have just a little more privacy in their reunions.

So many people, most Kokichi hadn't seen for years... Everyone was a little older. More tired. Someone was wearing a different style than they used to, someone else with a completely different haircut. A few people Kokichi didn't recognize at all, but were greeted and thanked all the same.

And then...

"...daddy..."

The word was a whisper lost to the wind, almost as fast as Kokichi moved, sprinting into the crowd and launching himself at--"IKUO!!!"

Kirumi didn't have any family here...she didn't really even have friends. She knew people, but they weren't people that would seek her out in this moment. She hadn't been in Dicea very long before she had felt the desire to go protect it.

She was more connected to the people who she had traveled and fought with for the last few years more than anything else.

So, she stood with Ikuo in the crowd, watching with a calm, if somewhat detached air, the happy reunions and celebrations around herself, and whispered to him among the din, "Are you excited?"

Ten years was a long time. It was even longer when you were in the middle of a war. Most people didn't even come close to being on the frontlines as long as Ikuo had, but every time he thought about returning home while the fight waged on...he would see the flames of a possible future. And even if his hand would be replaced with another's...he wouldn't be able to stand it, not taking action himself.

Even so, just as he promised, not a day went by that Ikuo didn't think of his son. The years he was fighting, or serving as a field medic, or relaying plans from Mikaku, or making sure that people would have a filling meal when they returned to base... Ikuo would often re-read the few letters he got, kept the little drawings that would sometimes accompany them in little sleeves in his pockets.

He was securing the happy futures for Diceans, but for Kokichi in particular. And Ikuo had never stopped fighting for that.

But now the battle was done. They had held out so long that even the lust for power that dunce Leon, rest the poor bastard's soul, had strained to its limits. He didn't know what reason Aiichi had for agreeing to marry the little Momota to Kokichi but...there was a reason. Even if it was a bad one. And for all the horrible rumors he heard about Kaito...he'd heard awful ones about Kokichi too, so he'd wait to see what the kid was like for himself before passing judgment.

"Hm," Ikuo grunted to his companion, adjusting his hat, a sinister shadow falling over his face, darkening his brow...which served as a simple 'yeah.' "'s nice to see everyone home for real. Got personal stakes as well, 'a course."

While Ikuo and Kokichi had never opted to call each other by the relationship they preferred in public, by now most of Ikuo's comrades knew the truth. For those who had been there while Ikuo raised the prince, it was no surprise. Kokichi had always been fond and friendly in his letters, but, well, ten years was a long time, especially when it was only the second decade of your life. He didn't know how Kokichi felt about their relationship now, and was prepared fo--

"Hng!" Ikuo caught the bundle of energy in his arms, eyes widening under his hat before...

"You're home, you're home, I'm sorry, I never hated you, I love you, I'm so happy you're back!"

Ikuo's hidden expression softened as he held the person, the man, in his arms close, tucking the plum head of unruly flyaways into his shoulder. "Hi, bunny. I love you too."

Kirumi took a respectful step back, though she openly watched the reunion. She was far from the only one. There were plenty of people stealing pleased glances at the two. Not all of them even knew who they were, maybe some of the returning fighters around them not inhabitants of the castle, just staying here for a day or two before moving on. But it was nice to see the two's clear and obvious joy in their reunion.

...well, okay, the little one’s clear and obvious joy, anyway. The gruff man was clearly more reserved, but a lot of the fighters recognized Ikuo, at least, and knew that was pretty standard.

It was largely why she and Ikuo had gotten along, though they had only started working together only these last two years. She was also very reserved in expressing her emotions, though for different reasons than Ikuo. She always got the impression he literally couldn't help himself. A 'resting bitch face', if you would.

Kirumi just had a lot of...'emotional control'.

As she watched the two for a moment, she eventually stepped forward, nodding her head at the young prince. "Good day, Prince Kokichi. I'm not certain if you would remember me. You were much younger the short time I worked here. But it is good to see you grown and well."

Tears of joy and relief were streaming down Kokichi's face, and while he turned to Kirumi, he never quite let go of Ikuo, and the older man, now only a few inches taller than his son, kept an arm around his son's shoulders in turn.

"Of course I remember you, Kirumi-chan." While he sniffled and tried to wipe his face with his sleeves, Kokichi beamed up at the woman. She had only been working in the castle for about a year before she'd volunteered to go to war, but she'd certainly left an impression. And not just because her work was incredible.

Even in that short time, Kirumi had a sort of calm kindness to her, and on the days when Kokichi hadn't been bedridden but hadn't had the energy to do much, she was an appreciated companion, even if he was just curled up in a room she was attending to, or for the few times they'd taken tea together.

He didn't always succeed, but Kokichi tried to get to know every person that worked in the castle at least a little.

"Welcome home."

Looking up at Ikuo and glancing back at Kirumi, Kokichi nodded towards the castle. "Are you guys hungry? We've set up tables all throughout the entrance hall and everything to make sure everyone can come in and eat and catch up together. I-I just...I'm so happy you're back..."

Ikuo combed his fingers through Kokichi's hair affectionately and nodded. "It is about lunchtime, un. There's stuff I wanna ask you about." Or, as Kokichi heard it--'let's eat! There's so much we have to catch up on.'

In a different timeline, Kirumi would have politely excused herself, giving the reunited pair some space. But...Kirumi looked around. Her expression giving nothing away as she searched the crowd.

There were redheads in the crowd...but none of them fit the description...

"Certainly. Thank you, Kokichi. It'd be nice to stay with some company, as my duties as Housekeeper do not start up again until tomorrow. I do not enjoy being idle," Kirumi accepted, smiling warmly at the prince, before following their lead.

It hadn't been long since Kokichi had eaten breakfast, so he only got a drink for himself--something he bashfully explained to Ikuo, seeing a minute change in the man's expression and, even after all the time apart, knowing precisely that his father was wondering if he was skipping meals again. And...that was probably something they'd get to later, but for now… Ikuo and Kirumi got the food they wanted, treats and more meal-appropriate items from the kitchen staff and townspeople alike, all coming together to lay out the favorite foods of so many returning fighters. Then Kokichi found them an empty table partially in the soft sun, the gathering grey clouds in the distance not quite bringing rain yet.

"I seem to remember that," Kokichi cheerfully mused, kindly teasing the older woman. "But please don't feel obligated to do any more than you want. Help keeping things in order is always appreciated, but no one is expecting any of you to get back in the swing of things right away. Follow your own pace."

Ikuo lowered his hat over his eyes for a moment, just...temporarily overcome. They weren't eating slop or anything, but even something as simple as the vegetable medley on his plate...he'd missed it. He'd have to get to know the new kitchen staff--they were just as skilled as the group that had managed the castle's food when he left.

"I think my pace should be figuring out what my job is," he wondered, voice not holding even the slightest tone of anxiety, even as the expression bled onto Kokichi's face.

"I-I mean! You can be a housekeeper again if you want? But...I mean...I'm not a little kid anymore, but..."

Ikuo cut off the prince's sputtering by giving his hair a ruffle. "You're my bunny at any age, Kokichi. But you don't need a keeper."

Kokichi seemed to relax at that, though he twirled a bit of his hair sheepishly. "...thanks."

"He doesn't need a keeper, but...he is at a station in life that could require a more official entourage to tend to him on a more specialized level," Kirumi pointed out, picking politely at her own soup. "If I may speak plainly, Kokichi, you are likely going to be getting to a level of responsibilities soon that will divide your attention in ways that one person can't reasonably be expected to keep up with it. Not effectively, anyway. And Dicea deserves and requires effective leadership," she pointed out, blowing on her soup demurely and sipping on it.

"I know that the castle staff has been limited, the last fifteen years, so the idea has probably never come up to you in your lifetime as a child of war, Prince Kokichi, but you should seriously start considering hiring a team of people whose only responsibilities are to tend to you. For instance, a personal bodyguard would be optimal, rather than merely relying on the general guardforce that happens to be around you, though competent they may be," Kirumi gave as an example, before smiling at Ikuo gently. "And one with a ten-year history of combat, field training, and emergency-medical history, that you can trust absolutely to put your needs first outside of just his required paid duties? That would be invaluable, to a prince-consort and king-to-be. Especially during such...troubling times."

Moving on from that quickly, she also offered a second example. "And, again, while of course the general castle staff is in no way incompetent or unnecessary...I hope I'm not being too bold or disrespectful that a personalized housekeeper meant specifically to wait on you would also make you more effective. The brain and energy of a body is a limited resource, and having someone who thinks of your outfits for the day, keeping your space clean, making certain your calendar is correct and that you meet appointments on time, a thousand little errands and responsibilities that, if taken off your hands by a competent assistant, would give you more time and energy to focus on your work..."

"Those are just two suggestions, my prince," Kirumi said simply, nonplussed if he was paying attention or not, but certain in her every word.

Kokichi frowned a bit, though he wasn't put off by Kirumi's suggestions. It just...wasn't anything he'd thought about before, and so it needed some thought. Was he? Going to be getting more responsibilities? He...supposed it wasn't out of the question for Aiichi to ask him to attend court more often. So he could speak to people face to face more, get his position as the next leader more rooted into people's consciousnesses.

And a bodyguard... Inspiration suddenly flashed across Kokichi's face, though he smiled a bit at the small, 'oh you'-like huff from Ikuo. He...wouldn't mind having his father around officially as protection, but...

...Maki wasn't an assassin anymore. Despite how she still worked and presented herself, she hadn't contracted any jobs from anyone, and hadn't taken up any work. But...if he hired her as an official bodyguard... Well, it was practically what she was already doing. It would be her decision, of course...but... Kokichi smiled to himself. He'd try to talk to her tonight.

Though he winced, trying not to be so obvious about it, but...well.

...it wasn't really about the idea of...having a personal housekeeper? Even though that was kind of weird when he wasn't a single household, and most of the things Kirumi listed weren't really...things he needed? Like...hiring another secretary that would correspond with him more than Aiichi would...actually be helpful, but...

That wasn't why he winced. The allusion to troubling times and that Kirumi called him... I-it wasn't fair to her, plenty of people had called him that in the past but... Bessie had said...

"Kokichi?"

Kokichi shot his dad an apologetic look before dropping his gaze, cupping his glass with both hands. "Sorry...I just..."

"...so news about the Remnants of Despair made it out to you guys too?"

"We have heard things, yes. It's quite newsworthy, when the heir apparent is accosted by terrorists and death cultists. I think I can speak for many of us when I say that I was relieved to hear that you made it through such a harrowing incident more or less whole, Kokichi," Kirumi said, giving the prince another soft look. "Perhaps this is not a comfort to hear, but...our return today would have been on a much more somber note, had our prince not been there to greet us."

Kirumi sighed, putting down her spoon on her plate. "I've never been known for keeping advice to myself. I believe such a thing is unbecoming of anyone in the service industry, when my viewpoints and observations could be potentially used to increase the quality of life of those I am in service to. With that said, again...please forgive me if my words appear rudely blunt or are rudely unwelcome. I say it with every sincere desire to be of use to those I feel I am charged to."

"In all truth, the incident is the only reason I'm willing to speak so openly and plainly about the idea of a specialized entourage. Without such a recent and extreme example of why such attending to is necessary, I'd have kept such thoughts and concerns to myself and merely waited for you to someday come to the conclusion on your own. A dedicated entourage would not have allowed such an incident to occur. Whatever assistance you brought with you to the coast, while I am certain trying their best, was clearly inadequate and unprepared for the challenges of escorting royalty."

"...Ikuo, what do you think? I am merely a housekeeper who only served within the folds for a year before finding calling elsewhere. You are a senior employee here, and have been trusted by the royal family with many incredibly important tasks over the course of your entire life. Your opinion in these matters would be invaluable."

Not only about Kokichi's kidnapping, but they'd received word about the Remnants in general a few weeks before. Explaining what they were and to keep an eye out for anyone who might be struggling, especially emphasized for the vets. Many of the fighters had scoffed, thinking that they'd risked their lives and left their loved ones all in the name of protecting life, not to mention how much of an insult it would be to everyone who died in the war to...

...well, some had said, 'to act like Luminaries.' Fetishizing pain and death.

Those who weren't outright insulted by the Remnants' message just reaffirmed their desires to look out for one another. No one left behind, no one abandoned.

Ikuo had been just about ready to throw all the cultists out of Dicea himself when he'd heard what happened to Kokichi. But what they'd heard through rumors certainly wasn't the full story.

"Help is always valuable. Never harm in making life easier if there's someone willing to lend a hand." Ikuo nodded before fixing his son with a curious look. "...how's your husband?"

Kokichi sighed, knowing this was coming sooner or later. He gave Ikuo and Kirumi a pleading look, just...hoping that they'd hear him out. "It...it really was an accident. And Kai-chan and the others... I know Luminary is shitty, and you guys know it first hand, but...they're people. People who have had to adapt to horrible, abusive leadership for generations."

"...our marriage was political, but I love Kai-chan. He's been a wonderful, invaluable friend to me--a-and Shuu-chan and Maki-chan too!--and I'm pretty sure he had a big hand in Aiichi letting me out of the castle at all." Kokichi pressed his lips together, just...hoping he could convince Ikuo. "He makes mistakes, and sometimes they have consequences that don't justify that, but...he's really trying. He wants to be better. And I believe he can."

"...he makes me really happy."

There was a pause before Ikuo nodded. He'd still see for himself, but Kokichi's endorsement was one of the greatest indicators of a person there was. Maybe not who they were right now, but the potential they had inside them. And, well, if he made Kokichi happy...

"Good. I'm gonna curb stop your old man for making me miss the wedding."

Kokichi relaxed, giggling a bit. "I told him we should be ready to perform a reenactment." Calming a bit, he looked back to Kirumi, offering her a thankful smile. "Thank you for the advice. As much as I just wanted to be able to travel freely...I was just putting more people in danger. We knew I was being targeted and..."

He sighed, the smile dropping a bit. "...I think it would be a good idea to look into, at least, hiring a bodyguard. I'm not planning on any more trips for a while, but...it's irresponsible to expect the guardforce to drop their regular duties whenever I go out since I know I'm at a high risk. Hopefully not anymore, but...until we can be sure that no one is going to target me... I need to be more mindful."

...Maki and Shuuichi.

Really.

Interesting.

Kirumi listened to the prince speak of his husband and...what was most likely his husband's own entourage, if it was indeed Maki Harukawa and Shuuichi Saihara that he was referring to, with polite understanding and patience. It didn't surprise her, to hear the Dicean prince speak so fondly or kindly of people who, if even half the rumors were true...not to mention certain personality aspects that were very specifically not rumors, but facts that Kirumi herself could confirm...

Dicea was a wonderful place. Full of wonderful people.

But they forgave easily. It was a common trait here. A lovely one...but not everyone deserved such lovely things. And it was the sort of mentality that was simple enough to take advantage of, so long as you were willing to follow through. And Kirumi suspected that Kokichi's husband was the exact kind of person who would, indeed, follow through on such advantages.

But she would keep such concerns and comments to herself. The prince becoming defensive over the place of his husband and the Luminaries in Dicea would only make watching out for him more difficult than it already would be.

And Kirumi had every intention of watching out for him, whether he specifically was assigned to her or not.

"Well, my services are at your disposal, Prince Kokichi, as again, I start work again tomorrow, as per my conversation with brother Aiichi. I do hope you will find use for me often and call for me willingly whenever the thought comes to mind."

Kokichi's smile brightened back up and he gave Kirumi a nod. "Sure thing. And I know going straight to Aiichi mainlines things a lot of the time, but if you ever need anything, I'll always do my best to help."

"I know I was a lot younger the last time a lot of you guys saw me...but I don't say that to just be polite. I take my duties and my vow seriously, and I will aid anyone to the best of my abilities."

Ikuo blinked in slight shock, just...in awe of the young man sitting next to him. Kokichi had never taken his role lightly, but...well, he'd been ten. He was a stifled, sickly child who was desperate to prove himself. And, now...Kokichi was serious and kind, truly a leader already in his own right.

Maybe some of that was a father's pride, but he was allowed that.

With just the slightest hint of a smile on his face, Ikuo pulled Kokichi in for another hug, ruffling his hair again. "Look at you, bunny. All grown up."

Kokichi flushed but giggled, pleased.

As hours passed, Maki and Kaito eventually traded, Maki taking up looking after Shuuichi, who was struggling today, and Kaito trying to entertain Timothy.

Shuuichi and Maki locked away in the bathroom (it was maybe foolish, but they were still trying to keep the full extent of Shuuichi's condition from Timothy), Kaito sat with Tim, holding his hand and looking down at his palm, pretending he could read his future.

"My old mentor, Priestess Mifune, used to do this, and she showed me how when I was around your age," Kaito explained, though he didn't add in that he barely remembered the details, and past the basics, would be making this up as he went along. Tracing the lines on Timothy's hand, Kaito said, "Okay, so, see these three lines? These are the main ones. This big, curving line is your life line. That one there is your success line, though you'll also hear it called the head line. And this one up here is your love line!"

"Why did you have a priestess for a mentor? Why did people think a prince would need to learn religion?"

"Hm?" Kaito said, giving the young ex-drummer a surprised look at the question, before laughing uncomfortably. "Well...okay, she was never 'officially' my mentor. It was just...it was sort of an 'understood' thing? But, no, I was never officially being trained to become a priestess, obviously...anyway, so, your life line, right? You see all those little breaks in the line? Those are possible directions your life could take. If it goes up, great! If it goes down, not so good. So, see, here? At the base of your palm? How there's a bunch of little breaks? All those little breaks means that there were a bunch of decisions and choices made when you were very young, that severely impacted your life...most of them for the worst, admittedly," Kaito said with a frown, before smiling. "But! See how smooth and clean the middle bit is? And the few breaks you have going upwards? That means most of your life is going to be enriched and stable, with a few particularly good moments! And judging by how your life line goes all the way up and around your hand a little, I say you're gonna grow up to be an old man someday. Nice!"

"Do you actually believe in Atua, Prince Kaito?" Timothy asked. Not exactly invested in hearing the little lines tell his 'future', but curious to finally have a chance to kind of get to know his guardian.

"Um...yes. Yes I do," Kaito said, feeling like he probably already knew the answer but asking anyway, "Don't you?"

"No."

"Oh...well, why not? Maybe I can help?"

"Everyone knows Atua's a fake thing," Timothy said with all the bluntness of a child. "People made him up to make it easier to tell people to do stuff."

"Oh...and who told ya that?"

"Everyone."

"Oh..." Kaito looked at the ground, something pained in his expression for a moment...before sighing, his expression gentle. "That's okay. You don't have to believe in Atua, Tim. He loves you either way, and he just wants what's best for you. He doesn't really directly interfere while we're alive, but one day, your soul will be given back to Atua, and he'll take care of it from there. He won't abandon you, no matter who you are or how you feel about him...okay, so, you see this line? Your success line?"

"Yeah."

"That shows how much of your personal ambitions you’re gonna accomplish. Same rules as life line, breaks are all possibilities, ups are good, downs are bad. Now, for your success line, I'm actually seeing a lot of both. So, that could be eventful, but not a bad thing! Just means you'll have as many failures as you will successes growing up, but still plenty of successes! Oooh, especially when you hit, I'd say...your thirties? There's a lot going on there-"

"Are you and Mr. Saihara cheating on Prince Kokichi?"

"...no. We're not."

"You call him handsome. And I've seen you kiss him."

“You did? When?”

“When I was following you.”

“Ah. Okay…we are…” Kaito frowned. Not sure how to approach this. Glancing at the child, he considered his options, before saying, “I’d like to be honest with you, Timothy, but I’d need your word first that you’ll keep what I tell you to yourself, for now.”

Timothy’s eyes lit up a little at this, looking far more interested. “Is it a secret?”

“…yes.”

“From who?”

“Everyone besides Maki, myself, Shuuichi, Kokichi…and, uh, Hajime.”

“Uncle Hinata knows?”

“…uncle? I mean, yes. He knows too.”

“Okay. I won’t tell. I swear it.”

“Good! Good…it’s very simple, Timothy. Myself, Mr. Saihara, and Prince Kokichi, are all dating each other. As a group. But no, none of us are cheating on the other, with each other. It’s a group relationship.”

“You and Prince Kokichi are married.”

“Yep.”

“Does that mean Mr. Saihara won’t get to marry either of you…and you’re dating anyway?”

“…um…”

“That doesn’t sound simple.”

“It’s…we’re working it out. But that’s the answer. You swear you won’t tell anyone?”

“I already swore.”

“Swear again.”

“I swear I won’t tell anyone you and Prince Kokichi are both dating Mr. Saihara.”

“Good…thank you. Speaking of dating! So, this last line here! Your love line! Now, do you see these little breaks here? These mean-“

“This isn’t real, Prince Kaito. All fortune telling stuff is made up. You know that, right?”

“…well, it…it can be fun anyway, right? Sometimes it's fun to believe in the silly, fake stuff. Adds a bit of sparkle and zest to life. Here. Based on everything I told you, do you wanna try reading mine? It’s a lot of fun! Go ahead!”

“Okay…your love line says Prince Kokichi and Mr. Saihara are gonna dump you to marry each other.”

“It does not!!”

“It does, I swear. See it? It’s right there. Oh, and also, you die in a year.”

“What!?”

“Ooooh. You fall on your sword trying to impress a date after you’re divorced. Wow, that’s rough, Prince Kaito…”

“You have a real mean sense of humor kid…”

“The sword cut your belt and your pants fall down too.”

“Where are you seeing details like these in palm lines!?”

-

It was late by the time Kokichi found himself returning to that secluded hallway in the west wing of the third floor. He, Ikuo, and Kirumi had chatted through lunch, and then Kokichi went around with his dad, greeting some of the other returned fighters. And after that? He and Ikuo found an empty parlor and...talked. Talked about years of missed conversations and events. About doubts and feelings and moments of hope and thoughts of the future and...all sorts of things. The type of conversations that...fuck, Kokichi had missed so much. There had been tears and anger and quiet moments and laughter and...the full range of life.

They'd joined back up with others for dinner, a smaller crowd this time since many people had gone home to spend more personal time together, but it was still a typical dinner in the castle. Loud and vivacious and rapturous enjoyment of food and...a family back together at last. Missing a few pieces, many new ones added, but it was almost as if the whole castle sighed in relief. It was over.

Ikuo and Kokichi had talked a bit more, just wandering around the castle, Kokichi showing off new things and Ikuo reminiscing about the old. And, after walking his father to his old room and getting a goodnight hug that made Kokichi tear up again, it wasn't...like, absurdly late, but still late by the time Kokichi headed to his own room.

Or, rather, Maki's.

Knocking gently, in case anyone had fallen asleep already, Kokichi called out, "It's me. Can I come in?"

It was Maki that came to the door, her eyes looking around Kokichi first before settling down on him, deciding there wasn't any danger in the immediate vicinity. "Come on in, but try to keep it down. Shuuichi and Timothy are both out."

Inside, Kaito was sitting at the window ledge, staring out the window through the mesh screen Maki had put up. Maki's room didn't really have a good view of any populated areas, but every now and again groups of people walked below, talking long walks and chatting with each other around the castle, even as it got later and later. Kaito watched the occasional people walk past and wondered what their relationships were together. Couples, re-united? Friend from the battlefields, about to be separated as one moves on and the other stays? Families, relieved to see each other?

It was a nice sight. It wasn't the same back in Luminary. War or no war, the military stayed. Though...Kaito knew hard decisions were being made about downsizing, now. People going home from the military now in Luminary likely wouldn't be celebrating. They likely didn't have a job now...

There was a lot of conversation when Kaito left about what to do about the surge of unemployment that was going to result from the end of the war. His mom had suggested a work-aid program, where the unemployed were automatically put into available jobs. But the program had been fought, because, it was argued, it would have turned the program essentially into an unemployment union funded by the government, negotiating with employers. And even the early testing version...kind of proved it right. The guidelines couldn't justify assigning people to employment that couldn't actually pay them a surviving wage, since not doing so led to all the problems that straight up unemployment did. Most of the jobs people qualified for and were available didn't pay a surviving wage, not without assigning people multiple different jobs, which didn't look sustainable long term on paper (because it wasn't). So the leaders of the program would have had to negotiate with employers for wages and hours that were actually sustainable, but the employers offering jobs didn't want to budget for living wages...

So the employment program wasn't going anywhere.

Another possibility that had been suggested a few times, especially between General Juuzo and King Leon, was just turning their attentions on a different kingdom...one that was maybe a little simpler to invade...if we got Kimigashine to partner with us, their neighbor country, Panem, has been in civil war for years now...it'd be easier...

Kaito's eyes lit up when he heard Kokichi at the door, dismissing his musings over his home as he looked over, grinning as he saw his husband come in. With quiet excitement (as Shuuichi and Timothy were both asleep on the bed), Kaito moved his legs around Maki's weapons chest and waved at Kokichi. "Hey! How did it go? Did you have fun?"

Kokichi stepped into the room, casting a soft look at the sleeping members of their group. Hopefully he'd be able to catch them in the morning. He knew that the Luminaries wanted to give him the time and space to properly reunite with the veterans--and to defend the Luminaries' reputations--but he still wanted to keep up with them too. Make sure things were okay.

Carefully leaning over the weapons chest, Kokichi gave his husband a hug and grinned at his friends. "It was... It went really well. Ikuo and I talked for hours and, other than the fact we were catching up..." Kokichi's expression went soft and happy, something in him relaxed for the first time in ten years. "...it was almost like he'd never left."

Laughing quietly, Kokichi gave Kaito a sheepish look. "I almost dragged him over so you two could meet, but he told me to slow my roll and, like, actually give you a heads up before we do that. I just got too excited--he's looking forward to meeting you too."

Explaining a bit more about his day, Kokichi turned to Maki with some determination in his gaze. "...-and while we were eating, Kirumi-chan was talking to me about...like, new hires? Since we won't be as short-staffed anymore, and people might be looking for career changes and all that, and, um..."

"I wanted to ask you first. Maki-chan? Would you like to be hired as my bodyguard?"

"Oh! That's...wow!" Kaito said, something...strange and conflicted running through him as he listened to Kokichi's offer to Maki. He didn't know what the emotion was. Not even in a 'I'm refusing to think about this' way. He just didn't know. And because he didn't know what the feeling was, he decided to ignore it and be optimistic instead. "That's an awesome idea! What an honor!"

Maki folded her arms, giving Kokichi a long look. "...you know I had every intention of physically looking out for you, regardless of an official position, yes? If you're looking for protection, you don't have to hire me to ensure my cooperation."

Giving her a fond look, Kokichi nodded. "I know, and that's why I wanted to ask you before even thinking about putting a job listing out. Maki-chan has already pretty much established herself as, not just my bodyguard, but for all of us," Kokichi explained, gesturing to Kaito and the sleeping boys on the bed.

"So...why not make it official? That way you can get paid for the work you do as well as...er. Some legal protection..." Kokichi rubbed the back of his neck and looked down for a moment before looking back up with a more serious look. "Threatening people and starting fights...right now you're protected under self-defense laws, and no one has tried to place a charge against you, so it's been fine. But if you were hired for security reasons...then most anything you do in the name of protection would have greater legal sway, as long as you could prove probable cause."

"And...I'm not sure how to explain this..." Kokichi twirled a bit of his hair as he squinted into the distance, sorting out his thoughts. "...you would have...more authority? As my security detail? Like...a lot of the time people will go along with requests of their own volition, but...you can submit compliance orders, again, if you can prove that it relates to my safety. Like if you wanted to interview someone or gain access to restricted areas or stuff like that. And..."

This was the big one. Kokichi didn't know if it would even help Maki's conditioning, but...it was part of the job. It was just a bonus if it managed to circumvent whatever those assholes did to her head.

Taking a breath, he looked up to his friend. "I already told you guys you could do this, but...the job would give you the authority to override my or anyone else's wishes in the name of saving me from a life-threatening situation."

Maki's eyes widened a little at this last statement, though she frowned, considering her...situation. In all honesty, she wanted to take the job. Like Kokichi had said, she had basically taken on that duty for herself anyway, and it would be...nice to have it official. To not have everyone give her exasperated, sad looks when she insisted she was working. Because...she was working and...

...it had occurred to her before now that she didn't really know why she was working. Being an assassin, and all the side stuff that came with that, was such a huge part of her life. Her personality. And...she didn't really know what to do with herself outside of it. She didn't have any real hobbies to pursue. She didn't have any friends here outside of Kaito, who she was sworn to, and Shuuichi, who resented her overbearing protectiveness sometimes. She had no orders. No official responsibilities outside of 'Keep Kaito Safe', and that order, technically, had been finished the second Kaito had become the responsibility of his husband, and thus the Dicean castle staff, and Maki had become an independent Dicean civilian.

She wasn't actually...bound to anyone, in an official way anymore...but her conditioning, her lifestyle, just wouldn't allow her to accept that. She needed a chain of command and a mission. She felt lost without one. Kaito and Kokichi being her princes was the only chain of command she had, since she specifically was not allowed to work for King Aiichi per the agreement, and...because they were her princes, they had authority over her and her actions, at least per her idea of what hierarchy was and her conditioning in regards to it...back in Luminary...but...

...it kinda...didn't work that way here?

And she had no idea how to function under that idea.

She couldn't...not have a boss...

...but...if she didn't have a boss? She could just...go? Couldn't she? If no one was her boss, she didn't have to follow anyone's order, yes? She could do anything? She could...she could kill anyone. Follow through on her mission. Complete the plan.

...right?

...No. Her mind couldn't accept that. She was a creature to be owned. Freedom? Real freedom? It was too foreign of a concept to her. Even having it, even with it being handed to her, she couldn't accept it. She needed to feel like she belonged to someone. Even if...she didn't.

Shuuichi had found himself a master in Nao.

Maki had found herself a master in Kaito and Kokichi.

Neither of them had really accepted that they weren't Indentureds anymore. Not really...

It'd...it'd be nice to just...be officially owned again...not even just that, but in a position that was respected. That gave her authority of her own. That genuinely made her feel useful in a way that she had wanted to independently anyway.

"...could I have a night to think about it?" Maki asked, eyes distant. Tugging at her hair nervously. "Kaito's right. It's an honor to even be asked. But...I need to think about it. Can I answer you tomorrow?"

Kokichi smiled at Maki, patiently kind in the face of her obvious hesitation. He knew this wouldn't just magically fix what had been done to her. The life she had been made to live. But it was an option that would maybe start to help, and he wanted to offer it.

"Of course! You can have more than a night if you want, and even if you think you want the job, you don't even have to accept right away. I probably wouldn't hire you on like that anyway." Kokichi laughed sheepishly. "If you think you want it, I wanna sit down with you and discuss pay and what responsibilities you want, and...probably go over some of the finer points of Dicean law when it comes to combat. But I wanted to ask and give you first dibs on the position, you know?"

He had considered the criticism of nepotism, but even taking into account that Maki was his friend...she really was someone who would do well as a bodyguard. As he'd said, she was practically already doing the job, and...while he'd been in trouble...this would give her the authority and resources to stop something like that. It was like she was an unpaid contractor already, something that was illegal in Dicean law, so...he at least wanted to give her the opportunity to be paid. To give her some direction. ...and some protection.

"I know you can't truly separate it, but take all the time you need to decide if this is a job you'd want. If we weren't friends. I'm not exactly planning on going anywhere soon," he joylessly smiled, "so I don't need an answer as soon as possible. Take your time."

"Oh! Yeah! About that!" Kaito said, something nervous going through his stomach, but keeping the grin on his face as he looked around for Shuuichi's journal. "Me and Shuuichi have been talking about that. Just...on and off? For the last few days? And we made a list! Maki and Hajime helped too!"

Finding the journal on the nightstand next to the bed, he grabbed it and quickly opened it up, going to the last page, where Shuuichi's small, careful handwriting had made a list, with little descriptors and pros and cons. Occasionally the list was broken up by Kaito's own larger, more messy handwriting, and on the other page, Maki's fast, half-finished letters, pointing at different locations, pointed out dangers to be aware of and safety benefits.

Kaito had been hesitant to bring up this list to Kokichi before, but...he had just had a really good day! So, maybe he'd be in a better mood to consider it. So...

"The closest things nearby that we kinda wanna see is there's some sort of big waterfall nearby? That Shuuichi's heard of and he wants to visit. And I figured, well, I really want to teach you how to swim! And a waterfall would be perfect for that...and also! Vaguely defined body of water! See, I wrote it down, right there. Under pros," Kaito said, winking mischievously at his husband as he showed him the list. Before pointing to Maki's side and saying, "Though, Maki wants to make certain before we do that that there's shallow water there to teach you in. So, I'm sure we can find that out beforehand."

"Also! There's a mountain town, nearby? I've never been skiing before, or anything like that, so that's super interesting to me! Maki hates the idea, but that's just because she thinks I'm gonna break my arm again."

"Annnnd Hajime recommended some place called Carbosi? I guess there's some big game events that go on there? Look at how biased Maki is. The one place with the thing she'd be into, and look at her page. No dangers to speak of. So biased."

"A sporting events town should already have plenty of built in protections, as sporting arenas are hotspots for demonstrative violence due to their large, financially diverse crowds. They’re dangerous areas, and because people recognize they are dangerous, they become some of the safest tourist destinations around," Maki explained, giving Kaito a dry look. "I'm not biased."

"...totally biased," Kaito muttered.

Kokichi peered over the journal, surprised, and... His expression softened into gratefulness.

Sometimes, his thoughts veered into thinking that...no matter where Kokichi went, he'd just invoke trouble. The trip to the coast was supposed to be so simple and then... People were in danger. Sure, some of the danger was a freak accident, but...some of it was...just what he had to expect. Like what Kirumi was talking about at lunch, and what Maki...had been trying to tell him for a while, huh...

...but he didn't want to be trapped in the capital his whole life. It was a lovely city and it was home, but...there still was so much he wanted to see. And...maybe he shouldn't think so lowly of his friends, but hearing that they wanted him to see it too...

Kokichi leaned over to place a kiss to Kaito's cheek, then pressed his knuckles gently against Maki's arm. "That all sounds wonderful. I actually have a...well, she's not really a friend, but an associate, I guess, who lives in Carbosi, and it would be nice to visit her in person if we take a trip there..."

"But..." Kokichi's smile nervously dimmed as he started to fuss with his sleeves. "...I still wanna stay close to home for a little while. Wanna make sure everyone gets settled alright... Wanna wait for the trials to end..." He looked down, swallowing down...the mess of whatever he was feeling.

Aba, Itch, and Tom were going to be tried separately, since there was too high of a chance of them conspiring and hurting others if they could work together. Apart from just giving Aiichi what information he had, Kokichi hadn't really talked with his father about what the trials would be like. Since he had been targeted and hurt by them, he wasn't supposed to go to the trials, just would give his witness statements.

But...therapy in isolation looked like it'd be the lowest thing they'd get. And if that didn't work...

Kokichi took a slow breath, the smile having completely dropped from his face as his gaze went far away.

Kaito felt relieved when Kokichi didn't immediately shoot down the ideas, like he had half been afraid he would, though watching the excited light go out of his eyes...

Kaito knew Kokichi was going through some things and that...he had to be gentle. He had no idea what was going to break him. He had no idea what was going to break him...

So! Just be...careful as you go....

"All that makes sense. Absolutely! But, I mean, we have time to visit all these places. We don't have to do it right away. It's just stuff to think about for our next trip! Whenever we're ready to take one."

"How long will the trials last?" Maki asked, curious. "Are executions public?"

Kokichi flinched before looking back up at Maki with wide, frightened eyes. "N-no!"

Then he took a breath, just...trying not to think of the atmosphere that would make Maki ask that. "No...and I don't think they'll be executed either. And...it depends on how cooperative the accused are for how long the trials will last."

He sighed and stepped around the crate to sit next to Kaito on the window seat. "...there won't be much of an investigation for...f-for my abduction and torture, and the murder of the Brockmans..." he murmured. "For one...I don't think they'd deny it, and there's enough evidence between my account and witness observations to support it."

"It's just...what they'll consent to that will take some time...in my opinion." Kokichi lowered his eyes as he leaned against Kaito, taking another careful breath, feeling a now-identifiable squirm of fear in his stomach. "...they were expecting to die. Kai-chan...you said Itch tried to kill himself. They...might choose to be executed... And in that case...they'd be considered suicidal...but if they don't choose to agree to the social contract..."

Kokichi's brow furrowed, worried and afraid. He'd made a point to tell Aiichi about Itch's ideals and the danger of spreading them, but...in them...Itch didn't seem to even want to try to live in a society. Aba at least was on the spores, so she could be treated and given rehab as part of her sentence, even if she chose death, but... Tom and Itch would be tested. If they weren't on spores, then...

...he never thought he'd even get close to the point of having to agree to an execution...

Kaito furrowed his brow, confused by a lot of the things Kokichi was saying. What they'd consent to? Choose to be executed?

"...what's a social contract?" Kaito asked. Entirely lost on that one.

"It's an, often unspoken, agreement to live in a society. To--for the most part--abide by that society's rules," Kokichi explained. "And, in return, they can expect that society to benefit them. If there's a monsoon, people can expect that their homes will be fixed and they will be taken care of in the intermittent period. If a farmer has an infestation and their crops are ruined, they will receive the expected lost revenue, and will be given supplementary emergency relief to get them back on their feet."

"People can go outside and have fun because the social contract dictates that they will not be attacked. And, for those who break the contract, they can trust that the guardforce will be there to subdue the instigator and keep the peace."

Sighing softly, Kokichi knew he didn't have to ask to know that some of that concept was just going to be lost on the Luminaries. "It's about being able to trust the people around you, and being able to trust your government. Do not hurt others, have respect for life, that sort of thing."

"Oh..."

Kaito and Maki glanced at each other, Maki looking somewhat exasperated, Kaito looking nervous.

It was finally Kaito who asked. "So...if they do agree to your social contract thing? What happens then?"

"Isolated therapy, since they're still proven to be a danger to others," he sighed. "Rehab mixed in for Aba, most likely, and maybe Tom and Itch, though...I dunno. It didn't seem like they were on spores to me. The trial will determine their minimum time, but until they can prove that they won't hurt others...then they'll still have to live way out."

It occurred to Kokichi then that his friends likely didn't know what he meant by that, and by how they always looked like he said "conditioning" when he said therapy... "Someone who is in isolated therapy... They live with a trained caretaker away from any towns or villages. They have regular appointments with a psychiatrist to try and nail down destructive ways of thinking and to come up with coping methods that won't hurt them or anyone else."

"...I've talked with people who've come back from isolated therapy. A lot of the time, the people who get that sentence have become estranged from any friends or family or community, so they'll come to the capital to get, like, housing assistance or permits or whatever. One of the women I spoke with...like...it's not a nice thing, to be away from community and only see two people. But she explained that she took solace in nature. Started up a garden in the cottage she was housed in, used that for her therapy. She has a small farm out to the west now. Doesn't talk to folks much, but has found her peace."

"...a garden...Kokichi, they kidnapped you and murdered fou-"

"We shouldn't talk about this," Kaito decided, staring at the floor.

Maki shot Kaito a hard look. "Is that an order?"

Kaito looked up at her, surprised. "What? No, Maki...I just...this is...their kingdom. Their citizens, who hurt their prince. I know...I know it doesn't sound...right," Kaito said quietly, wringing his hands a little. "I know. But...we're outsiders. It's not...worth us talking about it. I think."

The assassin narrowed her eyes at him, clenching her fists for a moment...before calming. Her face easing into something neutral. "Right. Of course. My apologies."

"...killing them won't bring those people back."

Kokichi dropped his gaze to the floor. Something small but sure in his voice. Something tired and sad, but not unsure. "...and where their heads are right now, death isn't a punishment for them. What will actually make a difference is making sure that they will never hurt anyone again. About giving them the resources to change and grow as people so they can contribute to society again. They can't make up for the lives they took. But they can try to bring some goodness back, instead of just leaving bigger holes with their own deaths."

"...I know that doesn't make sense to you. That it seems wrong. But in order to give every person the same opportunities in life, to never make someone suffer wrongfully under the hand of the government, to keep the system from being abused... Killers live. They live, and repent, and use the rest of their lives trying to narrow the gap of the cruelty they have inflicted on others."

"Interesting," Maki said. Absorbing the information, while Kaito glanced nervously at her. Worried by what she'd say next...but she didn't say anything. Her face just carefully blank, leaving the word hanging by itself.

This didn't put Kaito at ease any. His best friend was...well, she was a killer. But she was a legal killer. Or, well...she was a killer who followed orders. Her relationship with death and murder was complicated. And he actually wasn't sure...how she felt about recreational killers. Did she care that Tom and Itch and Aba were killers? Or did she just care that they had targeted Kokichi? If she did care...how much?

Enough to take things into her own hands?

Kaito had no idea. Maki wasn't the type to not act, if she felt something was wrong. She was one of the most rebellious people Kaito knew, and the only thing holding her back was her thorough and consistent conditioning. So, if she actually thought these people maintaining their lives after committing such atrocities actually offended her sense of personal justice...Kaito had no idea what she'd do.

But, again...he had no idea if it did.

As for Kaito?

...he hated them.

He didn't care what they had done to other people. Kaito's best friend was a killer herself. Not everyone he dated had exactly a glowing background. Not all of his friends were saints. His family...

...but he hated them for what they had done to Kokichi. What they had done to him.

It made Kaito feel sick, the idea that they'd just be...okay. Making a garden somewhere. Finding peace. He didn't want peace for them. He wanted to watch them burn alive and end the day toasting over their graves.

Not...alive and well.

Not working in the castle.

Kaito felt a sudden twist of repulsion in his stomach. Would they...be invited to work in the castle?

It was so disgusting that was even a possibility...but historically...

He'd argue against that bridge if they came to it. Maybe it'd be enough for Kokichi to just say he'd be uncomfortable having them around? Maybe that'd be enough...Kaito felt another wave of repulsion run through him. It was wrong. It was wrong...

Easy...easy...careful as you go...

"...well, again. I don't...think it really matters if we talk about it. Things will happen like they will, right? So...yeah." Kaito forced a grin onto his face, and said, "So! Ikuo went well! That's fantastic! I knew it would, but it's a relief to hear. How about everything else? Everyone else you were waiting for seem well?"

Kokichi slumped a bit at the silence that enveloped them after Maki's conversation-ending observation. It wasn't that important to...like, convince them of his moral stance. But...he...maybe just wanted to have them understand that death would do nothing good. Knowing that the people who hurt you would never hurt anyone again would be closure. Knowing that they would spend the rest of their lives making up for whatever horrible thing they did was closure, and a kind that would benefit other people too. Giving hope to people in dark places that they can always make a change for the better was...so important.

No one left behind.

Slowly forcing his gaze to rise as Kaito changed the conversation, Kokichi tried for a smile. "Yeah...it's really nice to see everyone again. You should've seen me--I was a crying mess every five minutes it seemed like."

Kokichi softly talked about some of his other brief reunions before turning to Kaito. "And though I'm excited for it, it doesn't have to be tomorrow or anything, but lemme know when you're good to meet Ikuo. I was thinking we could talk in our room, so you don't have to go far, but Ikuo won't be intruding on Maki-chan's room."

"Yeah. That'd be awesome! I'm looking forward to meeting him," Kaito agreed easily, before giving a quick glance at Shuuichi and Timothy, still sleeping soundly. "Um...do you think we should...give it another day? Or maybe two? Before we come out?"

"We've already committed to the day. Three days should be enough time for everyone to settle," Maki observed, also pointing out, "And the fighters who aren't staying long term should be on their way by then, if not entirely gone. That will make things considerably safer. I'd recommend three days."

...okay, Kokichi was a little disappointed. Aiichi was his father, even if he had always been distant, and he was the reason Kokichi and Kaito ever met. But...there was something exciting about introducing his husband to his dad. Showing off a little...maybe even Kaito getting that proper welcome...

But it wasn't his discomfort on the line. If Kaito and Maki thought it would be best to wait, then he could wait. Ikuo wasn't going anywhere anymore. And, well, he should heed the word of his maybe new security detail.

"Alright...I'll let him know." Smiling softly at his friends, Kokichi tried to gauge how they were hanging in. "How was today for you guys? I talked with Haneda-chan a little and she said that she brought up dinner. You have everything you need?"

"Yeah, Hajime stopped by too to check on us. We're fine," Kaito assured him, having no intention of telling him about Shuuichi's breakdown this morning. "Seriously, we're good. I got to do some bonding time with Timothy! So that was nice."

"He made Kaito cry."

"He's mean!"

"You have to be less of a target, Kaito. He keeps poking at you because you make it easy. Be more stern with him."

"I don't want to do that...he seems like he's having fun. I don't know. And I wasn't actually crying. I was just playing up how upset I was because it made him laugh."

"You're going to turn our charge into a bully. You want him trying that when he goes to school? Stop playing his games."

"Yeah, maybe...oh!" Kaito glanced over at Kokichi, "I was thinking about it today...do you have any idea who's supposed to tell me about my anger management stuff? Is that still in flux? Are people just going to show up and take me to it, or am I supposed to...meet someone somewhere? Do you have any idea?"

Kokichi huffed in amusement at Tim's antics, but also at how Maki and Kaito talked about it. They were doing their best for Tim. And hopefully their best would turn out to be pretty good. Hopefully the rest of Tim's childhood would be...happy. (Instead of scary. Instead of violent. Instead of expectations of commodity and maturity that no child should be expected of.)

"Oh..." Damnit. He had talked to Aiichi about it the day before, but...he just hadn't spoken to Kaito yet... (Don't beat yourself up.)

Nodding with a half-shrug, Kokichi explained, "It's kind of in flux right now, yeah. You can definitely wait until you guys think it's best to come out, but...we should be looking for a counselor. Usually you'll go to...like a grace meeting? Not actually talking about your issues or anything, but just getting to know each other a little so you can see if it's gonna work out. It's kinda hard to get help if you're nervous or pissed around the person who's trying to help you, yanno?"

"And I'm still open to going to that meeting with you," Kokichi reassured, hugging Kaito's arm gently. "It's not conditioning. I promise on my oath as leader and the bonds of our marriage that it's not. But if it will make you more comfortable, I'll go with you to meet a counselor, and any other ones if the first one's not gonna click with you."

"I know it's not, babe...thanks," Kaito said, leaning over and placing a kiss against Kokichi's forehead. "Like I said! It'll be good! It's totally something I need help with, ya know? I'm all about it. We'll start looking as soon as the next two days are up!"

Maki rolled her eyes, but didn't comment.

"Anyway...I think I'm gonna stay in here with Maki and them. It's gonna be kinda cramped in here, but-"

"I told him it'd make me feel better if he'd stay," Maki confessed, glancing out the mesh-covered window. "I'm sorry if it's paranoid. I'm just trying to stay on top of things. I'd hate for someone to murder us and be sent to the gardens. It'd be a terrible waste."

"Maki," Kaito said sternly.

She shrugged. "What? It's hilarious. Why not joke about it?"

"Anyway...you can stay with us, if you want? Or you get to keep our bed to yourself! Really spread out, without your big oaf of a husband lying on top of you!" Kaito teased with a grin.

Kokichi was thankful for Kaito's cheerful veneer, if nothing else. Though...that might be part of the problem. But that was for him and an actual professional to figure out, not him.

He had thought that Kaito would go back to bed in their room with him, but...he huffed dryly, giving Maki a half-amused, half-annoyed look. "Or the opposite. I'd really miss any one of you if you had to go live in isolation for a couple years."

It was...more vindictive than he liked but... As much as Dicean law protected people you hated, it protected people you loved. Even aside from the guilt that would've wracked him if Kaito or Maki had killed anyone...if they were given a murder charge that wasn't protected by self-defense? If they were sent to isolation?

...Kokichi wasn't sure how he'd cope, but it would've certainly been better than him trying to cope with the executions of one of his friends.

Sighing softly, Kokichi gave Maki a half-apologetic look once he'd calmed and he looked between her and Kaito, hopeful. "If you wouldn't mind? It's too cold sleeping by myself... And I really don't know how I handled sleeping in a bed that big all on my own for all these years. It's lonely."

Kaito drew Kokichi into a hug, kissing the top of his head. "Heck yeah! 'Course babe. We've been wanting to do a big sleepover, right? It'll be nice! We can squeeze you in between me and Shuuichi. The three of us haven't been able to spend the night together yet."

"I'll be staying awake. I'll get some sleep in the morning, whenever everyone else is up. But you all can rest easy tonight," Maki assured them, turning around and going to sit at the desk, leaning back and settling in.

"You ready to sleep now, 'Kichi? You've probably got another full day tomorrow, huh?"

That sounded nice... Squished between his lovers, Tim curled up nearby, Maki keeping watch... It'd be better if she slept too, but he wouldn't insist on taking away her comfort. Maybe one day.

Kokichi giggled softly and kissed Kaito's cheek, squirming out of his arms after a moment. "Yeah, just lemme change into my pajamas and brush my teeth and all that. I'll be back in just a sec--you guys need anything?"

Kaito shook his head. "Nah, we brought all our stuff in here earlier. Guess I kinda expected I'd be sleeping in here, actually," Kaito confessed, grinning sheepishly.

"I'm good. Thank you for asking," Maki said, already settling in for the night.

"And...'Kichi? I know we're not coming out for the next two days but...I could still meet your dad whenever he's ready. I mean...I'd just come back here when we're done, right?" Kaito asked, glancing at Maki, who immediately looked uncomfortable. "Come on, Maki, it's literally just me going next door. It'd be fine."

"...you won't go anywhere else?"

"Nah. Are you kidding? You think I wanna be cornered on my own?" Kaito asked, raising an eyebrow at her. "Go meet his dad, have some conversation, I come right back. Promise."

"...we're certain he's not feeling vengeful?" Maki asked, turning her gaze to Kokichi.

Kokichi paused before leaving, perking up in excited hopefulness. They'd have time to meet Ikuo, but...at least for Kaito, he really wanted the two of them to meet. Meeting Maki's gaze with confidence, Kokichi nodded. "I know it's been a long time, but with everything today...I still know him. He's not gonna hurt Kai-chan or any of you."

He then gave Maki a little smile. "I'd actually love for you all to meet him, but, I mean...he lives here, so there'll be time for that at everyone's pace. I guess I'm just a little impatient for...kind of a proper 'meet the parents' sort of thing..."

...the only one they'd get to do.

"Okay, okay, I'll be right back!" Kokichi headed out of Maki's room, quickly popping in next door to do as he'd said, getting ready for bed, ready for a warm, snuggly night of rest before another busy day of reunions and settling in.

-

“Sure. Fine. I did it. Whatever.”

A hush fell over the trial. They had barely started. Sure, the…the evidence was overwhelming, but…

“Sahara…do you have any idea what you’re saying right now?” Komaru asked. Staring at the clearly hungover noble woman with wide, nervous eyes. “This isn’t a casual discussion, like in the parlor…if you don’t defend yourself, you’re going to be executed…”

Sahara shrugged, looking down at her broken, split knuckles with a blank, detached air. “Yeah, I know. What, you think I want to kill all of you? I did it. I obviously did it. You all know it. Why prolong the inevitable debating it?”

“You say it’s obvious…do you claim you did it because you remember the incident occurring?” Korekiyu asked, his thin, long arms wrapped around his torso as he carefully observed her. “Or…”

Sahara sighed, rolling her eyes. “No, I don’t remember it. Shocking. Look, they gave me two bottles of hard rum for a reason. Our latest motive? All of us getting a ‘gift’ to make things easier here? They knew I’d overdo it. They knew I’d lash out at someone. And, in an environment like this? That it would get deadly…and let’s be honest. The fact that I’m clearly all beaten to hell means I was in a fight last night. I got drunk, blacked out, fought with Samuel, and won the fight. That’s why I’m covered in bruises, and he’s dead. It’s obvious. Me trying to argue anything else is just using my literal last act on this earth trying fruitlessly to kill six other people over myself.”

“Which is maybe not how I want to spend my last hour on earth…” Sahara muttered, tucking her bruises and split knuckles under her arm as she crossed them both over her chest. Just looking tired and exasperated as she said, “So…let’s just…get this over with. Let’s vote already. I’m already dead.”

“…I…I mean…that makes sense to me…but, still…damn sis…” Chad said quietly. Stunned by how casually she was facing her own death. “That’s…wow.”

“Wow indeed. I’ll admit, such nobility…it’s not something I would have expected from a member of the noble class,” Korekiyu said, snickering behind his mask at his pun.

“So…oh no…do we start the voting now?” Monique asked, looking at her classmates wide eyed and frightened. Not looking forward to this. “Maybe we could hold off a little? Give her a little more time?”

“I don’t think she’d appreciate us prolonging her fear, Monique,” Rawr gently corrected his sister, looking sadly at Sahara. “We should just get this done with and start the votin-”

“No!”

The trial participants looked over in surprise at Marcus, who had been quiet ever since Samuel’s body had been discovered a few hours before. His eyes were wide and red, and he was clearly shaking, but he looked determined as he said, “No! We can’t do that!”

“Marcus, why not? She’s confessed-“ Komaru tried to say, though he interrupted her as well with another loud ‘No’.

“She’s confessing to something she doesn’t even remember happening! She’s just looking at the same evidence we all are and drawing the same conclusion, but she doesn’t know! And…and I don’t think she did it!!” Marcus insisted, looking over at Sahara with desperate eyes. “I don’t think you killed him! Because…because…”

Tears started falling down his face, his whole body shaking now. “You…promised me you wouldn’t. You promised me you were just going to go t-talk to him…and…and that you wouldn’t hurt him! So I don’t care that you were in a fight last night! I don’t care that Samuel had bruises all over him! He died from a blow to the back of head! He died from someone coming up behind him and dropping a bust on his head! That’s a coward's way of killing someone, and Sahara isn’t a coward! The fact that she’s not fighting this proves she’s not a coward!”

“She wouldn’t promise me, then kill him while his back was turned! She’s not a coward, and she promised me, and…and I still believe your promise!” He closed his eyes, wiping his tears away with his sleeve as he shouted, “Sahara’s my friend! So Sahara didn’t kill Samuel!”

The group stared at the despairing man, each of them looking uncomfortable. Unconvinced. Even Sahara, who looked sadly at Marcus and said to him gently, “Marcus…I was drunk…you can’t count on the promise of an alco-“

“Komaru, please!” he begged, dropping his arm and turning to their leader, desperation radiating off of him. Refusing to hear his friend as she tried to assure him she really did kill his fiancé. “Please…save her! Save all of us!”

“She didn’t kill Samuel…so figure out who did!!”

-

The funeral was tomorrow, and the bodies were readied and placed.

It’d be a spectacle tomorrow. And, more likely than not, incredibly dangerous. The guards had already caught and dismantled two violent protest demonstrations planned for the event, and Nekomaru had brought Byakuya a would-be assassin just this morning. The assassin wasn’t a true one. Just an amateur who had gotten lucky, had actually managed to bribe and sneak his way into Byakuya’s chambers. He had gotten closer than the others through sheer grit and determination. Had begged god to save the queen.

Byakuya had considered forcing Kaede to watch his torture. To see what was becoming of the idiots spurred on by her speeches. Feeling empowered by her goals. He decided against it though. He doubted she even knew who the idiot was. And the screams and pleadings of a random, ambitious commoner wouldn’t dissuade her.

The man was hanging at the entrance bridge now. He wasn’t dead yet. It’d probably take awhile.

Hopefully that would dissuade some other random, ambitious commoners.

Byakuya was in Atua’s temple. His parents’ bodies were resting here, on stone slabs. Prepared and ready for the funeral. Byakuya would be expected to make a speech tomorrow, and had a secretary working on its third draft now. It would be simple. Poignant. Most people knew by now that Byakuya had had his parents killed, but he was still willing to try to appear in public as if he hadn’t. To ease the fears of those worried Byakuya would be a violent tyrant. It would put a lot of fears at ease, for the new king to at least pretend to mourn the passing of the old one.

To appear appropriately sad.

Byakuya was glad his brother wasn’t here. His tears would be insufferable. He was always so overly emotional. Overly sentimental. Their parents had failed them over and over and over again…but Kaito had still sobbed like a child the day he had said goodbye to them for his journey to Dicea. Had clutched at their mother and bowed low to their father. Tears falling down his face.

It had disgusted Byakuya to see it.

They didn’t deserve Kaito’s grief.

The tall blond sat with his parents’ bodies. No one was allowed into the temple right now. This was Byakuya’s chance to really say goodbye to them. The funeral was a performance. This…this was his actual time to grieve them. Should he desire to.

He stared at their still forms. They looked calm. Peaceful, in their deaths.

He thought of the stunned shock on his father's face when he pushed him…and chuckled to himself.

“I gave you…so many chances,” Byakuya said. His voice echoing in the wide, wooden and stone walls of the temple. Atua and his saints staring down at him through statues and glass panes. Byakuya not feeling any more watched by the visages gazes than he did by the presence of his very, very dead parents.

The dead were dead. Atua was a minor god in a now dead and buried old pantheon that they had risen to make their royal status official. None of it meant anything. There was nothing more to it than that. Byakuya knew he’d never answer to the dead or to the gods or to anyone else that he had sent to their doom already. Between himself and them…he had already won.

And in this moment, he was just…enjoying his victory. Talking to the lumps of flesh that had once been his parents, as he continued with a small, joyless chuckle. “I gave you so many chances…and you failed. Every time. Every. Single. Time.”

The bodies said nothing back. Byakuya didn’t mind.

He sat there for a while. It was cold in the temple. It was the castle’s personal temple. The funeral wasn’t going to happen here. The bodies would be moved to the capital temple in the morning. But for now, they were here. Byakuya looked around. Marveled at the cold. Why had Kaito spent so much time in here? It wasn’t exactly comfortable. Byakuya avoided this place, if he could help it. He didn’t like to think of all the pointless expenses this place cost his family. He looked at the golden decorations. The gems. What a waste of funds…

After awhile, he said, “I tried to go to you for help, you know.”

“When I realized what he was doing. What he was trying to do to me and your youngest.”

“I wonder if you even would remember that day. You barely seemed concerned while it was happening. I could imagine that you had forgotten all about it, not long after. Your eldest, insisting that their teachings from your most trusted advisor were…becoming sexually abusive. That he was trying to brainwash us. That he had already succeeded with Kaito. I needed your help…”

Byakuya glanced at his mother…and his nose wrinkled up. A frustrated snarl splitting his face.

“Imagine my shock. Imagine my surprise. That the very next thing you would do…was just to take my hand and take me straight to him. To ask him if it was true. To allow him to explain…and then just take his word for it? How could you…how could you?”

Byakuya closed his eyes. Relaxing his face. Mimicking the version of the head secretary he remembered from that day as he murmured, his voice lowered, “My goodness, what? No, no. Young Prince Byakuya is…he’s trying to rationalize something his brother did. Poor young Kaito…I haven’t known how to tell you this, Sayaka, but Kaito…his condition is getting worse…he’s starting to perform uncomfortable acts against his brother…yes, unfortunately. Acts like that. Yes. Of course, it’s entirely understandable that Byakuya would rather blame me than his brother for his actions. It’d be alarming for anyone…but no, no. Of course not. He’s just misunderstood…no, no, I wouldn’t recommend that. I’d rather keep training them both. I’m hoping to help Kaito past this…to help both of them. I just need more time with them. Yes…yes, a few additional classes a week sounds like a good idea…”

Byakuya opened his eyes…and snarled again. Glaring heatedly at his mother as he said, “And I can’t believe…that was all it took…you idiot…”

Another long moment of silence. Byakuya had all night. He stared at the ceiling for a while. Tsk. Look at all the artwork up there…how much money was spent…what a waste…

“But that was an eye opener, that whole incident. Father…you were exactly the same. Only you beat me for ‘making up lies’. So, that was a fun little addition. And if it had been up to you too, that would have been it. The lessons would have continued as they always did. He could have tricked and convinced us to perform all the stupid fantasies he had in his head…but I finally understood. What a good lesson. What a good teacher he was…”

“People like you two? You don’t run the world. You’re just…figureheads. Unnecessary mouth pieces. Stupid and easily manipulated. Pointless and destructive in everything you do. Unfit to successfully lead anyone out of a wet paper bag,” Byakuya said. His voice just tired now. “But him? Tengan…men like him actually rule the world. He rose out of nothing, and had the royal family dancing at his whims. The king adhered to his words. The princess-consort’s decisions buckled under his criticisms. He got to…to raise the heir apparent as he saw fit, and used the extra child as an entertaining toy. All while enjoying all the privileges and luxuries of ruling an entire kingdom, without any of the social drawbacks. People don’t attempt to assassinate the Head Secretary. They try to kill the king, rejoice when the attack is successful, and then wonder helplessly why nothing’s changed…meanwhile, the brilliant, vicious men who actually run the world just laugh at the hubris of the pawns around them…”

“…I considered having him killed. Since you both wouldn’t help me. I thought about taking matters into my own hands…”

“…but then I realized I wanted to be like him. Not like you two. Not…weak and simple and pathetic. Believing I had power while my advisors danced policies around me, making deals in my name with people who had far more influence over the people than I could ever dream of. I wanted that influence. That real, true power…I needed to learn how he did it. How real power was actually obtained…I needed him to continue to teach me, regardless of his abuses…but I still had to protect Kaito. No one else would…fuck knows he couldn’t protect himself…not that that was his fault. I had made him helpless…I had a responsibility to protect him, after taking away all his defenses…not an easy thing to do, considering you fucking sent him away.”

Byakuya huffed at that. He was still so...furious, about all that. He had fought the marriage from the get-go. No part of him had wanted to sell Kaito to the Dicean Kingdom. He had eventually had to back off when he, one, had decided (naively, he realized now) that Kaito might actually be safer in Dicea in the coming years, under the protection of a husband who had earned his leadership position (ha!...ugh…), and two…that this was his chance to get the Head Secretary out of his way. Tengan would have to go to sign the treaty…it was his chance to work without the man constantly undermining his efforts…

“It was such a balancing act…to learn from Tengan, without being controlled by him. To keep Kaito nearby, without putting him in danger’s way. To grow strong and capable, while literally in the jaws of a beast…it was so hard…any wrong move could have finished me. I felt so alone…”

“…No thanks to you two,” Byakuya said, turning his eyes away from the wasted wealth of the temple. Glaring at the two bodies.

“But I succeeded. I succeeded. No one can say I haven’t earned my place here…I kept the snake you two fed me to to teach me its ways, and I fucking learned…I earned my place…and the next person to take it from me? They’ll earn theirs. No more Leons. No More Sayakas. No more stupid, entitled, idiots in charge. Just people like myself…like Tengan…and if we’re all very lucky, maybe someday, like Kaede… I need to pave the way for truly capable leaders. And I will. I will pull our kingdom out of the ruin you left it in. I will defeat our enemies, our true enemies. And by the time I am done, the next leader will never understand how lucky they are. What a gift I have left them…”

“No thanks to either of you…I don’t regret your deaths,” Byakuya told his parents. Feeling better to have come to this conclusion. Relieved that his resolve hadn’t wavered in the wake of the reality of what he had done, as he feared it might. Instead he felt…lighter. Relieved. Proud, of a job well done, as he stared at the bodies. “They were necessary. More than necessary. The world is better off without you. And I will right everything you made wrong. I will lead our kingdom to prosperity. I will take down the noble class. I will…I will protect our family…even if they won’t always appreciate it…I will do all of this. I am capable. I am worthy.”

The temple was quiet. His rant losing steam. A little…disappointed, that he had never had the opportunity to tell this to them in life. But, well…you couldn’t have everything, he supposed.

…then, in the comfort of the silence. The privacy of the darkness, Byakuya quietly confessed, “I loved you both, once. I wish you had been better.”

And then he left.

-

Shuuichi had been really surprised, the next morning, to feel thin arms curled around his waist, a light scent of lavender and musk filling his nose. He had opened his eyes and saw Kaito, drooling slightly, his eyebrows hard against the lines of his eyes and his body twitching slightly, every now and again, caught in some dream or another. That wasn't an entirely unusual sight to Shuuichi, but not where the source of lavender and warmth was coming from, and he looked down.

Huh. Kokichi was here.

The Dicean Prince’s face was buried into Shuuichi's shirt, his arms wrapped loosely around Shuuichi's waist, and he kept making these small, wet breathing sounds. His hair was more wild than usual, and it looked like a piece of it had gotten caught under Kaito's shoulder. It was kind of funny looking. Carefully, to not disturb either of them, Shuuichi moved to dislodge the piece of hair...

"You up?" Maki asked, still sitting at the desk.

Shuuichi blinked up at her, carefully pulling the piece out before saying quietly, "Yeah...you up all night?"

"I'm gonna get some sleep in a bit. Sit up, check out the proportions on the bed."

Shuuichi raised an eyebrow at this, but carefully dislodged himself from Kokichi's grip, who got a small, annoyed look on his face for a moment before turning around in his sleep, grasping onto Kaito instead, whose own sleeping form immediately moved in around him. Fully sitting up, Shuuichi looked down at the bed and...

Shuuichi, Kokichi, and Kaito were literally on the verge of falling off the side of the bed. Timothy had sprawled out sideways on the other two-thirds of it.

"How..."

"He literally just kept kicking Kaito in his sleep, and every time he did, Kaito would move to the left a little more. It was honestly hard not to laugh and wake you all up," Maki said, a slight smirk on her face. "I think I've made a mistake with his training. I've been focusing on daggers and arm throws, but he has strong, quick legs. Maybe I should teach him more leg-based fighting techniques."

"Heh...maybe..." Shuuichi whispered...before closing his eyes and putting some fingers to his temples.

"The headache back?"

"Yeah...I don't feel sick yet though...but my back hurts...can we talk to Dr. Kimura today? My doses are too low..."

"They're not. They're the same they've always been. Kaito's right, you've just caught a bug or something."

"...can I talk to her anyway?"

"I'll ask Haneda or Hajime to go request her assistance, whoever brings breakfast up to us."

"Kay...can I have my dose now?"

Maki sighed with a shrug. "Wake one of them up and ask for it."

Shuuichi did so, and the day went on from there much like it did yesterday. Shuuichi took his dose and, though he felt the burn run through him, tasted that slightly spoiled wine taste...he didn't feel any better...he opened up his journal and wrote down the new symptoms right up until he needed to vomit again, which he did for another hour.

Kaito, in turn, upon Maki's request, asked Haneda, who brought them breakfast, to ask Dr. Kimura down at the town pharmacy if she'd have time to come up and see Shuuichi. Maki, in turn, honored her promise to get some sleep once everyone was up, but demanded that they wake her if anyone tried to come into the room, or tried to coax any of them out.

Kokichi had things to do today, so when he was ready to leave, Kaito kissed him goodbye and wished him a good day and assured him they were all fine. When he was asked about the meeting with Ikuo again, Kaito assured Kokichi that he meant it, that he was excited to meet him, to just bring him by when he was ready...though maybe wait until this afternoon if you're going to, since Maki will be awake by then?

When Shuuichi finally felt better enough to come out of the bathroom, he and Kaito started to teach Timothy how to play card games. They bet exercises. Kaito found himself doing a lot of situps, and when Maki woke up at noon, Kaito went to take a shower and put himself together. There was no word from Dr. Kimura yet, but that was alright, as Shuuichi eventually just went back to sleep, preferring to be unconscious while he felt that bad, and Maki started to train Timothy, showing him some kicks.

As it got closer to three in the afternoon, there was a knock at the door, and Maki went to go answer it.

Kokichi had been worried, when he finally got to see Shuuichi. They had...unfortunately expected nausea, but he just... He had to remind himself that this was for Shuuichi's own good. Dr. Kimura would make sure that he was healthy, and he would be off the spores, and he wouldn't have any more in his body, and then...he'd be okay...

He'd still been reluctant to leave while Shuuichi was still vomiting into the toilet, though. Maki and Kaito had to insist on it.

And Kokichi had left, just...determined to uplift his friends' reputations. Socializing wasn't as important as Shuuichi was...but making sure none of the fighters would want to hurt his friends was.

-

There hadn't been another attack on her livelihood the day before, thankfully, but Seiko was busy all the same. Back in her lab, she could continue her work on the anti-fungal medicine, even if it seemed to be working for Shuuichi as it was. Headache, light sensitivity, nausea...Seiko looked through her notes from that morning Shuuichi had tried to go off his doses himself, determined to address his symptoms.

And, it seemed her frantic work schedule was working to her benefit. It had taken some hours still after she'd gotten the message that Shuuichi requested a home call, but...she needed to finish the latest iteration.

And...

...she, like every other Dicean, owed a lot to the volunteers who fought against Luminary. But...there were a good chunk of them who had worked in the castle when she last did and...

...her patient needed her.

Clutching her bag tightly, Seiko was still relieved when Maki opened the door. "Maki... My apologies for a less than prompt response... May I see him?"

"It's fine...we don't have a lot to be concerned about, right? This is...normal?" Maki said to her quietly at the door, looking over her shoulder to see if anyone was walking up. "He's...not feeling well, but that was expected?"

Seiko nodded minutely. "Addiction isn't just a mental thing. It makes your body dependent on whatever the substance is. Getting off it is...well, it makes your body think you're dying. This isn't unexpected, however unpleasant it is."

Hopefully she'd be able to ease some of his suffering, though.

Shuuichi had woken up about forty minutes ago, and had immediately gone to hide in the bathroom in the tub. Fully dressed, the tub empty. Just taking comfort in the cool ceramic. His body hurt, but it hurt a little less against the cold. Kaito was rubbing his hands through his hair, which kept going back and forth between being incredibly soothing and frustratingly annoying. He bore through it when it felt bad, because it was really nice when it felt good.

...right now it kinda felt bad, and Shuuichi stared into the ceramic, curled around himself, shoulders hiking up. Trying not to show Kaito how much his touch was frustrating him.

His head hurt so much.

And he could see the glare of the light against the reflection of the tub. Every time Shuuichi glanced at it, he felt a wave of nausea and instinctively closed his eyes slightly.

"...Kaito...could we turn off the light?"

"I already did, man." More gentle hands through his hair. Shuuichi flinched when the fingers got too close to his temple. "You're seeing light from the room."

"Oh...could you close the door?"

"Prince Kaito, Mr. Saihara! Dr. Kimura is here!" Timothy said from the room, watching Maki and the doctor come in.

"Hey, Seiko! We're in the bathroom!" Kaito called out, grinning apologetically down at Shuuichi, who groaned at the noise.

There was a sympathetic look in Seiko's eyes when she saw her patient, curled up and miserable in the bathtub. Hopefully she could give him something that would have him feeling at least a little better soon.

"Hello, Kaito, Shuuichi," she greeted, smoothing down her skirt before kneeling on the bathroom tile, observing Shuuichi. Pale, a little clammy...his irises were a little too small for how dim it was in the bathroom, so...probably from pain. "I-I've been able to work on your medicine, so I think this version should lessen the side effects...um..."

She spoke softly, trying not to provoke what was likely a headache. "Is there anything else you're feeling that's new? I based my work on this off our previous conversations so...if there's anything else, it likely won't address it."

Shuuichi looked up at the doctor warily, feeling a spark of resentment at the sight of her. He knew that wasn't fair, but...it was still there.

"...I feel sore. Like I was working out a lot yesterday. And my back hurts...I think I'm gaining more weight," Shuuichi said, a touch embarrassed at saying so.

"Well, shoot, man, that could be all the sweets you've been eating lately...you've been insatiable lately, bud."

"Maybe...Dr. Kimura, my doses are too low...I think I'm going through withdrawal..."

Sore, achy body...she could probably give him a painkiller in the meantime, and work that into the next version of the medicine. A sweet tooth usually wasn't anything dangerous, but if he'd been craving sweets enough for Kaito to comment then...maybe a magnesium deficiency...more likely lowered blood sugar. Shuuichi had explained that he felt like the spores gave him a burst of energy. Maybe this was his body finally coming down from the crash.

Nodding, Seiko took out a bottle from her bag and offered it to Kaito and Shuuichi to look at. "I can give you a painkiller for now, and I'll give Maki y-your new medicine to take tonight. I-if you're concerned about your weight, but you are craving sweets...see if fruit and other foods with natural sugars do the trick for you. Personally...I think your blood sugar may be low, but I'll check your insulin levels on your next blood test."

Sighing softly, Seiko gave Shuuichi an apologetic look. "That's the point of giving you lower doses, Shuuichi. So we can ease you of the sp-spores and mitigate the worst of your withdrawals. If you don't feel any better tomorrow, I'll rework your doses, alright? Some of this is unavoidable...but if you're feeling so horrible you can't move, then that's a sign we have to try something else."

"...I know things are...difficult in the castle right now...but when you feel safe leaving, I'd like to do a fuller check up on you i-in my office in the med bay. If that's alright?"

Kaito grinned at Seiko, sitting on the closed toilet lid as she inspected his boyfriend. "We're planning to bunker down just one more day, but...maybe if Kokichi says it's all good, we can come out tomorrow afternoon? That's when most of the fighters are moving on, I think, which is basically what we're waiting for. For there to be..." Kaito waved his hand vaguely, "...less of them. So we could do it then!"

"You'll...really up my dose?" Shuuichi asked. Still giving Seiko a long, wary look. "Because I really don't feel good...I need it..."

"Hey, handsome, come on. Seiko's got your best interest at heart! Just trust in her, alright?" Kaito said, giving Shuuichi a thumbs up...before looking at Seiko, some of that optimism becoming strained as he said, "But it is worse today than it was yesterday, and yesterday was worse than the day before. The new medicine will help? Can he take it now?"

"I see... I'll be by to check in tomorrow regardless, then." Most likely none of the veterans would be idling in the medical bay anyway, but to get there from the residential wing... It wasn't the same as what the Luminaries would face, but Seiko could understand their caution.

Getting up to pour Shuuichi a glass of water to take the painkiller, Seiko sighed, thinking for a moment. If he still felt like he couldn't do anything but curl up in a bathtub, then he really couldn't safely be completely off the spores yet. She could make up some of the stickers with extremely low doses, just to help his body adjust. He didn't need it, but...it would make living more tolerable.

Handing over the water and painkiller to Shuuichi, Seiko nodded slowly. "Take this and...see how you feel in an hour. If your body and headache are still hurting to this extent, you can take the new medicine. Hopefully it shouldn't make you as drowsy as the last batch but...we'll see."

She turned to Kaito, knowing him enough by now to know that she didn't have to stress any importance. The prince would do anything for his friends. "Keep an eye on him, write down anything new. You know where to find me if anything happens."

"Right! Perfect!" Kaito said, watching Shuuichi sit up and, with shaking hands, take the water and drink down what Seiko had given him. Hopefully that would help...Kaito wasn't exactly thrilled to see him going through this. He was trying his best to stay upbeat, but between the fighters being back, Kokichi being gone all day, and Shuuichi getting progressively worse...it was kind of a stressful few days. "I got my eye on him, Maki's got hers, we will definitely catch anything new. We've totally got him, and we will get word to you if anything comes up!"

Shuuichi drank down the water, and...decided not to say anything. It's not like he could do anything anyway. He needed more of a dose...needed it. But...Maki never took her eyes off him. And Kaito and Kokichi wouldn't give him more under the table. He had begged Kaito for more yesterday, and Kaito hadn't so much as budged. It was hard to not...try harder. Be more aggressive. Especially against Kaito. If anyone would break and give him more...

He didn't want to hurt anyone. He just wanted to feel better.

"Thanks so much for stopping by Seiko. Shuuichi, you want to come out of the tub? Maybe take a nap in the bed while those pills do what they need to?" Kaito prompted, hoping to coax Shuuichi out of his fetal position, a touch of concern on his face as Shuuichi shook his head, lying back down in the tub.

"No. I like it here...could you close the door on your way out? It's too bright. I just wanna sleep here a bit..." Shuuichi said, closing his eyes in the tub.

"Of course," Seiko murmured. Her pharmacy was her business, but helping people took priority. These people were her patients, and for Shuuichi in particular...she felt responsible for helping him get back on his feet. She had tried to warn him of the dangers of Despair Spores even before she knew he'd been taking them, but...she had missed early signs and had kept it a secret and...she really just wanted to see him get better.

Getting up, she murmured a soft goodbye before heading over to Maki, taking Shuuichi's new medicine out of her bag. "I don't know how much of that you caught, but if he's still feeling bad in an hour--or...when he wakes up, I suppose...--he can have this early. M-may I have what's left of the last batch?"

Maki nodded, glancing at Kaito as he came out of the bathroom. "No, go back in there. We can't leave him alone."

"He's just sleeping in the tub for a little while, Maki-roll. And he doesn't want the door open."

"Then sit in the dark with him. We can't leave him alone," she ordered, going to collect the medicine from her desk and handing the bag to the healer.

"How come we can't leave Mr. Saihara alone?" Timothy asked from the window, kicking his feet against his mentor’s weapons crate. He missed Chase. Miss Kawai was watching her since Timothy couldn't take her on walks right now. He missed her, plus, he was bored out of his mind.

"Because he's not feeling well, and it's the kind of not feeling well that may result in him making bad choices. Go back in there, or I will," Maki told Kaito, eyes narrowing.

Kaito rubbed the back of his neck, sighing in frustration, before saying, "Look, I'll crack the door open, okay? We'll hear something if he does anything alarming. Just let him lie down by himself in the dark for a while, okay, I don't think us hovering over him is helping."

Seiko stored the old pills and sighed softly at the exchange. Unfortunately, Maki's caution was needed. People experiencing withdrawals could be dangerously unpredictable, and on top of that, if Shuuichi started vomiting in his sleep, or if he had some sort of reaction that they hadn't seen yet, the best thing would be for someone to be there next to him.

But being next to him could come from another room.

"I-I think I will go get my office set up so...I'll be in the castle still for a while. I-is there anything any of you need? I can pass on the message if so..."

"Do you have any fun drugs?" Timothy asked, suddenly looking at Dr. Kimura curiously.

"I'm sorry, what!? Do you wanna die!?"

"What do you mean, fun drugs? Where did you hear something like that?"

"We used to have to take piss tests all the time for 'fun drugs'. That's what my squadmates called them," Timothy explained, shrugging, not at all disturbed by his mentor’s rage. "I figure, I'm not in the military anymore. No more piss tests. Maybe I could have some fun drugs?"

"If anyone ever tries to hand you anything you think is a 'fun drug'? You point them out to me. Gonna have a conversation with them. I'll get myself a garden." Maki growled. Incredibly offended by the very idea of anyone handing any drugs to her charge.

"...I mean...some of the stuff we take for Atua's rituals can be pretty fun..."

"Kaito!"

Seiko laughed softly, covering her mask with a hand. "I am a pharmacist, but I make medical pharmaceuticals, not recreational ones. Maybe ask your guardian when you're older, Timothy."

"Though," Seiko glanced over at Maki's rage, amused, "while I don't make 'fun drugs' I do know how to analyze urine samples. So I would advise not trying to find some on your own."

Deciding that, if she maybe saw Hajime, she could ask if some fruit could be taken up to the Luminaries for a snack, Seiko said her farewells to them, heading down to the med bay, coincidentally passing Kokichi and...that really was Ikuo Kauzaki, in the flesh, huh. On their way up. Making quick pleasantries, Seiko hurried on her way.

The nanny had been one of the few who knew about her report and had come to talk to her about it, asking if there was anything he could do to help Kokichi, so...she knew he didn't hold anything against her. But she wasn't prepared to face even a friendly ghost of the past right now.

Maybe less prepared than Kaito was. Maybe not.

Asking his father to wait in their bedroom, Kokichi went one door down and knocked softly, figuring that Shuuichi might be asleep again if Seiko had just been by.

Maki tensed at the knock, taking out a dagger from her skirt, interrupted with her arguing with Kaito whether ritual based hallucinogenics were 'fun drugs', and how very much nowhere near ready Timothy was to try them. Kaito's argument was that he wasn't all that much older then Timothy when he first started the rituals, and Maki's argument being 'yes, and now you get straight C's in college!'

Was the knock Seiko coming back for something, or...

Maki relaxed when she opened the door, sighing down at Kokichi, saying over her shoulder, "Kaito, Kokichi's at the door. I'm guessing it's time for your meet and greet."

Kaito's eyes widened, taken away from trying to explain to Timothy what kind of rituals he was talking about, glancing worriedly at the clock. Was it that late already...the day had flown by...

...Okay! Okay! He totally got this! This was...absolutely gonna be fine!

"Tim, do I look alright? I can't go into the bathroom to check my hair," Kaito asked the nine-year-old, trying to smooth his hair down, then realizing that was dumb, and pushing it back up, following the gel he had put in this morning.

"You look dumb."

"Ya know, I'm pretty sure I have the right to ground you. You might want to keep that in mind."

"What are you going to do...lock me in Miss Harukawa's room for three days?"

"...fair point. Coming, Kokichi!"

Kokichi smiled up at Maki. "How are you guys holding up? We ran into Seiko on the stairs, so...well, I'm glad Shuuichi got seen. Not a ton of people are hanging out in the backyard, so maybe tomorrow you guys could get some fresh air, stretch your legs? I'll show ya one of the back-paths so we won't really run into anyone..."

Kokichi broke from his gentle conversation with Maki when Kaito came to the door and he grinned up at his husband, the understanding in his gaze overshadowed by the excitement. "Are you ready?"

"We were talking to Dr. Kimura about doing a more thorough examination of Shuuichi tomorrow afternoon anyway...and it might be good to get outside for a little bit," Maki admitted, thinking of Timothy more than anything. Her charge was starting to get confrontational and restless. Another entire day of this would probably result in a few arguments starting, maybe a full blown tantrum...

Maki's musing were interrupted as Kaito got to the door, clearly nervous and...surprisingly enough, not forcing a grin through it as he gave his husband a worried look. "Do I look okay? Should I put something else on? Do you think I should take the gel out of my hair, I can wash my head under the sink real quick..."

Kokichi's grin softened as he took Kaito's stitched hand in his own, gently squeezing where there weren't any stitches. "Sweets, you look great. You look like you, and that's who I want to introduce to Ikuo. Who he wants to meet. I appreciate that you want to make a good impression on him so much, but Kai-chan can do that easily by just being himself."

Kaito took a breath, giving his husband a nervous grin. "Right...of course! I'll introduce him to Kaito Ouma Momota, Luminary Prince of the Stars! Dicean Prince-Consort of the Cacti-Fields! Even small chil-"

"Maybe don't give him the full title," Maki advised, rolling her eyes.

"And don't bring up Atua!" Timothy said from the window. "Or palm reading! It's weird!"

"Yeah, maybe not palm reading. Also, don't try to fight him. No sparring, no wrestling, not even arm wrestling."

"Should I be writing this down?" Kaito whispered urgently to himself.

"No, because we're teasing you. Just go and meet his mentor already," Maki said, rolling her eyes again and pushing Kaito out of the room, stepping out and looking left and right cautiously to see if anyone was around. "And come right back when you're done. Don't make me come looking for you, or you're getting a matching earring on the other side. And I won't use ice this time," Maki threatened, before closing the door.

Kaito stared at the closed door, feeling suddenly very adrift. "...maybe I should grab a cape...shoot, all my capes are in our room. Do you think we could convince your dad to close his eyes till I grab a cool cape? I really think I'd make a better impression in a cape...are we certain he doesn't want to fight me?"

With a small, fond sigh, Kokichi stood on his toes and wrapped his arms around the lower part of Kaito's chest in a big hug, nuzzling his shoulder. "Kaito Ouma Momota, my Kai-chan, you are my beloved husband, and I want to introduce you and brag about you to the man who raised me, who is genuinely excited to meet you."

"The you that I see every day, that gave his best shot at cooking for one of the first times and brought the result up just to make me laugh. The person that doesn't need a cape to look heroic. That has made me feel confident and beautiful and competent in ways I'd never felt before."

Kokichi pressed a kiss to Kaito's collarbone and gave him a squeeze. "Ikuo will see how amazing you are, because he's generally a good judge of character, and Kai-chan is truly amazing."

"...he'll only fight you if you ask him for one, hun," Kokichi teased after a moment, dropping back down onto his heels.

Kaito gave his husband an adoring look, before laughing self-consciously. "Okay, okay, fine. Let's go...let's go meet bunny man! Oh, shoot, I didn't get the carrot cake prepared...really wanted to do that...ah well. Next time? Next time."

The Luminous Prince took a steadying breath...and grinned brightly. "Okay! Let's do this! Lead the way! He's just chilling out in our room, right? I know the way to our room, it's right there...I'll lead the way! Actually, no, you do it, it'd probably be better if you entered first...lead the way!"

Looping his arm around Kaito's, Kokichi gave his husband another soft look before indeed leading the way one door away, giving it a quick knock--he'd been in the habit these days from being around his Luminaries--before opening the door and coming in.

Inside there was a short, stocky man looking over the wall of letters and drawings, his expression hidden in the shadow of his brimmed hat for a moment before he turned and...

Undeterred by the pissed, stern expression that was Ikuo's default face, Kokichi grinned. "Daddy, this is Kaito, my husband. Kai-chan, this is Ikuo, my nanny-slash-father."

Ikuo looked over the man ushered in by his son, unphased by his height and build. Instead he focused on the cast on one arm and stitches in the other. The nervousness in his eyes. The gentle way he crooked his arm just so so that Kokichi could hold onto him easily.

"Hm."

Oh FUCK how do you meet someone's parents!?

Oh fuck he already didn't look pleased. What was with that expression!? This was bunny man!? Fuck, was he pissed about something? Had he heard about the incident with Budd? Allowing his son to get kidnapped!? When was the last time they'd cleaned the sheets?!?!

Focus! Focus, Kaito! This isn't like the proposal! You get to make up your own speech! That's exciting! Come on! You get one chance to make a good first impression! Just...just do what feels natural! You got this!

Shit, shit, shit shit shit-

"Good afternoon, sir!" Kaito said, throwing on his 'Hero' voice, which he hadn't used properly in ages, and bowing low at the waist, rising back up with a wide, confident grin plastered onto his face, his brow furrowed and a small sheen of sweat on the corner of his brow. "My name is Kaito Ouma Momota!" Don't give the full title, don't give the full title, he should have written this down, "Heir Apparent Kokichi's prince consort!"

"It's truly an honor to meet you! I've heard so much about you! You're practically legendary within these castle walls! Truly awe inspiring!" Kaito praised, before bowing low again. Using the time he was taking to bow to try to figure out what to say next.

What a nervous kid. Kokichi had warned him, but, really, wow. For all their fancy talk and titles, Luminaries in rank really sucked with familiarity. The so-called common folk, oh sure. Some of the most down-to-earth people he'd met, if toiling and down on their luck, if luck was something that the system dictated. But how some of the other volunteers started to mock the script-like speech of some of the Luminary soldiers, the ones in fancier clothing, despite being on a battlefield... Well, it wasn't off base.

Ikuo approached the redhead, his footsteps near-silent despite the fact he was wearing sandals, and he gently tapped the underside of Kaito's shoulder. "I appreciate the gesture, but you don't have to bow to me, kid. You're family."

If Kaito found it in himself to look up, maybe someone so used to reading Maki's stony, murderous deadpan would be able to see the warmth in Ikuo's.

And the amusement.

"Wonder if I should be flattered, with the legendary man himself callin' me th' same."

Kokichi rolled his eyes and started pulling up some of the spare chairs in the room. "Dad, don't tease him when he's this nervous. Kai-chan, really. You don't have to make a speech or anything. Let's just talk."

Kaito straightened up, looking warily between Kokichi and Ikuo, before laughing a tad too loudly, rubbing the back of his neck as he said, "Legendary? Of course! I'm certain rumors of my exploits have gone far and wide by now! ...Um, unless you just mean things 'Kichi's said to you about me? Which are..." Kaito thought about all the possible things the acrobat-nanny could have possibly heard about that didn't come directly from Kokichi, and wow, none of that was good. "...probably more accurate! Definitely don't give hype to the rumors!"

Seeing Kokichi start to pull up the window seat, Kaito quickly moved over to him. "Hey, babe, I got that. Here," he said, picking it up and taking it next to the desk, taking a seat on it cross-legged before giving Kokichi and Ikuo his most charming grin. "Okay! Talking! Absolutely!..."

What were they supposed to talk about?

"...You're an acrobat, right?" Kaito asked, grinning brightly at the old, gruff-looking man. "Have you ever heard of Batman?"

Kichi. Helping him move the seat. Hm.

Ikuo huffed in amusement and definitely not derision. "Used to be. Not much in ta comics, but this one kept me in tune with culture," he jabbed his thumb over at Kokichi, indicating which one was this one. "Though I think he'd a told ya we were rabbits, not birds."

"Kai-chan's been impressed whenever I showed him some of the stuff you taught me how to do," Kokichi chirped. "You could totally be an acrobatic vigilante, for sure. Kai-chan's more of a Superman himself."

Kaito laughed sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck again as he said, "Man, that's super flattering now, but if you had said that to twelve-year-old me? I'd have been so offended. I was a total Green Lantern fanboy as a kid. John Stewart Green Lantern, not Hal. I just...loved how cool he was. All calm and collected and stuff? And I dug the whole mythology behind the ring and the organization and all that stuff...oh, but, that's not what we're talking about!" Kaito realized, frowning as he found himself falling into the familiar pattern of talking stories with Kokichi.

Turning back to Ikuo, he said cheerfully, "But, yeah, that's why I brought Batman up. Because Kokichi puts out these crazy Batman vibes every now and again, and I guess I have you to thank for such a kickass trait in my husband. It's really cool! We were climbing this gate, right? The far wall one? And I'm all concerned because the damn wall is like three times Kokichi's height, how are we going to get him down? And then out of nowhere, he just flips through the air like it's nothing!" Kaito gushed, clutching his hands into fists as he got excited talking about the things he'd seen Kokichi do every now and again, before wincing. Hand, hand, Kaito. Remember your hand!

Kaito massaged the area around the stitches gently for a moment before finishing brightly at the mentor. "So, yeah! Thanks for teaching him how to do that! It's really amazing!"

Kokichi smiled fondly. Power through hope, huh? Really did fit Kaito too. Hm...his husband had mentioned that his birthday was coming up... He'd have to find out when. Maybe commission someone to make him a Green Lantern ring. He had Kaito's ring measurements from their wedding already.

Ikuo huffed a deep laugh, sending a fond look to his son. "Bunny really took to that kind 'a stuff like a fish to water, huh. I'm glad that it came in handy."

"While we're on the subject of thankin' people though..." Ikuo turned back to Kaito, a gentler, grateful expression on his face that managed to show through a little. Removing his cap, Ikuo bowed his head slightly to his sort of son-in-law. "Bunny's been tellin' me a lotta stories about you. And though his life is his own...as someone who cares about Kokichi--thank you for making my son happy, Kaito. I hope you'll continue the bang-up job you're doin'."

Kaito felt himself twitch. 

He...didn't exactly feel like he was doing a 'bang-up job' lately...

But he was trying! Genuinely!  So he blushed lightly at the compliment and went to rub his forehead as a sort of excuse to half-cover his eyes as he said, "Th-thanks! I mean...uh...I mean, if Kokichi's happy...that's definitely the goal! That's really all I want..."

"Um, but like you said, his life is his own, and he's really made it easy, ya know?" Kaito insisted, wanting to bolster Kokichi in the eyes of his long distanced father-figure. So, determined to play him up, Kaito said, "To love him, I mean! I'm sure you already know all this, but Kokichi's crazy intelligent! And he's really put together under stressful situations; serious leadership characteristics! My and my escorts’ lives have been...kind of a whirlwind? Since we got here? Most of that is our own fault, but...Kokichi has just been a rock, honestly. Seriously, he's incredibly mature and responsible; we'd have been totally lost without him since we got here!"

Kaito paused, thinking about his wording, before laughing awkwardly, grinning bashfully at Ikuo, "Sorry, I...tend to rant, and not all of my rants get to the end result I started with. Just a bad habit of mine. But, you raised an amazing kid, is essentially what I'm saying!"

Kokichi had been putting in the work to uplift the Luminaries’ reputation to anyone he spoke with, but he had been honest with his dad. Ikuo knew that along with freedom and happiness, Kaito and his friends had caused Kokichi a lot of worry and fear. But Kokichi clearly cared for them, and the happiness far outweighed everything else. Love tended to be like that. 

And it clearly went both ways. 

Smirking at his son, Ikuo’s eyes gleamed with pride even after he put his cap back on. “A lovable one, our leader is. Using your own words, Bunny made it easy. I just got the chance to nourish what was already there. And you’ve grown into an incredible man on your own, kit.”

Kokichi flushed at the praise hitting him from both his husband and his dad, looking to the side and rubbing a cheek though there was a pleased smile on his face. “Geez, I didn’t bring you two together just to compliment me.”

“Ain’t like you to fish for compliments anyway,” Ikuo chuckled, shaking his head a little before refocusing on Kaito. “And it ain’t a bad thing to let your words get away from ya. People appreciate a sincere way of speakin’--even if these prose-y fools mean every fancy word they say.” He jerked his thumb Kokichi’s way again, unfazed by the prince sticking his tongue out at him. 

“Prose-y...yeah, I guess that’s a way to describe it,” Kaito realized, having had a hard time kind of pinning down the flowery way the Ouma clan talked. “It’s funny. We speak the same language, but there really has been a sort of...language barrier? Just in the way of, like, speech patterns and slang, I guess. Words meaning entirely different things from one kingdom to another...that sort of thing. And everyone here is just a little different? Which makes sense, you all probably grew up in different areas before coming to the capital, but even considering that, I have a...sometimes a hard time translating…’Dicean speak’? I guess is one way of wording it.” Kaito admitted, shrugging slightly, “Though maybe that’s just a sign of the kind of people that make up the castle staff more than of Dicea itself...some people just straight up speak in code here, too. I can never make heads or tales of what Katsuki, uh, the guardsman? No idea what she’s saying most of the time. And Shuuichi said he had actually tried to decipher what that one girl was saying the one time he heard her talk...oh!”

Kaito looked over at his husband. “That reminds me. I need to talk to that, um, that pink-haired girl I tried to run through with a sword? Waku? Either I need to or you need to talk to her. I’m an idiot, I totally forgot this happened till just now, but, like, the day before yesterday? I think someone was harassing her. She seemed really scared about something and just bolted when I asked her what was up. I couldn’t find whoever did it, but yeah... we probably shouldn’t leave that alone for too long.”

Turning his attention back to Ikuo, he continued, “So, yeah...what was I saying...yeah! And you have a very thick...well, back at home, that would have definitely been a sort of rural accent. Farmlands and such. I don’t know if that translates here, though. Where did you grow up?”

Ikuo nodded, crossing his arms as the shadow from his hat fell over his face. “Some people make a hobby outta speech. Some of it’s stuck around. An’ language’s made to reflect the culture around it. Hideki could prolly explain more. Dicea an’ Luminary have different cultures? Different language.”

“Always got odd ducks too,” he chuckled, thinking of Katsuki. He had only seen her for a moment when she popped up to welcome him back before disappearing off to who knew where, but he was glad to see she was doing alright. 

She was one of the ones he’d been the most suspicious of for a long time. Waku had just been a scared kid, Fuyuji had been straight up lied to and had refused to lay a hand on Kokichi once he saw that the so-called tyrannical usurper was an eight-year-old, but Katsuki had been...blank. Unreadable and confused but...she had proven that her loyalty to Kokichi was unshakable. And it was something she chose to do, rather than something someone had told her to do. 

Kokichi frowned in worry when Kaito told him that something was up with Waku, knowing better than most that her fear was dangerous. But if she had just run away, then… “I’ll try to track her down,” Kokichi promised, tapping on his lips for a moment before looking back up to the conversation between his dad and husband that seemed to be going...really well?!? Hell yeah!

While Ikuo’s expression had darkened at the thought of Waku being in trouble, he shrugged a bit at Kaito’s question. “Rural’s close enough. Grew up in a village out east. Some folks had farms, but not all of us. Took up flippin’ an’ clamberin’ to pass the time, was one ‘a the few that stuck with it. Got ta travel around a lot with the Bunny Men, though.”

“Ah, right...the bunny men…” Kaito said, raising an eyebrow as he looked over at the...well, he seemed friendly enough. And he raised a kid like Kokichi, so honestly, how rough could he really be? But physically he was just...kind of intimidating? Kaito wasn’t sure how he would have felt around him as a child himself. Intimidated, probably. Or…

“Oh! You know what your dad reminds me of? I bet anything this is the case!” Kaito suddenly exclaimed excitedly to Kokichi, closing his hand into a fist and popping it down onto his open palm (OW! Hand, Kaito! Remember your hand!). “Maki! You know kids’ weird fascination with her whole, like… ‘I could kill you any moment’ vibe? I bet you anything Ikuo here gets the same thing. Am I right?” Kaito asked, looking between the two earnestly.

Kokichi burst into giggles as Ikuo just looked confused. “Hun, I’ve thought that so many times you have no idea. Maki-chan reminds me so much of Ikuo.”

For his father’s benefit, Kokichi grinned as he tried to explain. “She was an assassin in Luminary, so she’s suuuuper physically adept--even just running, she looks like she’s flying! And, like Kai-chan said, kids really can’t get enough of her, and even though she’s not always thrilled with the attention, she’s always nice to them, in her own way that just makes her cooler in their eyes. And I told you about Timothy--I’ve been around lessons ‘n stuff with them, and she teaches him a lot how like you taught me.”

Ikuo’s expression softened a little at the soft point though he had been listening with consideration the whole time. “Gotcha. Don’t think that’s what kids got from me, back in the day--mostly just liked the performances, if I had ta guess. Though not a lot shied away from learnin’ from me, so maybe.”

Turning more to Kaito again, Ikuo tipped his hat just a bit. “I know you folks are layin’ low. Respect that. But you can let you an’ yours know I ain’t got any hatred for you all just ‘cause ‘a your birthplace. Bunny loves you all a lot, and I respect his opinion more than the one ‘a Luminary’s reputation. If someone’s causing you trouble, pass on the word you got an ally in me.”

“That said, I am lookin’ forward ta meetin’ the rest of the folks Kokichi’s speakin’ so fondly of.” He sent a small grin to his son, one that Kokichi returned. 

“Thanks, I...I really appreciate that...but, and man I hope I’m not about to change your mind on us, but...we’re not just hiding because we’re ‘Luminaries’,” Kaito confessed, staring down at his knees with a tense, worried expression. “We’re...we’re not just random citizens, ya know? None of us. I’m the second Momota son. That...I don’t know what that means to Dicean soldiers, but that means a lot to people back home. My family has a sort of...mixed reputation at home,” Kaito said, wincing a little.

“Timothy, meanwhile, was a drummer in some of the most...look, maybe I actually shouldn’t say this stuff. Maybe it’s better if...people just might not know. That could end up being all the difference, really,” Kaito rationalized to himself, gently cracking the joints in his knuckles. “Or...or maybe not? I don’t...Diceans are really hard to predict. I don’t...I don’t really understand how you all think. It’s weird here...I’m just trying to protect my people. I don’t know if there’s anything to even protect them from? But...I don’t know. I can’t predict this place.”

Kaito frowned, a little lost in his head for a moment...before laughing sheepishly. “Geez, I’m sorry! That’s not what we were talking about! What were we talking about...um, yeah! I’m certain Shuuichi and Maki would love to meet you! Especially, um…” Kaito was about to say Shuuichi, but...his boyfriend was kind of going through a thing right now? Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to take their kiiiiind-of?? Secret boyfriend during the middle of the very beginning of his withdrawal period and shove him at Kokichi’s father-figure like ‘here! This is Kokichi’s boyfriend! Don’t mind the mood swings and the vomit, he’s a drug addict coming down from a perpetual high he’s been on for literally over a month.’

Yeah. Not the best first impression.

“...especially Maki! She’s, like Kokichi said, a very physical person, and I’m sure you and her would have a lot to talk about. Knowing her, she’d want to learn some techniques from you at some point. Kokichi just offered her a position on his personal security team! So that’s really exciting! I think she’s gonna take it...honestly, I have no idea why she hasn’t taken it already. It’s an amazing opportunity, ‘Kichi,” Kaito said, giving his husband a somewhat baffled shrug. “I’m really excited to see what she does with it!”

“We know who ya are, Kaito. Kinda hard not to, when your marriage was part of the reason all of us are comin’ home.” There had been a lot of confusion and anger when the news got to the frontlines that their prince was being married to the second Momota son as part of the treaty. But Ikuo trusted Kokichi more than the Momotas’ reputations, and he trusted Kokichi more than Aiichi. If Kokichi was willing to vouch for Kaito and the others to everyone as he had been doing, then they were people better than the circumstances of their home. That was all Ikuo needed. 

“Your family ain’t beloved by us,” Ikuo bluntly admitted, “But family ain’t nothin’ when it comes to personal reputation. You’ll stand on your own merits. Now, people might judge based on your lack of interference for the things your folks did, but that’s up to how you’ll defend and justify yourself. And while it’s a hard concept for a lotta us, just seein’ the other side an’ listenin’ to the stories of AWOL Luminaries...it’s harder for you folks to break rank. Some might be more sympathetic, others won’t care, but ya can’t please everyone.”

“But I don’t think anyone would fight you guys because of that?” Kokichi piped up. “Just...they won’t like you very much. You’ll still be safe.”

Recognizing what his son was trying to reassure, Ikuo nodded. “We ain’t in a war anymore. Not worth gettin’ into a meaningless fight over personal morals. An’ for Tim? I only know ‘cause Bunny told me, but even more than not lettin’ personal grudges get physical, no one’s gonna hurt a kid. Even tried to avoid ‘em on the battlefield. Ain’t right for a kid to fight for their life.”

Kaito listened to all this politely. It sounded insane to him, but...Dicea as a whole was kind of insane. Kaito was slowly but surely learning not to argue with it all. It just...didn’t seem...possible? To think the ways Diceans did. To just...what was the word? Fuck, he knew he had heard it over and over again at University...compartmentalize! That was the word. Was that the word? Separating the...the war from your own opinions...your own opinions from reality, and reality from action...or maybe that was why Diceans were apparently universally capable of not holding a grudge or acting on their own sense of morals? Because they specifically didn’t compartmentalize? They just sincerely believed in the philosophies of their kingdom, to the point where...it was easy to seperate yourself from your emotions? Maybe?

Maybe it was something he’d learn how to do in anger management. 

God knows he had no idea how to do it now, and he...honestly still couldn’t fathom how other people did it. Still didn’t trust it in any meaningful way. It sounded inhuman.

But he...trusted Kokichi. So he kept quiet and nodded along and just kept his concerns to himself. Maki was looking after them anyway. It was fine. 

When he realized they were done talking, Kaito grinned and nodded. “Good! Great! That’s a relief. Anyway, we’re just gonna give it one more day, just in case. For the fighters who are moving on to leave, ya know? Less people around, the less chances for any sort of...accident or misunderstanding. I think. That’s been our rationalization for this anyway,” Kaito admitted, laughing awkwardly as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“Oh! Do you like carrot cake? Just...just asking. Totally random question,” Kaito said, grinning brightly at Ikuo.

(...Awol Luminaries?)

Kokichi silently sighed, starting to recognize that look on Kaito’s face. That he didn’t actually believe what he was hearing but was keeping that to himself. 

He understood fighting for what you believed in. That was the whole reason people volunteered for the war. But...trying to kill someone just because you didn’t like them? It was...not something he saw all that often, and if he did, it was usually because there was an underlying problem. And, personally, it was something he couldn’t understand. For one, it was way more effort to kill someone and deal with those consequences than it was to just leave them alone, and...why should someone have to suffer for your personal feelings? That made no sense. 

Working to make the people you did like happier seemed like a far greater use of time and energy. 

Ikuo nodded in understanding, figuring that either way it was probably a good call for the Luminaries to keep on the down-low for another day, before his expression went stony. “...did you actually want ta get in a fight, kid?”

Something guilty flashed across Kaito’s face, and he quickly looked at Kokichi before looking down at his hands.

“No…’course not…” he lied.

It’d...it’d be nice to have someone to fight. Some enemy to work against. Fighting was how he had kept himself and his friends safe at home. Well, fighting and the Momota influence. But that influence only extended to after the fighting was done. Too many people, who believed in the same code of honor Kaito did, convinced themselves that every consequence would be worth it if they could just put that bastard in the ground...and that bastard extended to Maki. Or Shuuichi. Or, sometimes, Kaito himself. Just...whoever was the ‘culprit’ for that person’s pain.

Sometimes? Often, even...those people had extremely valid reasons to target them. Kaito would have done the exact same thing in their situation. It would have been immoral for them not to at least try to get vengeance for whichever loved one that he and his friends and his family had hurt.

Just as it would have been immoral for Kaito not to defend his friends from the one pursuing vengeance.

It was a violent, vicious cycle that muddied the waters between who was a victim and who was an attacker so much that the terms almost became meaningless in the wake of the reality of grudges upon vengeance upon righteous crusades against each other…

...but at least Kaito had understood it.

And once it was done, it was done. People either died, or were terrorized away. You didn’t have to be afraid of them anymore. They were gone. Defeated.

Kaito...wasn’t allowed to defeat anyone here. People who hated him acted like everyone else, and he didn’t know who his actual enemies were. He felt kind of...lost and exposed and helpless here...he missed knowing a battle was coming and fighting it for reasons that were good enough for him, against people whose reasonings he entirely understood.

Here? 

He felt alien and stupid and...monstrous…

...and the fact that the castle was filled with people who he would have absolutely battled back at home? Who he would have understood and waited to be attacked by, or attacked himself? Knowing at some point that the attack would be done and the argument settled? Nothing was ever settled here. People just...stayed and continued. It made him paranoid and afraid all the time. They were everywhere, and he had no idea what they were thinking.

...he missed home....

But those were absolutely bad thoughts. He couldn’t even think like that around Kokichi. Kokichi would hear them. He didn’t dare think like that anywhere other than his shrine, if he could help it. 

So after taking a second to collect himself, he laughed a touch loudly and stressed again, “No! Of course not! It’s a relief that no one wants to fight. Are you kidding, having you seen me? My arms are basically being held together with plywood and string. I’d be demolished if anyone tried anything, ya know? Besides, I’m taking anger management soon! So, ya know...I think my fighting days are pretty well behind me now.” Kaito shrugged, before grinning. “Which is a relief! It keeps getting me in trouble. Absolutely something I need to get under control!”

Ikuo raised an eyebrow, confused by the kid’s...shame? From a joking answer to a joking question. ...maybe he had really underestimated the language gap. 

“...if you’re talkin’ about a “real fight”, then yeah, but folks are always sparrin’ about. For the carrot cake comment, I’d just put ya in a headlock and noogie your fancy hairdo down, kid. Ain’t nothin’ shameful ‘bout tusslin’ about.” He then sighed and sat back a little with a shrug. “That’s an old man’s words though. Look at me, tryin’ ta give advice like I’ve been around--you two know your situation best.”

Kokichi sighed aloud this time and gave his dad a little smile before going over to Kaito’s side and giving him a kiss on the cheek. “Speaking of your arms, though, you can get your arm out of the cast soon, right?”

Kaiot nodded excitedly, looking down at the cast that had been plaguing his life for a month now. “Yeah! Well, maybe? Seiko said she was going to look at it at the end of this week and see if I need more time with it or not. And she said even if she took it off, she wanted me to be careful with it for awhile...but it hasn’t hurt me in a long time, so...maybe I’m as good as healed?” Kaito wondered, flexing his fingers on the cast hand.

“I broke my arm after having an accident with a horse,” Kaito explained to Ikuo, giving a somewhat embarrassed smile. “Literally a couple days after the wedding, if even that? Kokichi’s known me longer with the cast on than without it. Sure you won’t miss me having a hunk of...whatever this stuff is made of latched onto my arm, ‘Kichi? I could keep it on if you’ve just gotten used to the feeling of it holding you,” Kaito teased, grabbing around Kokichi’s waist and pulling him onto his lap, kissing him chastly against his lips...before giving Ikuo a startled look and suddenly pulling his arms back and up in a ‘surrender’ motion. “Sorry, sorry! Maybe a weird thing to do in front of your dad! Bad habit! My bad!”

Kokichi gave his husband an unamused look as a very amused one grew on Ikuo’s face. Kokichi sure had his hands full looking after Kaito, huh. Maybe he really would find work for new staff, if only to streamline his administrative look so he could run around after Kaito and make sure he didn’t get into more trouble. Maybe anger management would help that though. 

Kokichi, by this point, didn’t startle when Kaito pulled him into his lap and kissed back for the short moment, and it was only that that didn’t make Ikuo more worried by the exchange. He just shrugged with a continued amused look. “You’re a married couple, and it’s more Bunny’s business if he doesn’t like it than if I don’t. ‘S nice seein’ y’all all affectionate, though.”

Flushing, Kokichi settled himself in Kaito’s lap and rolled his eyes, rubbing Kaito’s hand as he pouted at his dad. “I know I’m not as nervous, but you don’t have to tease me either.”

Ikuo just chuckled. 

“Who’s nervous? I’m not nervous. I am...well, honestly, I’m looking forward to getting to know ya more over time, Ikuo. Are you planning to stay in the castle? What’s the world look like for you, now that you’re not off digging holes in the border forests?” Kaito asked, feeling far more comfortable with Kokichi in holding distance, locking his arms around his waist and resting his chin atop of Kokichi’s head as he grinned brightly as Ikuo. Far more at ease.

“Hnm. This is my home, an’ I don’t feel the call to travel. Got far more important things here.” Ikuo smiled at his son, Kokichi sending him a soft, fond look back. “An’ part of what I’m doin’ depends on that, looks like. Might go back ta housekeepin’.”

Kokichi’s smile turned sheepish. “I’m still kind of figuring that stuff out… Like, I don’t need someone to wake me up and take me around the castle and stuff. I think Kirumi-chan was right on me hiring an assistant to help me with administrative matters, but since that would be a government job and not a personal one, like what I offered to Maki-chan, I’d actually need to do interviews and reviews with Hideki or Aiichi for that.”

“No offence, kid, but I don’ wanna be your assistant. What you and your old man do is way over my head.”

Kokichi nodded in understanding. “Didn’t think you’d want to. Maybe I could request that you could be put on schedule for helping me out specifically for housekeeping duties? Hajime-chan got promoted to lead, so I could probably ask him about it.”

“I’ll go where I’m needed, Bunny. Ain’t goin’ anywhere else.”

“...Kirumi?” Kaito asked, frowning at the name. Did he...know a Kirumi? “...is that one of the ladies in the kitchen? The angry one who hates me?”

Kokichi shook his head. “No, Kirumi-chan is one of the veterans. She only worked here for about a year before she volunteered to fight, but she’s really nice! Kind of intense, takes work really seriously--she’s a housekeeper--but she’s a kind person. Used to take tea with me sometimes.”

“...and Chako-chan doesn’t hate you,” he corrected as an afterthought. “She’s just...angrily trying to cook food you actually like.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty certain half the kitchen staff wants to pull a Timothy by this point,” Kaito said, rolling his eyes a little. “Is there literally any time in the day they’re not using the kitchen? I always feel like I’m in the way when I go down there. And I still gotta work out how to make pastries. Put some weight on ya,” Kaito teased, poking Kokichi’s side...before saying seriously, “Or at least make you some meals you won’t just pick at. Hardy Luminary meals!”

“And, and when did Hajime get promoted?! That’s awesome! We should treat him to dinner or something and celebrate!” Kaito said, grinning excitedly..

Kokichi shrugged a little. “Like...there’s prep and clean-up going on most of the time, but...like, if you went down a little while after breakfast or lunch? That would probably be the best time to ask someone to teach you. After dinner clean-up, most people go home until the early morning shift, so if you wanted the kitchen to yourself, that would be the best time, but you might not be able to find help.”

Ikuo made a small, approving hum at Kaito’s desire to contribute to Kokichi’s nutrition. He wasn’t surprised with his son’s stature, having known first hand how much trouble Kokichi had with even maintaining any weight, and having gotten Kokichi to admit that he still had the horrible habit of skipping meals when he was stressed or upset. But it was still concerning to feel how tiny and boney his son was, so it was a relief to know that Kaito was concerned with it too. 

“Mhmm! Hajime-chan got promoted a little while before our trip. Since he’s been taking on extra duties and tends to organize other people anyway, so now he can have a greater hand in the schedule and where people are assigned. A lot of the time people just do the duties they like the most, but for everyone who’s open for anything, it helps to have someone be able to figure out exactly where needs someone to work.”

Kokichi grinned back at his husband’s excitement. “But yeah! Treating him to dinner or drinks or something sounds like a nice thing to do. We’ll have to start a plan.”

Maybe it was something to do in Maki’s room, at least. And if Hajime came up to check on them again, then Kaito could ask about it. The trip had...been far out of Hajime’s duties, but...hopefully he would appreciate the gesture, at least.

The three chatted for a little while longer, but it was eventually Kaito who started to look at the clock every few minutes , glancing at the wall that blocked their room from Maki with growing concern. After the third time Kaito ‘casually’ mentioned being concerned about everyone next door, he finally had the courage to admit that he didn’t want to stay and chat too much longer, as he just...found worst case scenarios starting to build in his head.

They were fine. They were all fine...but he’d feel better being back in the room and confirming they were all fine.

Eventually, Kaito bowed again to Ikuo, apologizing for leaving so soon after meeting him. He was certain his friends would be looking forward to meeting him as well, and was looking forward to seeing him around the castle.

Ikuo laughed at Kaito’s formal, somewhat scripted departure. It wasn’t a mean laugh, by any means, but Kaito still felt his skin color at it. Right. Dicean. Not Luminary. Stuff like that wasn’t appreciated here. He really had to get his head around that.

Kokichi walked him back, and before Kaito went in, he gave Kokichi a somewhat earnest look. 

“Did that go alright?”

Kokichi thought about teasing his husband, but...that was a bit mean for this sort of thing. So he grinned up at Kaito and nuzzled his arm. “It was perfect, Kai-chan. I knew Daddy would like you, but it’s nice to be proved right.”

Another nuzzle. As much as Kokichi wanted to follow Kaito in and hang out with his friends, this was time they specifically wanted him to take to spend time with the returned fighters. He would hang out with them all he wanted after they felt more comfortable being out and about. 

“Hey...he was serious about being an ally, you know? If someone’s giving you a hard time, you can expect Ikuo to speak up. I know you guys don’t feel safe here...but there are people in your corner. You can rely on them.” Kokichi tried to impress this upon Kaito with a serious, concerned expression for a beat before leaning up to place a kiss on his arm. 

“Alright, I’ll let ya get back to everyone. I’ll try to come back a little earlier tonight, okay? I love you.”

“I know...I trust you,” Kaito said sincerely, leaning down to kiss Kokichi, lingering for a moment. He really missed spending time with his husband, honestly...it’d be nice when all this was done and he could again. And, he knew this was entirely unnecessary, knew that Kokichi was more than safe, but… “Just be careful, okay? People might not just be mad at us, ya know? I don’t...I don’t want you to have any Timothies of your own, ya know? Just be safe.”

Kissing him again, Kaito headed back to the room, and was relieved to see Shuuichi up and about, looking a little better than how he had left him. Though, what he was doing was… “Really? Showing Timothy the detective bag, handsome?” Kaito observed, glancing over at Maki, who was lounging by the window. She met his gaze with a shrug as he said, “Isn’t some of that stuff dangerous?”

Shuuichi shook his head. “Not unless used in very specific ways. But just having them around or at hand isn’t inherently dangerous. And he was curious what was in it.”

“Some of this is dangerous?” Timothy asked, looking at the strange-looking tools spread around the floor around them with renewed interest. “Which ones?”

“Well, you see this one, with the little springs? If you put this around someone’s hand knuckles and turn this lever-”

“Maybe don’t explain to him how they work. Not yet. Timothy, I don’t want you playing with anything in that bag unless Mr. Saihara is supervising, do you understand?” Maki said sternly, as Kaito went and sat with the two of them, also looking over the content of Shuuichi’s bag with interest.

“Yes, Miss Harukawa...explain it to me later, okay?” Timothy whispered to Shuuichi, who just smirked slightly down at the kid.

“I always thought the weird chemical stuff was the most interesting thing in here. Oh, and the lie detector! We should strap one of us into that!”

“It’s accuracy rate is so laughable that it’s barely good as a paperweight,” Shuuichi chastised, rolling his eyes at the annoying and large lie detector he had to drag everywhere growing up. “But we can if you want. Could be good for a laugh.”

“Glad to see you’re feeling a little better, Shuuichi. Did you end up taking the medicine after all?”

Shuuichi shook his head. “Maki wouldn’t let me. She wants to stick to the schedule. But I had some more painkillers and I feel a lot better anyway.”

“Good, good...hey, where’s your mentor's magnifying glass? The decorative one? You don’t keep that in here?”

“...nah. Bookcase.”

“That thing is pretty cool. You wanna see that, Tim?”

“What’s so cool about a magnifying gla-”

“Let’s try the lie detector. That's more interesting anyway,” Shuuichi interrupted, unpacking the cumbersome machine from the bag.

Maki noted the reluctance to discuss the magnifying glass, but didn’t say anything about it. Just put that little bit of info in her back pocket to consider later, since it didn’t sound like a source of danger yet. She, personally, was considering the job Kokichi had offered...it could make things in the future...more difficult, but…

...she’d be lying if she said she didn’t want it anyway.

-

The next day, Kirumi listened with...some disapproval as a Mr. Hinata gave them the list of the duties that needed to be taken care of that day. It didn’t seem complete to her. Too small. There was certainly far more to do than the bullet list he had written out, and honestly, it was laughable that their workforce wasn’t expected to get more done in a day. 

Tsk. Lazy.

She worked on dusting and mopping in the early, early mornings, before a lot of foot traffic could be inconvenienced by such things. She went through King Aiichi’s office and organized and cleaned it, and because she was there, took a look at some calculations he had left on his desk about some sort of communication project that was on the verge of completion, just setting up the last magnetic poles. Noting two errors in the calculations, she left two notes on his desk with the corrections (along with an apology for finding the corrections, of course), before moving on to some of the other wings, some of which were in a state. Honestly, with how much grime she had found pulling back some of the pipe linings in the basement, you’d think no one had polished them since she had left. Disgraceful.

Also, why was she finding towels and woodchips everywhere?

Noon came and went, and she had every intention of going up to Prince Kokichi’s room and doing a thorough cleaning of his estates as well. Maybe see if she could catch him and perhaps strongly hint to the benefits of her own hiring as a personalized full time housekeeper. She could do wonders with him, she was certain. Certain masters had so much more potential than others…

...certain bosses. Not masters.

Slip of the tongue. 

But either way, his potential was phenomenal. Physically weak, of course, and that was always a burden on anyone, let alone someone in a leadership position. But, it wasn’t the end-all-be-all of a person, and if he were to properly utilize a team of trustworthy people, as she so strongly desired for him, then his physical weaknesses could be more than made up for by the strength of his team. She honestly couldn’t fathom why the king hadn’t prepped him for that mentality yet. It was just good sense for anyone working on any project with real consequence to have a team beneath them, and Dicea was, indeed, a project of consequence. 

And she would, of course, do exceptionally well on that team. 

...the only reason she hadn't gone up yet was…

...my, but they were temptations, weren’t they? 

Every time she thought about those...three up there. Four, really. She got frustrated. Could feel that old...Luminary mindset start to trickle into her psyche. Vengeance. It was stupid and unhealthy and entirely counter-productive. She knew that. Entirely beneath her time and energy.

...but knowing they were around was already frustrating enough. Seeing them would...be more difficult still. 

Best to focus on her work.

And, honestly! It was a good thing she was back! Someone had graffitied one of the back walls! Disgraceful! They had literally carved into the stone. It would take ages to smooth that down. Seriously, the nerve of some people…

Oh, honestly.

Kirumi’s expression went carefully neutral as she turned into the courtyard, intending to go to the tool room and grab some sandpaper. They were...here. All of them. Training in the courtyard. Hadn’t she heard they were all up hiding in the third floor west wing? Couldn’t they have just stayed there…

Maki, in turn, didn’t notice Kirumi watching from the shadows as she turned the daggers in her hands, getting into a sparring position opposite of Shuuichi, who she was sparring next. “Come on, Shuuichi, widen your stance. You know you’re going to need the stability.”

“I...this used to be my wide stance. I still have to get used to my hips…”

“Well, get used to them now! We’re starting! Kaito, you call it!”

“Go!” Kaito shouted, his short sword in his lap with Timothy clapping next to him, a long stick next to him.

That was the compromise Maki had wanted. They could leave a little early, be out in the courtyard to get some air...but they all needed an excuse to have their weapons on them.

So, yes. She was training/sparring all of them in weapons combat.

If anyone tried anything? She wanted them all to be ready.

Kirumi watched, frowning, at...yes, that had to be Maki and Shuuichi. What a strange sight to see. They had both been so young, last time...it was honestly shocking Shuuichi had made it. Guess that’s what having the favoritism of an assassin and a prince got you…

...ugh...Kirumi felt her stomach curl uneasily. Staring at the familiar hair of red. He had been young the last time she had seen him too. He had grown...large. Strong. 

And if even half the rumors were true?

Was still a violent, stupid thug.

What a waste...poor Prince Kokichi…

Honestly, Kokichi had wanted to go and watch the spars, more to hang out with his friends than any interest in combat since Luminary spars were...more like actual fights than his heart liked, but he stayed away. If anyone really did harbour hatred for the Luminaries, they’d be more likely to seek them out if Kokichi was there. Some...misguided idea that Kokichi...needed to be saved from them…

So he kept away. Was doing a sort of semi-tour to other returning members of the castle, showing what was new, introducing them to new staff members, chatting and trying to uplift his Luminaries wherever he could in conversation. 

IQ had been on a similar tour the day before, impressed with the little prince who was not so little anymore (but still kinda little). Kokichi had really grown up and was looking like he was really going to be the sort of leader Dicea could use. Another five hundred years, as the toast went. A leader that could withstand having a Luminary as a husband would definitely be able to stand up to whatever the country would throw at them next. 

Though, according to Kokichi, Kaito Momota wasn’t a burden to bear. And Kokichi was still alive, so IQ would take his word--hey, if that family of monsters happened to have one good apple in the barrel, then that was a good thing! Shame for the kid to know that his family were pieces of shit, though. More than what you’d usually think of your family, anyway.

Ah, and speak of the devil, looked like the lot hiding up in their rooms were taking a field trip to the backyard. 

IQ had no intentions of bothering them, so he just tugged down his hat and hugged the building, heading on his way into the little walkways where the wings looped into themselves, having gone that way in the first place to see how the safety measures were holding up after all these years. 

Shuuichi wasn’t as quick as he used to be, but Maki wasn’t going as hard on him as she might have before, so the spar was pretty evenly matched at first. 

It was partly bias and partly recognizing that, with his new proportions, Shuuichi wasn’t going to be as adept at dodging as he used to be, so for now, Maki was primarily taking the defensive. As Shuuichi lunged and swung, the sound of electricity sparking through the air (a sound which unsettled Kaito a little bit, now), Maki deftly leapt back and back with each swing, ducking when he went high and summersaulting backwards when he went low. 

Kaito grinned, watching this. When you weren’t in the thick of the fight with her? Maki really was beautiful to watch. He had loved her for a lot of reasons, and the way she sparred, the way she fought, was high up there. She had a dangerous elegance to her, and when she really got going, it was like her feet never touched the ground. Like she was flying.

And, though she had had a thousand opportunities now, she wasn’t stabbing his still very sick boyfriend, which Kaito appreciated.

“Come on, Shuuichi! You almost got her that time! You’re getting faster every step, dude! You got this!” Kaito cheered, clapping at every well done dodge on Maki’s part and every near hit on Shuuichi’s, before saying to Timothy next to him, “Man, your mentor is really graceful, Tim. Can you believe you’ll be able to move like that someday? Because that right there is your future ki...kid? You okay? Shit, fuck, what’s wrong?”

“...I wanna go inside,” Timothy murmured. His whole body still. His eyes wide and staring at the grass.

Tears running down his face.

“Shit, are you okay? Are you hurt? What’s happened?”

Timothy looked up at the prince, surprised at his concern...why was he so blurry? Oh…

Blinking furiously, Timothy rubbed his eyes into his shirt, saying angrily, “No, I’m fine. Sh-shut up. I’m fine. I...I just wanna go inside. I don’t want to be out here. I wanna go back to Miss Harukawa’s room.”

“Kid, what’s happening right now? You were looking forward to sparring! You’re going up against me, remember? You get to hit me with a stick and everything-”

“I don’t want to hit you with a stick, I wanna go inside!” Timothy screamed, standing up and, with a huff, bolting towards the nearest door.

“Hey? Hey!? What’s happening!? Kaito, what did you say to him!?” Maki demanded, the spar coming to a stop as she saw her charge make a break for it. “Timothy! Come back here right now! ...God dammit, I’m gonna kill hi-”

“Hey! Let me go get him! I said something that annoyed him, I’ll go apologize and bring him back, okay?” Kaito said nervously, imagining several people’s first introduction to Maki being her chasing after a nine-year-old with a dagger she fully intended to use. “I’ve got this! Co-guardians, right? Let me handle this!”

Maki scowled...before saying, “Don’t fuck this up. Bring him back.”

“I will! I’m on it! We’ll be back before you finish sparring! You’re doing great, Shuuichi! Be right back!” Kaito promised, getting up and following where he had seen Timothy run off too.

She wasn’t hiding, not like the Luminaries were, but Haneda had made herself more scarce the past few days. Crowds just weren’t her thing, and she didn’t really know anyone who was returning. Bringing the Luminaries their meals when it was her turn was probably the most socialization she got. 

Chase didn’t count. Dogs weren’t people, and thank whatever god you believed in for that.

Apparently the Luminaries had decided to get some fresh air today, and of course no one had elected to tell her. Yanno, the person looking after Tim’s dog who would be thrilled to see him. Chase had mostly behaved herself, but she had sniffed and whimpered a few times, trying to disappear off to where she was sure she could smell her master. 

So, hoping it wasn’t completely too late, Haneda was bringing Chase down to the yard, the puppy cheerfully trotting alongside her when--

Haneda quickly stopped to avoid running into Tim, and in just a moment she took in the tear tracks on his face and the screwed up expression. Narrowing her eyes, she stepped back into a small alcove, not the greatest hiding place, but easy to walk past. “You hurt?”

Timothy clenched his fists, glaring up at his ‘nanny’ in fury for a moment...before sniffling slightly, the anger dropping out of him and replaced with a...helpless sort of fear as he whimpered, “N-no.”

Tim almost didn’t notice her until a wet nose bounced happily against his thigh, and Timothy felt a wave of relief at the sight of her, picking her up and whispering, “Hey, girl...hi...I missed you…”

“Timothy!? Timothy, kid, where did you go!? Come on, if I don’t bring you back, Maki’s going to come after both of us, and we do not want that…” Kaito called, walking down the hallway and looking nervously around. Fuck. This was the exact scenario they were trying to avoid. Everyone separated, the smallest of them on his own somewhere...fuck, what if someone cornered him. What if-

“Is everything alright, Prince Kaito?” said an unfamiliar (...was it?) voice behind him. 

Kaito turned around, seeing...a goth maid? The castle was full of housekeepers, but there wasn’t really a unifying wardrobe between them all. You could typically only tell them apart by either remembering who they were, or spotting them cleaning something. But this woman? She radiated housekeeper vibes. He had never seen anyone look more like a housekeeper in his whole life, and that was including the housekeepers at home, who did have uniforms. 

She was also insanely beautiful, and Kaito found his face warming uncomfortably just looking at her as he stammered, “U-uh, no...I mean, yes, but no. I’m just looking for my…” Uhhhhhhhhhh, “...charge. I’m looking for a little boy. Red hair, um, blue eyes. He was upset. Did you...see him run past?”

“A little boy? No, I’m afraid not,” Kirumi said carefully, her eyes not glancing over at the alcove, “But I am happy to assist you in your search. Perhaps he went this way. Shall we look?” Kirumi said, gently gesturing towards the other end of the hall. 

“Um...sure. Why do you think he went-” 

“Come along then.”

Haneda glanced over to where she heard Kaito and that new-old housekeeper, not calling out since Tim wasn’t. They could clear things up later, but whatever was going on with Tim was more important for the time being. 

Crouching down to loom over him less, Haneda let Tim pet Chase in peace for a moment before speaking back up. “...did someone try to hurt you? Even if it’s Kaito, I’ll beat him up if he did anything to you.”

“...and if you don’t wanna talk about it, do you want to go to your room? I’ll walk you there, no questions if that’s what you want.”

Timothy was trying very, very hard to pull himself back under control. He was trying...it probably...it probably wasn’t even him. He was dead. He...he had to be. He had to be. His commander had said a wound like that…

It couldn’t be him. Tim was being a...a big, stupid baby...he was being a child. He wasn’t a child. H-he was an assassin-in-training. An ex-soldier. He wasn’t...he w-wasn’t being strong...he was being stupid…

It had just...it had just scared him a little. He had looked so much like him. 

“Prince Kaito didn’t do anything...other than be dumb,” Timothy muttered, holding Chase close this chest. “...b-but he’s right. If I don’t go back, Miss Harukawa’s gonna be mad at me…”

“I don’t give a flying fuck what Maki wants to do,” Haneda growled, not angry at the killer woman (yet) but more just stubborn and rebellious in the face of Maki’s controlling tendencies. “If she wants to come at you, she’ll have to get through me first. And if Kaito’s dumbness still hurt you, then he needs to get his damn act together and stop being dumb.”

Taking a breath, Haneda tried to be more gentle in her tone. “What do you want, Tim?”

It probably wasn’t a training accident. Maki was more careful than that, and for all the struggles of his training Tim had never seemed anything more than the expected amount of annoyed with being made to run or hold stances or whatever the day’s lessons were. 

And of everyone in the castle, the other Luminaries were probably the people least likely to accidentally say something that would hurt Tim. And...words would provoke anger more than scared tears. 

So it was an outside force, most likely. And that was something she could protect the kid from. 

“...I thought I saw someone,” Timothy said quietly. Holding Chase close to himself. Scratching her ears. “But I didn’t. He’s dead. So I didn’t.”

She hadn’t expected Tim to actually tell her what had happened--or explain it even the little he had--so there was a moment of silence between them as she processed it. ...someone he had fought? If so then...yeah, that fit this type of reaction. 

Haneda found the concept of child soldiers just as abhorrent as any other Dicean, but a kid being involved in serious fights? In knowing the concepts of life and death and struggle intimately? You could make the streets as safe as possible, but there would always be little scrappers looking for trouble. 

Adjusting her crouch, Haneda rested her forearms on her thighs, a dully honest look in her eyes. “So do you wanna go back out there and pretend that nothing happened? Or do you wanna be alone for a little while and sort yourself out? There’s not a wrong answer--just what you want to do. And if Maki and Kaito try to get fussy at you, I’ll handle it.”

“...I want you to bring me back to Miss Harukawa,” Timothy said...finally calming down as he thought about it.

“...and I want no one to tell Prince Kaito I’m back so he runs around the whole castle looking for me like an idiot.” Timothy giggled, a mean grin splitting his face, feeling much better now. He hadn’t seen the man. The man was dead, and that was a long, long time ago. Like...like a whole year ago. A lifetime ago. He wasn’t gonna be a baby about a slight scare. He’d go back to finish his training and… “Prince Kaito will look through every room in this castle before going back to Miss Harukawa without me. It’ll be really, really funny.”

Haneda nodded at Tim’s decision, getting up before she snorted at the little addendum. “A fitting punishment for dumbness, then? Alright, kid, let’s head back to Maki. You guys are sparring, right? Chase has got a lot of love stored up to lavish on you, so she’ll be cheering you on.”

And keeping Tim right by her side, Haneda walked him back outside. Kaito would be fine. This was his home, and even if not everyone really liked his uppity, holier-than-thou, violent tendencies...they’d protect him. That’s what Diceans did.

Maki was going to kill him.

“I just...don’t understand where he could have gone? How did he just vanish!? It’s almost like he’s being trained to be an assassin or something…” Kaito muttered, running his hand through his hair and resting on the back of his neck, rubbing the tension out of the muscles back there as he looked around warily at each Dicean he passed by. Were there more people than usual? Were these faces he was familiar with? He had no idea..he didn’t know the staff that well. Or, really, at all. Fuck, he needed Kokichi…

“Assassin? ...Why do you say that, Prince Kaito?” Kirumi, who had been walking with Kaito throughout the castle, content that she had pulled that boy from potential harm as the prince had run after him, now merely just...curious to see what he’d do. 

“Because...that’s what he is? Or, it’s what Maki-Roll’s training him to be,” Kaito informed her. “...are you new? I don’t know if I’ve seen you around before. And you’re...kind of memorable looking.”

“I will assume that is a compliment, and thank you duly for it. You are aware there are no assassins in Dicea? It’s not an actual career option for him here.”

“...aren’t, like, half the people in this castle failed assassins?”

“No. They’re not,” Kirumi said, stopping and giving the prince a hard look, which caused him to stop and look back at her in concern. “Equating the members of the castle staff with more...questionable history with the royal family to an actual, trained career-assassin is a terrible hyperbole. There are no assassins in Dicea. Your young charge, as you put it, would be better spent doing anything else.”

“Right...thank you for your input, Miss ...?”

“Do you understand why Dicea doesn’t have any assassins?” Kirumi asked, waiting patiently in the hall every time Kaito opened up random room after random room, still determined to find Timothy. 

“No…” Kaito murmured, letting out a frustrated sigh as he said, “But I’m sure you’ll tell me.”

“Am I bothering you, Prince Kaito? I apologize if I’m overstepping my bounds, sire.”

Kaito twitched. There was that word again. ‘Sire’. When had that become a bad word? 

“No...no, of course not. Sorry, if I seem short right now, I’m just...frustrated looking for my kid. Why are there no assassins in Dicea, Miss…?” he left a space again, hoping she’d fill it.

“Because deaths are not required for any sort of political or governmental change or influence. Assassins are not here because they have no market here. It’s why the only short-sighted rebels Dicea’s had in a hundred years had to resort to tricking the mentally disabled and coercing the weak and naive. If you wished your charge to have any real influence or success in this kingdom, you’d be better preparing him for life in administration or politics.”

“Right...Tim in politics...I’ll keep it mind...where is he.”

“And Miss Harukawa?”

“...huh? Maki?” Kaito said, wondering idly how this woman knew Maki’s name, but still heavily distracted by his strong desire to both find and protect Timothy, and also to not get the shit kicked out of him by Maki. “What about her?”

“Is she still an assassin? In a kingdom without assassins? That seems...like a poor choice for the girl. A career with literally no future,” Kirumi said, her hands laced in front of her skirt. “That seems tragic, if the people around her are still identifying her as a career that has no basis in reality here.”

“...Maki identifies herself. She’s her own person. It doesn’t matter what I...what are we talking about?” Kaito asked, brow furrowed, looking back at the mysterious housekeeper, realizing he was becoming a little confused and overwhelmed. Why did he...feel like he was being accused of something? Who was this person? 

“We were discussing the viability of the assassin market in Dicea, Prince Kaito.”

“...yeah...w-well, none of that matters now anyway. She’s not gonna be an assassin by the end of the day. She got a job offer yesterday!” Kaito said, feeling a little better as his chest swelled with pride, grinning shakily. “A...well, a guard I think? The head of Kokichi’s security team! So...so, yeah! Maki’s future is secure! It’s fine. She’s...she’s fine.”

Kaito took a steadying breath, feeling better immediately upon the revelation. Yeah. Maki was getting a new job, and Timothy was going to school soon. Kaito hadn’t sabotaged either of them. They were fine!

“...do you think it’s possible he went all the way up to the fifth floor? Maybe I should just go and tell Maki I can’t find him. She and Shuuichi could help us look...what’s the matter, miss?” Kaito asked, stopping halfway up the stairs, looking back down at the housekeeper, who he just realized wasn’t following him up.

Kirumi was carefully keeping her face neutral, but….

Who? Was going to be the head of his new security team!?

What?!

Finishing up his tour, Kokichi was heading back downstairs, chatting a bit with his father when he perked in surprise, seeing Kaito in the stairwell. With...only Kirumi around. 

That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. Kirumi hadn’t expressed any desire to harm the Luminaries, and she’d already heard his piece out when he defended them. And if Kaito needed help with anything, she was a super reliable person to go to! 

But...even if they had gone to the backyard, the plan was still to lay low today. If Kaito was up here by himself…

“Kai-chan? Kirumi-chan? Is everything okay?”

Ikuo took a look at Kaito’s arms and...he didn’t seem to be in pain or holding himself in any particular way. So he hadn’t hurt himself during a spar, though he’d hope Kaito would go to the med bay in that case--and he knew Kaito definitely knew where it was. 

Then to Miss Toujou...vicious fighter, that one. Had cut through Luminaries with a cold efficiency that could be a little unnerving if not for the fact that it had saved their skin so many times. She was polite, but there was no doubt she held no love for Luminary. Maybe keep an eye out here. 

Kaito felt some of the tension leave his shoulders as he saw his husband and...father-in-law? Kinda? Walk up. “Hey, ‘Kichi. Yeah, everything’s fine, I’m just...Timothy had a tantrum and ran off during sparring. I just haven't been able to find him yet. Miss, um…”

“Oh, my apologies, Prince Kaito. I haven't given you my name yet. It is Kirumi Toujou. A pleasure to meet you. I am a returning housekeeper, and at your service,” Kirumi said, curtseying politely up at him.

“...returning...oh,” Kaito said, suddenly feeling far more tired. “You’re a...front line fighter…”

“I was. Now I am a housekeeper. One must adapt our identities to what suits our new environment, yes? To do anything else would be not only wasteful, but actively destructive to the environment we find ourselves unwilling to adapt to. So I would prefer, if you would kindly keep my concerns in mind, to only be referred to as a housekeeper from now on, so long as that is true, Prince Kaito,” Kirumi gently requested, curtseying again, before turning to Kokichi. “My prince. I and your husband have spent some time looking for a young boy with red hair and blue eyes. As we have not found him anywhere inside, I feel confident that more likely than not, he has simply returned to the courtyard that he left. There is likely no need for any further searching or alarm. A conclusion that I am certain our capable Ikuo here would have come to far faster than ourselves. Ikuo was incredibly competent in the field at keeping spaces secure and keeping track of a high number of people moving in and out of complicated bases of operation. It’s a shame we did not stumble across you earlier, Ikuo,” Kirumi said, sighing softly. “It would have saved us much wasted time.”

“Back at the courtyard...god dammit Tim...he does it to me on purpose, I swear.”

Kokichi frowned slightly as Kaito and Kirumi apparently made introductions. ...kids did have tantrums sometimes. It was just an expression of displeasure that even the youngest child had in their toolbelt before any other problem-solving method became available. And even if he’d never heard of Tim ditching training…

...he’d make himself available to talk, if Timothy wanted to. He had Kaito and Maki and Shuuichi and Haneda, and Hajime now too, but...more people you knew were in your corner was never a bad thing. 

As Kokichi contemplated Tim’s situation, Ikuo thought about the one right in front of them. Kirumi never did anything by half measures, and even if she had assumed that he and Kokichi would’ve seen little Timothy upstairs, they hadn’t been looking for him, and there were plenty of places for someone to avoid being seen up there. If Kirumi was saying that Tim was outside then...that meant she knew he was outside. 

So why was she leading Kaito to believe otherwise until now? Could be petty aggression. Something harmless but frustrating to inflict on Kaito. Certainly not for the express reason of talking Ikuo up. 

Humming lowly, Ikuo adjusted the brim of his cap. “Hm. ‘s long as the kid’s alright. More eyes are better than even a good single pair.” Even if he got the impression that Maki would prefer only specific sets on her child. 

Nodding in agreeance, Kokichi hopped down a few steps to lightly hug Kaito’s arm. “Gotta remember Tim’s tricky, Kai-chan. Would you mind if I tagged along going back down?” He then grinned down at Kirumi. “Thanks for helping look out for Kai-chan and Tim, Kirumi-chan! I’m sure you’ve been briefed, but Tim is another of our newer residents--he’s usually fine going around the castle himself, but well, things are a little busy right now, you know?”

He smiled kindly at the woman, figuring that she’d know why the situation was delicate.

Kirumi slightly bowed her head at Kokichi, closing her eyes, averting her gaze in respect as she said, “Of course. The situation of every Luminary in the castle was widely circulated in rumors before the party ever arrived, and as soon as we arrived Brother Aiichi made certain to not leave anything to uncertainty.”

“Oh. That’s how you knew Maki’s name,” Kaito realized, leaning down to give Kokichi a relieved kiss on the top of his head, which Kirumi watched coolly. “Um...that’s good then. So everyone knows Timothy gets a little...nervous around Diceans?”

“We have been informed that, in fact, all the Luminaries get a little nervous around Diceans. I believe that is why you’ve spent the last three days hiding in Miss Harukuwa’s room?” Kirumi asked, smiling slightly at Kaito, whose face lit up red.

“Uh...yeah.”

“An entirely unnecessary precaution. In fact, a decision that reflects a critical lack of understanding of Dicean culture or its people. People in Dicea don’t bring wars home with them, Prince Kaito. War is a terrible thing. We are all glad to see it behind us. Why would we perpetuate it by aggravating people in their own homes? Tell me, was it Miss Harukawa who insisted on the idea? It seems like an idea that might come more quickly to someone who sees death in everything they do.”

Kaito bit his lip. He didn’t know...why everything this woman said seemed so frustrating to him? Maybe just because she was a Dicean...Kaito knew his own biases had been getting the best of him since he got here. It’s not like she was saying anything wrong. Kokichi and Ikuo had literally made the same argument to him yesterday. Why was he so bothered?

“Um, no, it wasn’t Maki’s idea. It was my idea.”

Kirumi looked genuinely surprised, having been certain before that she had a good read of the situation. Interesting...the second Momota child had assumed danger, not the ex-assassin? Perhaps there was hope for Miss Harukawa after all…

“My apologies. But as I said. An unworthy concern. I do hope the Luminaries finally intend to join us for dinner tonight? I’m certain everyone is ready to get comfortable with the new normal.”

“Uh...” Kaito looked to Kokichi, a tad nervously. “What do you think, ‘Kichi? It’s been basically three days...you think we should come down for dinner?”

Kokichi reached around to rub Kaito’s back a little, smiling sadly at Kirumi. “It might be unnecessary, but if it makes people feel safer and more comfortable, then, well, it’s not hurting anyone. And while I hope no one is going to act on grudges against Luminary leadership, we all have our biases. Maybe it’ll make things easier on everyone to have a little extra time to get used to everything.”

He would’ve once agreed wholeheartedly with Kirumi, but...he couldn’t be sure anymore. At the very least, giving Kokichi time to bolster his Luminaries’ reputations without the Luminaries themselves having to deal with any snubs or aggression couldn’t hurt. 

Shrugging, Kokichi started walking down the stairs, leading their small group. “If you guys feel comfortable enough to, sure. Food is usually the best thing to bond over too. No one is expecting you guys to answer for things you had nothing to do with--we just all live here. I know I’d be happy to eat with you guys again, at least!”

Kaito nodded, taking Kokichi’s hand in his and walking in step with him as he said, “Okay...I’ll fly the idea by Maki then. I mean, we gotta do it eventually, right? Like, uh, Kirumi?” Kaito glanced at the housekeeper to make sure he had that right, who simply nodded at him, “Like Kirumi said, it’s the new normal, right? Probably...probably better to get used to the new normal.”

“Do you require Miss Harukawa’s permission to do so? Is it due to her new status as a head of security? Certainly as a prince-consort, you should be taking the responsibility leading the way to bridging the gap that your idea has created in the first place?” Kirumi pointed out, stepping a few paces behind the princes, as was appropriate. “Forgive me if that seems a bold stance to take from a housekeeper, Prince Kaito. I don’t mean to overstep my bounds.”

“I...no, I...yeah, if Maki doesn’t feel comfortable yet, I’ll come to dinner either way? To...to make it more normal. Yeah. That’s a good idea,” Kaito said, nodding his head, glancing back at Kirumi, who just smiled gently and nodded back, curious that he would do so. She wasn’t anything to him. Not yet. He had no reason to look to her for approval or reassurance.

Perhaps an old muscle memory?

Hm.

Interesting.

Perhaps the Luminaries could be taught to adapt easier than she had previously expected. Sure, the rumors all suggested they couldn’t...but perhaps that was because everyone here had been too soft with them so far. Too lenient to their eccentricities. Dicean gentleness. No form of gentleness usually worked on a Luminary, not one that hadn’t just risked literally everything making their way across the border. These Luminaries were still too enraptured by the false siren calls of their old, damaging philosophies. They simply needed a more firm hand. A more pointed push to turn away from their dangerous, toxic Luminary ways. Then...then they could be truly called Diceans. 

Especially if the prince still viewed her as a parental authority?

Yes...yes. She could work with this.

Kokichi let out a small, sheepish laugh. “Ah, well, Maki-chan didn’t accept the job--said she wanted some time to think about it. And while she has a reason to be concerned, I think having dinner with almost every person in the castle in the room might be one of the safest places any of you could be, Kai-chan. And we could always leave if things get too uncomfortable.”

He was wishing that Kaito and the others would open up to more people over time but...well, that was just it. Over time. They had opened up to Hajime and Seiko and Katsuki and Haneda, and things with Ikuo were looking good, and he was happy to see Kirumi encouraging Kaito to do the same, in her own measured way of speaking, but...he just didn’t want to push too hard too quickly. That would just make his friends feel like they had no safe spaces. 

They had time. The rest of their lives, though Kokichi hoped it wouldn’t take that long. 

Squeezing Kaito’s hand softly, Kokichi grinned up at his husband. “I’m pretty sure I heard people talking about baking sweet rolls for dinner tonight, if that tips the scales for you any?”

“...I mean, that is a very compelling argument…”

-

Maki’s main argument was, ‘can we bring weapons?’

Ummmm...no, Kaito had replied. Giving his sidekick an awkward laugh. Nope. I’m pretty sure literally all the Luminaries bringing weapons to dinner would send off a...less than friendly vibe.

We don’t have to be friendly, Maki had said darkly...but the conversation had ended there. And without any of them actually coming to a verbal agreement about it, they all started prepping for a short and uncomfortable dinner. 

Kaito and Maki had both tried to get Tim to explain himself about running off earlier, and despite Kaito doing his very best to be stern and Maki looking like she might murder him any second if he didn’t speak up, Tim was too embarrassed and stubborn to confess what had freaked him out so badly. Seeing dead people walking around...that was what old losers who should have been retired from the service a thousand years ago did. Jumping at random sounds, seeing people who weren’t there, panicking when nothing was going on. It was pathetic. It wasn’t going to happen to Tim! He was stronger than that!

He waited patiently for the adults to get ready for dinner, and kept close to Maki’s side the whole way down. 

Shuuichi kept close to Kaito and….really just didn’t care about any of this. Not even a little bit. He wasn’t even really hungry. He was tired, and everything ached. He was really looking forward to taking the new medicine tonight. Atua, if you’re up there...please let the new medicine work...god he felt so sick...maybe he’d get lucky and some random Dicean really would pick a fight. Then they could go back upstairs sooner. Ugh…

Would Miss Nao be there?

No, no, right...not coming back to the castle...right.

For the same reason Kokichi wasn’t afraid of the large meal with everyone, Maki was afraid. Or, well, afraid was a strong word. She was looking at this as a clear example of what the future would be like. In a philosophy that Kaito often quoted and Maki more or less agreed with, you didn’t know how a person really felt about you until you were stuck in somewhere alone with them (though, she would add the caveat, that you didn’t know how someone felt until they held any amount of power over you). But, for most Diceans, it didn’t matter how they acted alone with any of them. They’d get incredibly few chances to ever be alone with any of them. 

No. The real danger was seeing how comfortable they all felt being shitty around each other. The front line fighters had all been around each other for years, and the staff as well. If any of them harbored ill will towards the Luminaries, the group as a whole already knew about it...and had already decided if it was something they’d discourage or intervene against. And if they hadn’t? Then the people who wanted to already knew that, and that was as good as giving permission to openly harass them...it didn’t have to be the whole group. Just a few determined people could make their lives miserable for a long, long time…

Kaito, in turn?

He was trying really, really hard not to think about any of that! They were going to dinner! That was all that was happening! There were a bunch of new people at dinner, and all he and his friends had to do was just...not draw attention to themselves! Easy! No sweat! He and Maki and Shuuichi and Timothy were...great...at not drawing attention to themselves! So good! Total naturals! 

At least Kokichi was coming down with them. The exact same kind of person who might openly resent and harass a Luminary, probably would behave themselves around their heir-apparent. Especially with their Dicean Prince openly supporting the four? No one wanted to get on powerful people’s bad sides, especially not powerful people they respected. It was probably all the protection they needed.

...Kaito would keep an eye out.

To his surprise, as Kaito went to go open the dining hall door for his friends, the handle turned right before he could touch it, and to his alarm (alarm?), the housekeeper Kirumi was on the other side. A full dining hall in the middle of passing around dinners behind her as she curtseyed slightly. “Welcome. Don’t mind me, I was just heading out to get some more napkins. Please, let me get the door for you,” she said, holding the door wide for them and bowing her head slightly.

It was probably an entirely sincere gesture, Kirumi literally on her way out as they were on their way in...but Kaito felt his cheeks redden as he swore, he swore, he heard someone say the word ‘sire’ nearby in that mocking tone, and he grabbed the door from her, insisting, “No, it’s alright! I’ve got it! Thanks, Kirumi!”

The housekeeper gave him a curious look, before simply nodding, stepping aside to let the squad through.

It would be a good dinner. Not because everyone suddenly loved the Luminaries, not because he sincerely believed that no one would be hurt and angry enough to not act on it, but because Kokichi was going to make it a good dinner. They would sit together and have nice conversation and he would show everyone that his friends were just people. People that lived in the castle the same as them. 

Kokichi grinned at Kirumi, mimicking her curtsey a little back. “Thanks, Kirumi-chan! And thanks, Kai-chan!”

Smirking a bit at the basket still full of sweet rolls, Kokichi took a deep breath, enjoying the smells of what looked and smelled like spinach and bacon stuffed chicken, roasted cauliflower, baked potatoes, roasted chickpeas and peppers… A usual variety of things so that no one would be stuck trying to find something to eat. 

Leading the group to fill their plates, Kokichi looked up at a call of his name. 

“Hey, Prince K!!” 

He grinned at Lake’s enthusiastically waving hand, waving back at the more reserved greetings Denji and Ikuo gave him as the guardswoman beckoned the group over. Perfect. People his friends already knew (and his father). He knew Kaito and Lake had some stuff between them but...well, Kaito had said he wanted to get past that. And if Lake was inviting them to sit, then she wanted to do the same. 

Turning to his Luminaries as he drizzled his cauliflower in as much sauce as it could hold, he tilted his head. “You guys wanna sit with my dad over there? He’s been wanting to meet all of you, but we don’t have to do anything more than introductions if you don’t wanna…”

Kaito glanced reluctantly at the guardswoman, kind of wanting to refuse...no, that was stupid. She was fine. She...wasn’t responsible for all of Kokichi’s hangups. Hell, Kaito hadn’t even seen any of Kokichi’s usual hangups lately. They were all just...new hangups. From more recent horrifying traumas. Most of which were Kaito’s fault. 

It was harder to be indigent and self important about the negative influence other people have on your loved ones when you kinda suspect you might be one of the worst ones they’ve had. So, ya know...everyone was terrible to his husband! They could all be terrible together! Hurray! 

As Kaito was busy half mocking the Dicean staff and half shitting all over himself, in the half second that Kaito hesitated to answer, Shuuichi just sighed and said, “Yes, please? Can we go sit down? Why are we still standing, there’s plenty of seats there.”

Both Kaito and Maki glanced uneasily at Shuuichi, before glancing at each other. Yeah...maybe don’t let him talk too much…

Kokichi gave Shuuichi a semi-concerned look before nodding, again leading the way over to where the others were seated. He noticed looks from people as they passed and Kokichi made a point to grin and nod back at them, only not waving because his hands were full between his plate and his glass. And...once they were noticed, people smiled back, their gazes drawn more to him than the people he was leading. 

Purposefully leaving a space so Kaito would sit next to Ikuo and Kokichi could place himself more in the mix with his other Luminaries (their circular table wasn’t full, but the part they took up would likely go: Lake, Denji, Ikuo, Kaito, Kokichi, Shuuichi, Tim, Maki), Kokichi gave the Diceans a thankful smile. “Hey, thanks for savin’ us seats! And if it was just luck, I’ll let you take credit anyway.”

Denji rolled their eyes, giving a polite nod to the others as they sat. “Oh thank you for the kindness. No way I would’ve taken credit without your expression permission, Kokichi.”

Ikuo lowered his hat for a moment, his face being cast in darkness. Denji had been hired just months before he’d left, but just from their short conversation that evening it felt like he could’ve easily known the stylist for years, the core of their personality not terribly different from when they were thirteen. It did help that they had plenty of stories to share of Kokichi in his teen years. 

“Bunny. Kaito. Evenin’.”

“Hi Ikuo!” Kokichi beamed, figuring to get introductions out of the way. “These are the rest of my friends--Shuuichi, Timothy, and Maki. Guys, this is Ikuo, my nanny, or mentor.”

Kaito sat down in the space offered by Kokichi, giving Ikuo a welcome grin and Lake a...well, he did his best. “Hey! How’s everyone doing? I feel like I haven't seen most of you in a week!”

Shuuichi picked at his food, just thoroughly disinterested in all of this. He glanced up at Denji and raised an eyebrow. “...have I ever met you? I don’t recognize you at all. I always remember everyone. Do you not have any photos in any files in this castle? There’s always photos in files...why? What’s the point of that? To make it easier on people like me who read them without context?”

Maki gave Shuuichi a Look, before taking the brim of his cap and lowering it over his face. “Alright, it’s quiet time over here. Eat your food, Shuuichi.”

Timothy was already eating his sweet rolls, and gave a wary look at Ikuo...but found himself asking, weirdly intrigued, “You’re a mentor? What’d you mentor Prince Kokichi in, Mr. Ikuo? Nannying?”

Lake could understand Kaito’s uneasiness (and in some part of herself, could empathize with the guilt and self-directed frustration that she saw in him), but...like, dude? You’re taking everything way too far. Maybe with the new freedoms Aiichi had lifted upon Kokichi, she’d never have to knock her little brother/nephew out ever again. And Lake would be thrilled with that! But...it was like the guy had never done something he hated for the greater good before. 

Denji raised an eyebrow right back at Shuuichi, huffing a little in amused confusion. “We’ve never met officially, no. Kind of hard to do when you guys barely talk to anyone.” Speaking more to Maki, they gave the gorgeous woman a wink. “But I’m Aiichi and Kokichi’s official stylist. As you can see, Kokichi likes looking like he woke up in a rainbow dumpster every morning, so I have a lot of freetime. If you ever want a makeover, I’d be more than glad. And I’m more than used to making a face prettier than its owner’s mouth.”

Ikuo shook his head at the young boy across the table, putting a face to the name and story he’d been given. “Acrobatics, ‘n prolly various life skills, from how Bunny explained what a mentor means ta you lot. Lock-pickin’. How ta eat a balanced diet, even if he barely uses that one.” He shot what looked like a withering dirty look over to Kokichi, who just wiggled his eyebrows as he pointedly ate a mouthful of vegetables. 

“Prolly some overlap with what yer learnin’ from Maki,” Ikuo mentioned, giving a tip of his hat to the mentor. “Kokichi’d gushed that you’re gettin’ good at sneakin’ up on people. Handy skill.”

“Yep! I’m very good at sneaking up on people,” Timothy bragged, puffing his chest out a bit. “I’m fast, too. My own nanny hates it. It’s kinda funny.”

Without looking at him, Maki reached out and twisted the top of his ear a little, causing Timothy to wince as she said, “We say ‘thank you’ when we receive compliments. And don’t fill up on sweet bread. You’re not escaping your own vegetables today either. I don’t care if we end up sitting here all night for you to ‘make room’ for them.”

“Yes, Miss Harukawa.”

“And stop making Miss Kawai run after you too. She deserves your respect.”

“Yessss, Mis Harukawa.”

“One of these days I’m going to actually lose my mind on you for that tone of voice,” Maki mumbled, “It’s just going to build and build and then BAM. Lights out.”

Timothy scrunched his mouth up, gave his mentor an appraising look...before shaking his head. “No it won’t.”

“...rage...building…”

Kaito laughed a little at Maki, before turning back to the group, trying hard not to look at anyone else as he said cheerfully, “So, Denji, Lake? What did you all do the last week? Any adventures while we were gone?”

“Nothing worth going into any files, if history holds true,” Shuuichi muttered. 

Ikuo smiled a little to himself, remembering the hundreds of exchanges he’d had with Kokichi just like that, trying to convince his kid to eat vegetables and not just indulge in sweets. It was nice seeing Kokichi light up when he got dessert, but it had gotten to the point that people wanted to express their pity and ‘give the kid something to smile about’ that he would pass out even when he wasn’t sick and was shaky all the time. Kokichi had thrown a bit of a tantrum when Ikuo confiscated his gifts, but it was worth seeing Kokichi able to get up and run around again. 

Laughing a bit at Shuuichi’s comment, Lake shrugged some of her hair behind her shoulder. “That’s a good week if it doesn’t get written up, haha! And honestly, it was pretty quiet around here--missed you guys, myself. Though…”

Lake sighed, her brow furrowing in anger. “You guys are close with Dr. Kimura, so you know but… Damnit! It pisses me off! I was talking with Hina and--gaaaaah--I wish I had been on patrol to back her up. Sure, I’d only be able to, like, cuff ‘em, but that’s better than letting them keep roaming the streets, making new plans. Though, from how she described it, they sounded like real cowards. Probably working for someone else then.”

Lake fumed in her outrage--who the fuck attacked a pharmacy??? Or a healer?!?!?--for a little while longer before Denji patted the older woman’s shoulder. “They’ll be caught. Or scared into never trying anything again. There’s always people keeping an eye on the pharmacy and her house these days, and I’ve seen Mr. Izayoi sharpening blades outside his workshop more often, watching anyone who goes towards Dr. Kimura’s pharmacy. Anyone who would try anything now is just idiotic.” 

“Yeah, we offered to be a part of their rotations. But Dr. Kimura insisted it wouldn’t be necessary. It’s good to hear so many of her neighbors are taking action though. Protection is most effective when not outsourced,” Maki observed, staring suspiciously at a clump of particularly hard meat she had found in her chicken. Tendon or bone...tendon or bone...decent protein or accidently choking in front of her charge...hmmm…

“Yeah, that is a good thing...though I hope blades guy is careful doing that. That’s not exactly a great image for anyone…”

Shuuichi rubbed his temples and rolled his eyes. This particular round of ‘Kaito whining and overcompensating about the world not reflecting his beliefs’ was already getting old. When was the guy just gonna lock himself in his shrine for a week and fuckin get back to zero already? It was annoying. Shuuichi didn’t feel like putting up with it.

“That’s sure one thing to worry about, Kaito,” Shuuichi muttered, moving onto his soup. That was a little easier to get down right now. “I’d personally be wondering why her shop was attacked. I’m curious why no detectives have talked to us yet. If this was my case, I’d have interviewed the party who took her away for a week the day we got back. We’re prime suspects for collaboration, if it was just about destroying her work.”

Kokichi looked over at Shuuichi curiously, wondering what his boyfriend was getting at. “...we might be, yeah, in other circumstances, if we weren’t directly involved in furthering her work. What makes you bring that up as a motive, though? It’s not even close to the only reason someone would try to burn down her home and pharmacy.”

Shuuichi’s addiction was on record, sure, but it was only public knowledge in the case that someone who already knew to look for where it was recorded would be able to ask for it--same with most public records. Same with his knowledge of Aba, Itch, and Tom being Remnants. He wasn’t going to call his boyfriend out in the middle of dinner, but just that they were helping Seiko with her research of something that people would only know about if they read the reports? No problem. 

Pausing again, Kokichi hummed lowly. “...do you want it to be your case? You can offer your services for the guardforce, or even Seiko herself to hire you on, you know.”

It...probably wasn’t the smartest thing to encourage his going-through-rehab boyfriend to take on such sensitive work, but...he was curious. 

“Sure. Because it’s such a coincidence that...ugh, okay. Look. I’m about to make a really sarcastic statement, based on how improbable this series of events actually is...but it’s not going to land right because everyone at this table actually knows it was a coincidence. Well, except Lake. And Denji, I’m assuming. That’s probably a safe bet.”

“Or, you could not embarrass yourself being sarcastic with a group of people who are currently all thinking more clearly than you,” Maki pointed out, chewing through a particularly thick tendon, not particularly happy with her own choices right now.

“What’s the fun in that? Anyway, let’s go over the series of events, right? An erratic, hysterical, borderline sociopathic drug addict--me, that’s me by the way, nice to meet you Mr. Ikuo-- gets hooked on a drug that no one knows anything about, from a different kingdom...I suppose I should stress I wasn’t hysterical or any of that before getting drugged. Or, drugging myself. Semantics. Anyway, so that’s event number one,” Shuuichi said, raising a finger.

“He’s actually usually very sweet, I’m certain you guys are going to get along really, really well in, like...a week,” Kaito said earnestly to Ikuo.

“Event number two? Two other psychos see the slightly bigger psycho destroying himself and decide to get in on those warm and fuzzy ‘good samaritan’ vibes by forcing him through what is honestly the most fun and interesting and also, just, entirely unethical type of medical treatment I can literally think of. Seriously…” Shuuichi laughed, looking genuinely delighted, “Wow. Anyway, I had a point...right! So, why do they have to do this super risky treatment? Oh, right, because there’s a medical embargo in the country that the super crazy mind and body altering drug is from. That’s fucking weird. Sounds like someone’s got a secret to me, but whatever. I’m sure research into the drug that an entire kingdom is refusing to publicly acknowledge on a world scale isn’t alarming to anyone.”

“Shuuichi, what’s your point. None of that points to us being potential culprits,” Maki pointed out. “And isn’t that your argument?”

“He’s just establishing why it’s reasonable to assume her research is the thing specifically being targeted right now,” Kaito sighed...before noting Shuuichi and Maki’s look at him, his face coloring slightly. “What? I get what Shuuichi is saying sometimes…”

“So, crazy psycho team can’t help bigger psycho because a whole kingdom of psychos is keeping their research to themselves. That’s why they have to perform the literally insane form of medical research they did. Brings us to point number three. By the time they’re found out and have to stop? Their psycho patient is acting his very most psycho. Oh! And, just as a coincidence, Prince Kokichi is suddenly deciding to go on a trip to the coast. Which leads to point number four.”

“Point number four! Suuuudenly the psycho patient-”

“Starts feeling better?” Timothy asked, looking up at the openly alarmed looks on the adults faces, before shrugging. “What? He was acting crazy, and then one day he got all better. That’s a good thing, right?”

“How do you know he was acting crazy?” Maki asked, eyes narrowing.

Timothy rolled his eyes. “Your literal very first order to me was to learn to spy on you guys without being seen. When’s the last time you all saw me do that? I never stopped.”

“Very good, Timothy. Yes. Just in time for one of the main members of the psycho team to safely go on a trip that the biggest psycho has known about in advance for almost a month, and why one of the main reasons she was invited was because biggest psycho ‘needed her’. And just when he's about to lose all access to his drugs, and everyone in his life is about to make certain he’s going clean? Boom, suddenly he’s totally fine and the trip that takes away the number one person responsible for keeping him clean for a week can now go on without a hitch,  right after the same giant psycho had a personal, private conversation with the primary dealer of that drug in the city.”

Kaito sighed. “Shuuichi...none of that is terribly coherent. Let me take you upstairs dude, I think you’re tired.”

“I think I’d be the number one suspect, if I wasn’t friends with the princes. You should fire your detectives...and no, I shouldn’t replace them. Because Kaito’s right. I don’t feel very clear headed, and I don’t know if that all made sense anymore, and I kinda feel like crying…”

Kaito gave Shuuichi a weak grin, standing up. “Come on, bud, let’s go.”

Kokichi thought. He set down his cutlery and laced his fingers under his nose, tapping his fingers on his lips as he closed his eyes and thought. Even as Lake and Denji shared, just, wholly confused looks and as Ikuo gave Shuuichi a more appraising look. 

Kaito helped the first part. It...actually wasn’t that unreasonable that Danganronpa was keeping Despair Spores a secret. Considering what it did, if the whole world knew about it more than just unsubstantiated rumors, there would be people constantly sneaking into the kingdom to get their hands on it. Using it as a confusing and painful poison to get rid of their enemies in a few days, or using smaller doses to...force someone to be unfit for any particular position, possibly even leading to their deaths on the track Shuuichi had been on. 

It didn’t explain the entire medical research embargo Danganronpa had, but to avoid a worldwide pandemic or invasion, he could understand why they’d keep the spores a secret. 

And then…

Kokichi opened his eyes, locking his gaze on Shuuichi. “Even going down that hypothetical, that theory would rely on you having pretended to be dosed, which, if they found out everything else, they would know is not true. You got better because Seiko found a medicine that worked, and that timing would only be suspicious if she was in on destroying her work too. Which doesn’t make any lick of sense.”

“And because Itch and the rest were found out, anyone involved with the brewery has been under investigation for over the past week. If the people who attacked Seiko are connected to Itch, then people are already working on that connection.” Lowering his hands, Kokichi gave his boyfriend a sad smile. “...you’re not as suspicious as you think you are, Shuu-chan. If you need to go, I’ll see you after dinner, okay?”

Shuuichi looked blankly down at Kokichi for a moment, working through the logic in his head...before conceding, “It wouldn’t be easy, I’ll give you that much...but,” he continued, eyes lighting up with excitement, “if I had an accomplice in Maki-!”

Maki put her hands over her eyes. “Kaito, please take him upstairs. I’ll be up to give him his medicine as soon as Timothy and I are done eating.”

“Alright, bud, let’s go. You can tell me how you’d have done the great pharmacy burning caper if you want. What if I had been your accomplice? How would the plan have worked then?”

“Well, I think Kokichi has a point. Based on my behavior, the medicine would have had to work at least a little bit, or I wouldn’t have been coherent enough to do any sort of plan. But, let’s say that the medicine worked only just enough to calm me down, but not enough to keep me from trying something that desperate, right? So, in that case, you and I could have-”

Shuuichi’s voice faded as Kaito walked him out, Kaito giving encouraging nods and curious hums the whole way out. At the table, Maki just sighed. “I apologize for Shuuichi on his behalf,” she said to Ikuo, Lake, and Denji. Not looking particularly sorry, but definitely exasperated. “He’s been stuck inside a room for the last three days after a particularly stressful trip. I think he’s just the right combination of anxious and bored to make him particularly annoying.”

Kokichi snickered quietly, just...incredibly amused with Shuuichi’s thought experiments to somehow connect himself directly to whoever was targeting Seiko. The fact that she was attacked at all was nothing to laugh at, and he was genuinely worried for her safety...but there were a lot of people looking out for her, and indulging in a sort of mock debate of hypotheticals could be fun. 

Denji seemed to accept the whole scene as just princely and druggie weirdness, but Lake still looked pretty confused...but absolutely willing to give Shuuichi the benefit of the doubt. Rehab was nasty business, and while people were responsible for their own actions, being under the influence was a pretty huge asterisk. Laughing awkwardly, the guard gave Maki a nervous grin before sobering a little. “I know you guys don’t trust us and so my words don’t mean much to ya, but...you guys are Diceans too. This is your home. If anyone’s got a problem with that or you, then they got a problem with me and will have to face the Hero of Justice head-on!” 

Lake’s voice rose in volume as she spoke, edging into her version of the ‘hero voice’ that Kaito had gotten excited over so long ago, but even so it didn’t overshadow Ikuo’s terse nod and grunt or Denji’s exasperated sigh. “Honestly, I’d be more insulted if you didn’t think you were on the same level as us. Like, get over yourself. You’re not war prisoners so you don’t have to hide.”

Kokichi looked at his Diceans with a bit of pleased surprise before turning to Maki and Tim with a small, fond smile. “I still don’t think laying low hurt anything, but...really. You guys are family. You can reject it or ignore it or embrace it, but it’s how I think of you. And…” he glanced over at Lake, Denji, and Ikuo, catching sight of Hajime and Haneda and Katsuki around various areas of the dining room, “I know I’m not the only one.”

Maki stared at them for a while, uncertain what to say...she felt a compulsive need to explain herself. To argue with them. She didn’t feel irrational…

But Timothy beat her to it, saying simply, “I don’t know. Not all of you are so bad. Cali’s pretty cool. She listens and is adventurous and can scream really loud. And Miss Kawai is...” Timothy shrugged, clearly less inclined to outright compliment an adult as he said, “Pretty cool, I guess.”

Maki relaxed a tad. In the end, it didn’t really matter if she felt safe and comfortable. That was never the goal. It never had been, and it never would be. But...if she could trick Timothy into feeling safe, someday? Preferably feeling safe, while also still protecting himself? That would be...that would be nice. To know that one member of her family had finally gotten to be happy. And...here, among these people. He probably wasn’t safe safe...Maki didn’t trust them with that. But there were those among them that were better than others--Katsuki and Haneda, came to mind--in that regard, and so long as they were around?

Maki was willing to lie, for Timothy's sake.

So she smiled softly, and said, “Thank you. That’s a comfort to hear, Prince Kokichi. Especially if Timothy here can grow up among people like you. Make friends with little girls that can scream really loud. That could make it all worth it, really…”

Maki sighed. She didn’t know if that was true...she wanted it to be true. She wanted it to be true badly enough that…

She turned to Kokichi. “If the offer is still on the table...I’d like to talk to you about that security position.”

The Diceans seemed pleased enough, but… 

Maki was lying… But Kokichi didn’t think she was lying about everything. Maybe just the stuff about it being for Tim’s sake was true. But...maybe one day it would be true for Maki too. So she could trust them enough to sleep soundly at night, so that future she dreamed of where she used that money she saved to start a family and save for her children’s futures could be a little closer. Maybe not in time, but in plausibility. 

Dicea was a place where anyone could live. And Kokichi would never stop trying to make it safer, so maybe one day even an ex-assassin could feel safe. 

He blinked and perked as Maki addressed him more directly, breaking out into a grin soon thereafter. “Oh, totally! I wanted to hear your answer before I started looking for anyone else. So, um!” Kokichi looked around the table and his plate in front of him haphazardly for a moment before smiling sheepishly. “If this isn’t a ‘gotcha’ way of saying no, I need to stop by Aiichi’s office to get some papers and…”

“...this isn’t a personal favor to you. I really think you’re the best person for the job, so I don’t want this to just be a verbal agreement--I want it to be an official job. So...if you have time this evening to sit down with me while we do all that official job stuff?”

Lake, still looking lost but enthusiastic, grinned at Maki. “Whoa, hey, Prince K’s hiring you? That’s awesome, Maki! Not sure how in to celebrating you are, but lemme know how things go later--I’d really like to get you something, like from all of us to you. Kokichi’s first employee--what an honor!”

Maki nodded at Kokichi’s request. “Of course. Whatever it is we need to do, I am…”

Maki hesitated.

Her siblings.

Was she...was she giving up? Was she abandoning them? Would Kokichi still send her to do the plan, if she was head of his security team? Was him even offering her this job…

...she didn’t know. She honestly didn’t. Her goals had seemed so close just a few weeks ago…

“...of course available to do anything I need to do to settle this,” Maki answered, crossing her hands in her lap and trying to ignore her own doubts. She...she could work all that out later. She knew this was going to take time either way. And...she had to be a good example right now. Not just for Timothy. Kaito was on the verge of a breakdown and would probably end up in his shrine any day now. Shuuichi was going through withdrawal and had literally no plans for himself on the other side of that. None of her friends were in a good place, mentally, right now. If she could lead by example...pull them out of their depressions…

She had to try. She could do both! She could be who her family in Lumnary needed her to be, and be who her family in Dicea needed her to be. She could do both! She wasn’t taking on too much! She could manage!

That included being a good example for the strained Dicean relations, as Maki looked over at Lake. “Thank you...it really is an honor, though I wasn’t aware I would be his first employee ever. I will try to set a standard for all your future staff members. As for something to celebrate with...I drink scotch, mostly. But not on the job.”

“She’s always on the job,” Timothy said with an eyeroll.

“So, yes, I will be happy to go do ‘official job paperwork’ with you, Kokichi. I’d just request you give me a minute to go upstairs and make certain Shuuichi takes his medicine. He’s been in a state all day, and I am really hoping the latest iteration eases his mood swings...and you,” she said, turning to Timothy. “You’re still spying on all of us?”

Timothy gave her a somewhat nervous look. “...yeah?”

“Good. Report to me if you see Shuuichi or Kaito do anything that seems alarming to you, and I’m not already there to see it. And make sure you get your list ready for what you want to buy out in town. We’re going tomorrow to stock your room.”

Timothy didn’t cheer or anything like that, but...well, he wasn’t a kid who had ever been told ‘we’re going toy shopping’ before. His eyes lit up in confused wonder, uncertain of what that was actually going to mean...he was, like, getting toys toys? Really? Weird…

Pumping a fist, Lake gave Maki an enthusiastic thumbs-up, paying no heed to the smirking scoff from Denji, who had gone back to their meal now that it seemed the excitement was dying down. Getting the new...security guard? A nice bottle of scotch seemed like a nice gift, and it was one that didn’t come with a social obligation. 

Just because Lake had declared her protection and the fact that the Luminous-Diceans belonged, she wasn’t expecting any of them to be all buddy with her or anyone else. She wasn’t expecting Maki to want to go out for drinks with her. But, if she gifted a bottle, then Maki could drink when she was off the job, and decide who to share it with on her own. Maybe one day she could invite the Luminous-Diceans to a pub, but for now she was happy to cheer them on from the distance they were most comfortable with. 

Kokichi nodded easily and turned back to his food, not...incredibly excited to finish the rest, but it’d suck to waste food. And he’d get yelled at by almost everyone at the table if he stopped halfway. “Of course--we could meet in my and Kaito’s room when we’re ready? There’s not really anything secret about it, but privacy is an option we have.”

“Certainly. Actually, if it’s alright with you, I’d like Timothy to sit in on whatever we discuss,” Maki requested, glancing over at her charge. “I want you to be still and quiet while we work, but I want you to be listening. Do you understand?”

Timothy pushed some food around in his plate, clearly thinking hard about something, before glancing up at her. “...why? Is it gonna be assassin stuff?”

“It’s going to be a skill I’m obtaining that I intend to pass on to you. It doesn’t have to be ‘assassin’ stuff, specifically. Also, you always say ‘Yes, Miss Harukawa’ when I tell you to do something. Then you can ask me ‘why’.”

“Yes, Miss Harukawa.” Timothy pouted, kicking his legs under the table, before glancing up uncertainly at his mentor again. “...are we still assassins though?”

“...I’ll discuss that with you later.” When she had any kind of an idea how to answer that. “Pick up your plate, you’re done eating. Let’s go make certain Mr. Saihara is taken care of. Prince Kokichi, I’ll meet you up in your room, whenever you are ready,” she said, attempting to keep an air of professionalism, at least right now, while she was, in her own head anyway, ‘on the job’. 

On a different job, anyway. She had two jobs now. One of them would just happen to have paperwork attached now. Which was...interesting. Maki had never gotten a job before. Well, she supposed she had, back when she was five and first competing for the assassin job. But she had been small and basically forcefully guided through the process for a position she hadn’t even understood the logistics of and, well...signing up for and learning an entirely new job? This was a first for her. She’d be learning to do this as she went, and hopefully, Timothy would be better prepared his first time doing it watching her go through the process.

Getting up, she bowed to the rest of the table. She did this purposefully. She wanted everyone in the dining hall to see her do it, and Timothy, mimicking her, did so as well. She knew it wasn’t a thing in Dicea. But she wasn’t embarrassed by her Luminary customs, and wasn’t about to pretend to be. “Thank you for eating with us. I’m certain we’ll both see you all later. Have a good night. Timothy?”

“Have a good night!” Timothy mimicked, before the two went to go put their plates away and leave.

Cleaning off seats and tables when they were empty, prepping them for the next person who wanted to sit and eat somewhere comfortable and clean, Kirumi saw this and tsked to herself. No, Harukawa wasn’t as far along as she had hoped. Worse than that, she was sabotaging the boy with her stubbornness. What to do, what to do…

“Sure thing!” Kokichi agreed. It would probably be rather boring for Timothy, but...it would be a helpful experience, probably. Not every job would start with someone just offering it to you, and the interviewing process was a whole thing, but...it would be a start to base expectations off of. And...maybe if Shuuichi decided he wanted to be hired somewhere once he was better, or if Kaito really did want to get extra work, Maki could be a valuable resource for understanding how things went. Kokichi would do his best to explain and help, but...sometimes it was easier with someone who knew what your expectations were already.

“See you guys soon,” he waved as Ikuo gave the pair a nod, Denji gave a polite goodbye, and Lake gave an enthusiastic wave, bidding them a goodnight and another congratulations. 

Kokichi didn’t take that long finishing up his food after that and took his plate and glass into the kitchen, shooting Isabella a nervous smile while she waved him off with a kind one. And then he headed to Aiichi’s office. 

Thankfully the leader wasn’t there, but...well, it was polite. So Kokichi left a note on his desk, explaining that he had hired Maki as a personal bodyguard and would be filing her work forms either that night or the next morning. And, of course, that he was taking a set of work forms for her to sign. 

And, forms in hand--an outline that he and Maki would write, specifically declaring her duties, her pay along with a blank log he would fill every other week for her paychecks, a guardforce contract that they would alter appropriately, and a benefit contract--Kokichi headed up. He was the first one there so he pulled out one of the nightstands to act as a table, moving some of the chairs around it so he, Maki, and Timothy could sit and all see. 

He was...hiring his first employee...wow.

Maki got up to her room, Timothy close behind, and she reached out to open the door (it was her own room after all) before stopping. Giving the wood a long, exasperated look as she thought about it.

...she had left Kaito alone with his boyfriend for roughly fifteen whole minutes…

“Stay out here,” Maki told Timothy, “I’ll be right back out in a minute.”

“Yes, Miss Harukawa,” Timothy said, heading back to the safety bars of the stairs and hoping onto them, peering down to the floors below to entertain himself as Maki walked into the room, shutting the door behind her. 

She paused, waiting for the familiar sound...yep, there it was.

“Would you both stop making out in my room?” Maki demanded, walking in, noting with some satisfaction the way they both jumped, Shuuichi sitting on her desk while Kaito quickly pulled his hands out of the bottom of Shuuichi’s shirt, Shuuichi looking somewhat mortified and Kaito looking sheepish as he took several steps away from Shuuichi, putting his hands behind himself. “Sorry! We weren’t gonna do anything!”

“Sure you weren’t. And now you definitely aren’t, because Shuuichi needs to take his medicine and go to sleep,” she informed them both, heading to the desk and taking the medicine out of the drawer as Shuuichi put his face in his hands, his skin beet red at being caught in such a compromising position. Maki didn’t give a shit though, and popped out one of the tablets, pouring from a pitcher she kept filled in the room specifically for this into Shuuichi’s glass and dropping the tablet into the water, watching it dissolve for a moment before taking it back to Shuuichi. “Drink. You’ll feel better.”

“Thanks, Maki,” Shuuichi muttered, taking the water, still flustered and shame-faced as he drank it down, his nose scrunching at the first sip. “Ugh...these taste worse and worse every time she alters the formula...it’s like drinking bleach...”

“Really? Can I take a sip?”

“Do you want to die? If I ever hear you ever tried Shuuichi’s medicine without Seiko’s express permission and supervision, I’ll fucking kill you, Kaito.” Putting the packets away in the desk again, she said, “Also, I’m taking the security job.”

“Security job?” Shuuichi asked, as Kaito grinned wide and cheered.

“Heck yeah! I mean, I thought you would, but fuck yeah! I’m so proud of you Maki-roll! Your first job as a civilian! That’s amazing!”

“You’re getting a job? What, on top of being my full time babysitter, Timothy’s mom, Kokichi and Kaito’s constant bodyguards, and an assassin, you’re getting a job?” Shuuichi asked, raising an eyebrow at her as he continued to drink, “Are you trying to give yourself a kidney stone? Because that sort of stress is how you get kidney stones.”

“It’s just making official the ‘bodyguard’ part of it...I think,” Maki said, something a little insecure flashing across her face as she tugged at her hair. “I’m actually still a little unclear what Kokichi specifically is hiring me to do. That’s what I’m about to find out. But we’ve all been deadbeats here for the last month, and it’s about time one of us started working. God knows it’s not gonna be you yet, Shuuichi,” she teased, staring down his withering glare, “And Kaito...I’m still not entirely clear what your responsibilities as a Prince-Consort is?”

“I fuck Kokichi and panic a lot. So far that’s been my main workload,” Kaito laughed, rubbing his temples and looking stressed, “And man, that second part has been taking a LOT of my time lately.”

“Exactly. You’re still working some things out. But me? I’m ready to start integrating. One of us might as well start, and I’m in a healthy enough place to do it.”

“Sure,” Shuuichi said, glancing at the nailed down curtain wall, “‘Course you are...well, I’m happy for you too, Maki. Congratulations. You said you’re going to go work out the details? Are you doing that now?”

“In just a second, yeah. You’ll probably be asleep by the time I get back, so I’ll tell you about it in the morning. Kaito, will you stay with him until I’m back? And also don’t fuck him. Let him go to sleep. He needs it.”

“I’m right here, ya know. You could just tell me not to fuck Kaito…”

“Kaito?” Maki asked, ignoring him.

“We weren’t going to! But yep! Totally can do! Just helping my boyfriend go to sleep! That’s what I’m doing! You can tell me all about how it went when you get back, Maki! I’m really excited to hear about this!”

Maki smiled softly. “Sure. Alright, it’ll probably be quick...maybe? I don’t know. I’ve never done anything like this before.” Maki said, something...excited in her gaze, before nodding to both the boys. “Night, Shuuichi. See you in a bit, Kaito.”

Then she headed out. Reminding Timothy that he was to make no commentary, she knocked on the door and waited.

Kokichi hopped up from his seat at the knock on the door, grinning at Maki and Timothy as he held the door open for them. “Heya, come on in! I found all the forms we need, so, ideally, we can get this all done tonight.”

Closing the door once the mentor and mentee entered, Kokichi sat back down and gave Maki a kind, excited smile. “I’m really glad you decided to accept, Maki-chan, but I wanna say this right away--we’re gonna be working out the limits and privileges of the job together, but if you don’t like what we come to? We can rework it, or you can refuse. Just because you said yes to the concept of being my bodyguard doesn’t mean that you agreed to duties that we haven’t even nailed down yet.”

“That said, I hope we can agree to something good,” he chuckled before putting the form for the job’s duties on top of the stack. “So...I’m gonna lay out my initial expectations. I want you to be in charge of my personal security. Until now, I’ve relied on the proximity of guardforce members for my safety, but…”

He sighed softly, his expression dropping a little. “...I think that’s just me being irresponsible. I wanted to keep myself open for the trust of my people as their leader, but...that isn’t my only safety concern. I’m being targeted by a terrorist cult, even if I think that was just an idea Itch had, but I can’t write off that no other Remnants will have the same idea, and due to the tensions between Dicea and Luminary, I’m one of the prime people likely to get caught in the crossfire.”

“...not to mention my health issues…” Kokichi dropped his gaze for a moment, frustrated with himself, before looking back up at Maki. “I cannot conscionably divert a government service meant to serve the public--the guardforce--for my own personal needs. So...that’s what I’m hiring you for. I would like Maki-chan to accompany me during public appearances and outings for the purpose of managing my safety.”

“That would mean...like what you and Shuu-chan did at the museum,” Kokichi explained. “If I plan to go someplace new, you’d scope it out beforehand to make sure it’s actually safe for me to be there. A-and...if I’m invited somewhere...I heed your advice on whether to go or not, or delay it until you can confirm its safety. So...you would have the authorization to inspect any public property, and the means to submit a request to inspect private property, and you can request interviews of any person.”

Thinking for a moment, Kokichi explained further. “Ah, the request means that you literally give the person or person in charge of the place you want to inspect a written form that they have to respond to. They cannot leave the town or city or whatever the request was issued in until it’s responded to, and if they refuse the inspection or interview, it...well, in this case, it would be reviewed by me, as your boss, to determine whether it’s a valid reason or not. If it is, we leave them alone. If it’s not, then I will, well, probably talk to them personally about it, but I’d go through the proper government channels to get a...it’s basically another request form, but it’s handled by our laws and not a personal exchange.”

“So...if you need something...please don’t threaten people?” He gave her an awkward smile before continuing. “And...like, you already sort of do this, but if I have a medical emergency, I’d want you to get me to, like, the med bay, or a hospital, or the nearest healer, and you would have the highest authorization to override anyone else’s decisions. Oh, and you’d have the authorization to perform holding arrests, which means you would have custody to hold someone until a member of the guardforce can take them into proper holding, though you will have to submit a report that proves it was a lawful arrest--that that person was without unreasonable doubt going to cause physical harm to me. Like, if someone was coming at me with a knife, that sort of thing.”

Thinking for a moment, Kokichi paused. “That kinda...got away from me. Why don’t you lay out your expectations, and we can work through any confusing points that come up.”

Maki looked at all the paperwork Kokichi had brought and marveled at it a little bit. It was much simpler looking than the Indentured contracts looked. In the few opportunities she had had to see them, she had never been able to make heads or tails of those contracts, usually needing the basic points explained to her. And she had never even gotten an opportunity to glance at the paperwork that had eventually given her her freedom in Dicea. She had half worried she’d regret not bringing Shuuichi to read the legal wording for her, make certain she wasn’t getting taken advantage of...but she had trusted Kokichi, so she hadn’t bothered. And it looked like she wouldn’t have needed to bother either way. Again, the wording, from what she could see, looked...simple. Easy to understand.

Sighing in relief a little, Maki listened dutifully to the expectations presented to her, relieved that Kokichi had guessed he would need to explain request forms to her. It was illegal to deny Shuuichi entry anywhere when he was on a case, back in Luminary, and Maki wasn’t usually sent to places to be seen by their owners unless said owners were who she was looking for in the first place, so...she was unfamiliar with all those procedures. She would learn though. She should talk to a legal representative in Dicea to really understand that process. What had been that lawyer's name? Yasu? Maki would go to her later.

Maki didn’t really have expectations, so… “In my previous job, security was an expected secondary aspect of my position as an assassin. After all, who better to protect you from trained killers than the other trained killers. Funded by the royal family, I was eventually given the option and responsibilities to hire or contract additional help when it came to larger events, estates, or if the political atmosphere became notably dire enough that a large attack could be assumed to be imminent. However, I understand that being employed by you, as an individual, that you may not have the funds to accommodate extra staffing should I require it. Is that correct?”

Kokichi nodded, grimacing a little. “Yeah… I don’t know if Kai-chan talked to you about it, but administrative jobs don’t pay, so my only income is the basic income. However, because I live in the castle, I never had to pay for housing or food, I don’t have any pets, and I don’t run a business so I don’t pay income tax. None of my money is really used for necessities, so…”

Looking around the papers, he brought out the pay log and pointed to the section on the first sheet where they would write down Maki’s wage. “The job is a lot of work. You’ll have vacation, of course, and sick days can be taken without question, and, honestly? You’ll be off the clock while I’m in the castle--I’d let you know in advance if I’m planning on leaving, at least a day for going into town, a week for events and appearances, and hopefully a lot further in advance for any future trips, which I’d want to invite you to anyway, and I would only ask that you stay in town yourself if we’re having any, like, foreign representatives stay here? But even with that, it’s a job that requires a lot of work put into it, not to mention the mental and physical tolls outside of time. So...i-if it seems fair to you, I was thinking of paying half my income to you?”

...he hoped it wasn’t an insult…

Furrowing his brow, Kokichi tapped his lips for a moment. “Um...if you think there’s an event that would need more people, more than just the cooperation of the guardforce, I...think I could budget that out...but I think that might be something we’d have to discuss every time.”

Maki’s eyes widened.

“...I was...merely trying to ask if I would have any authority to commandeer members of the guardforce for the occasional larger, more complicated events...Kokichi, I can’t take half of your only income. That’s outrageous. That would be taking advantage of you.”

...she thought? She had been paid a monthly allowance before this, drawn from the royal funds, back in Luminary. A lot of that money went to renting her room in the castle employee wing, but she had always had enough left over to save a little bit and drink at the pub, and travel expenses for her job had been covered by the royal funds as well. She didn’t know if half of Kokichi’s pay would equal what she was making before, but…

...it was still half of his pay. Regardless of what that equaled out to, she couldn’t accept it. The base pay was 2000 copper a month, right? 20 Gold. He was offering her a thousand copper a month. Which absolutely was less than what she had made in Luminary, but she didn’t have the bills and expenses in Dicea she had in Luminary, which had sucked up most of her paycheck, plus, she was also making 20 gold base pay a month, all of that together equaling more than what she had made. So…

...with 500 more copper…

“If you pay me five hundred copper a month, I’ll still be making three hundred more copper than I made back at home, and all of that will be earnings. The castle already funds me a room and three meals a day. Even keeping in mind Timothy’s expenses, I still would have plenty of money left over-”

“Don’t I get a base pay too?” Timothy asked from the corner of the room.

Maki glared at him. “Yes, which is going into a savings account for the foreseeable future. Now quiet. That’s an order. Kokichi, I’m sorry, I cannot accept a thousand copper from you in good faith. Five hundred.”

Kokichi didn’t think it was taking advantage of him. He was hiring Maki to keep him safe, to accompany him every time he went outside, practically. To inspect every place he even considered going to and determine if there was any danger in it. 

...and he knew she was doing that anyway, okay? That she already had the mindset of suspicion and vigilance. But just because she already had it didn’t mean she didn’t deserve to be compensated for that psychological toll. Not paying her for it, what he would pay for anyone else in the position, would be taking advantage of her.

“Well...to answer your question, no, you can’t commandeer members of the guardforce, but considering the types of events you’d likely need to do that for they would be stationed at anyway, you would have the ability to work alongside them and to request certain security changes--like changes in patrol routes or stations. But their priority will still be to serve the public before all else, while yours will be to focus on my personal safety. Ideally, those goals would work together well, the guards focusing on any greater threat while you fall back to me.”

Saying his piece, Kokichi’s mouth scrunched to the side. “...seven hundred. And if you want, you can think of the two hundred more to pay for various work expenses? Though it’ll be your money to spend as you see fit, of course.”

Maki glared at him, wanting to argue, in her usual controlling, Maki way...but an additional two hundred a month could go into blade repair...more outfits lined with secret pockets...maybe get some clothes custom rigged for Timothy as well...in the name of work, two hundred copper was nothing to turn your nose at…

“Agreed,” she said, closing her eyes...before opening them. Staring intently at Kokichi.

“...I want it written into the agreement that I can quit this position whenever I want, for whatever reason I want, with no legal repercussions. I don’t care if that’s standard in Dicea anyway. I want it written down.”

Nodding, Kokichi skimmed through the documents before finding the part that, essentially, dictated what she asked. Pointing it out for her to read through, he added, “There’s also a clause that, on my end, I have to give a reason for firing you. I don’t think it will happen, but for employees’ safety, it’s there, and has to be a legally reasonable reason, and I have to keep paying you for one month after giving you a written notice. And, as you can see, if you choose to quit, usually there’s a courtesy period of giving your employer two weeks’ notice, but if you need to quit right away there’s no legal penalty.”

“Mmm, oh, and there’s a clause in here,” Kokichi pointed once he found it, “that says if I ever ask you to do something illegal? Which can be anything from having you take an illegal action to asking you to work without pay, you are not only urged to refuse and legally protected to do so, but urged to report me to...well, in this case it would be Aiichi, but since that’s kind of awkward, it could be Hideki or any member of the guardforce.”

Sighing a little, he knew this might be a sticking point, but… “And...if you do anything illegal? If it’s in the name of your work, we will both be arrested and will take our proper penalties. So…” Sighing again, he looked at Maki with a difficult expression. “You will have the same protections as the guardforce, but it means you have to abide by the same channels of conduct. If something can be handled with a request, that’s first. Then a notification, verbal or written, that the offending party will face arrest. Then, like...grabbing their forearms or wrists to prevent acts of violence--it’s called disabling the arms in our laws. Then disabling the legs, and at this point you are permitted to use approved restraints--which we can get you tomorrow, if you want. Then, the final level, knocking out the offending party. At any level, if the offending party concedes compliance, then that’s where you stop and take them to the guards’ office--it’s downstairs--for holding. With every person you’d bring to the office, you have to write up a report outlining the series of events and your justification for the actions you took. If it’s deemed that you unnecessarily escalated, you will face arrest yourself--and me too. You can still carry weapons as a citizen, but considering your daggers are lethal weapons, if you use them in work, they will be considered unnecessary escalation, so we can get you non-lethal weapons if you want?”

Taking a breath, though he tried not to talk very quickly, there was a bit of a wince on Kokichi’s face. “...I would understand if you didn’t want the job because of that. It’s not how you’re used to solving problems, and I can guess at how frustrating it’d be. But in order to avoid the abuse of power, it’s how our laws are written.”

Maki listened to all this impassively. She wasn’t maybe as surprised as Kokichi had expected her to be. This had all come up in conversation before, the differences between how the guardforce worked here vs back in Luminary endlessly amusing to Maki, and incredibly frustrating to Kaito. But, she supposed she needed to think of this differently than how she had before. Before, it was just the...weird way Dicean guards tied their own hands behind their back. Funny, but not really her problem, outside of her frustration with not knowing how the two she had captured at the brewery were being handled. Now though…

Maki frowned...but sighed. “I...don’t exactly love the idea of my weapons being taken away, or the idea that you might receive punishment for my actions, when we both know I can be...temperamental...and I haven't always...agreed or even respected Dicea’s methods of law enforcement. But, that being said?”

Maki crossed her arms, sighing, “I’m not mindless. I’m not a killing machine, or helpless to my learned instincts.” She glanced over at Timothy, before turning back to the prince. “If adapting to Dicea and being employed here means learning to adhere to your laws...I can do that. Can’t promise not to roll my eyes every now and again, but I can learn...actually, that’s a point. I need to learn.”

Maki sighed, already regretting the stupidly responsible idea that had come to her head, but...she wanted to be good at this. And she was determined and ambitious. It hadn’t been easy being a royal assassin either. It had taken hard work and a willingness to shut up and listen, so. 

“I’d ask for Katsuki, but there’s a...a sort of communications barrier there. So...that guardsman. The green-haired one. Loud? Annoying? Lake, that was her name.” Maki uncrossed her arms, tugging at her hair a bit in frustration. “...do you think she would be up to mentoring me for a little while? Two weeks. I could probably learn enough in two weeks, to not accidentally get us both sent into the forest to raise a garden.”

Kokichi tried not to look too relieved but...oh man he was. From his conversations with Kaito, he knew that more than just not understanding the way some things worked in Dicea, the Luminaries thought it was wrong. And...he could understand someone not wanting to put themselves in a position where they would be constantly at odds with their personal morals and the local law. 

It wasn’t that he didn’t think Maki could do it. It was that he worried she wouldn’t want to. 

But...she wanted to give it a try, at least. 

With a gently admiring smile, Kokichi nodded. “I think she’d be down for that. How about tomorrow morning after you guys train I show you the guards’ office, and we can get you supplies and we can ask Lake-chan about it. If she agrees, then she can work out a schedule with the other guards so you can get the most experience in two weeks. Does that sound good to you?”

Looking over the sheets that they’d filled, Kokichi turned them around for Maki again. “Aaaand is there anything you’d wanna change in our contract? If there’s anything you want to change later, please feel free to bring it up.”

Maki looked through the paperwork, doing her best to understand what she was reading. It was far simpler than anything she had read in Luminary, but Maki was still...she felt comfortable teasing Kaito’s grades all the time because she was in a similar position. It was hard focusing on school work when the night before a desperate person had run a sword through her side before Maki had managed to finish getting the noose around their neck for their ‘suicide’. It was the sort of thing that made studying hard. And sometimes, like now, Maki felt the effects of never getting the opportunity to really focus on school…

...but she was pretty sure she understood it...still. “Can I get a copy of this?” she asked, not entirely certain she could. It was illegal to give out copies of contracts in Luminary. The official reason was because privacy laws couldn’t be honored if copies were floating around in the world, though Maki was confident (because, essentially, Shuuichi and Kaede had both told her this) that it was just to make it harder for the average person to study them. She somehow doubted Dicea had the same mentality. 

“Sure. I need to get copies anyway so we have one for a record and I’d kinda like to have a copy myself. Maybe that’ll change in the future, but with one employee, I think I can manage the paperwork for that.” Laughing softly, Kokichi signed his name at the bottom of each document before passing the pen and papers over to Maki. “Really...like, I know I don’t have to thank you for this, but I’m glad you decided to take this job, Maki-chan. I look forward to working with you!”

Maki took the pen and (marveling that she was expected to sign it herself...she had never been asked to do that before, either...), she signed in all the places Kokichi pointed out to her, before putting the document and pen down as well. 

Then, she got up from the bed, stood in front of it, and bowed low to him. Her hair falling to either side of her face.

 “Thank you, Prince Kokichi,” Maki said sincerely, standing up again after a moment. “I won’t let you down.”

-

The second they had heard that the Luminaries were heading downstairs for dinner? The two of them had left.

Maybe that was cowardly. Ryoma didn’t care. If he had anything left to prove to anyone, it wasn’t going to be proving himself brave in the face of danger. He had already done that, ten times over. Was, in fact, moving on from that mentality. As a midget born in a country where strength was heavily valued and expected, Ryoma had grown up trying to prove his worth over and over again, first in childhood fights, then in sports, then in the military…and, frankly? At the other side of all that? The only people he had managed to impress were the type of folks he found he didn’t enjoy spending that much time with. Thugs and assholes, who lorded their strength over others, as if somehow that was the only thing that mattered.

And in the military? In the fields? Well…

Ryoma had been good at what he did. Praised for his effectiveness with a crossbow and a bolas. Especially the bolas. It had felt natural to him. Like tennis…and he had killed a lot of people with it. Every day. And every day he had gone back to the barracks and the trenches and…

…he was tired of it all, was the thing. It didn’t feel good. He wasn’t proud, or satisfied. He was just tired. He had given up everything in his life to pursue the fighting lifestyle. And once he had it? Discovered there was nothing in it. No glory. No closure. No love.

…honestly? Getting captured by the Diceans had been the best thing that had ever happened to him.

Oh, sure. It hadn’t felt like that at the time. He had surrendered with murder in his eyes and rage in his heart. Just…knowing he didn’t want any harm to come to Gonta, who had fallen and broken his leg in one of their damn holes. Ryoma couldn’t carry him out, couldn’t leave him, and couldn’t guarantee his safety going for help. So…he had sat in the hole and waited with him, till some Diceans had stopped by to check on it and found them there, Ryoma ready to fight them off if needed, Gonta crying at the pain in his leg.

They had…helped Gonta out of the hole and promised no harm would come to them if Ryoma didn’t fight back, and they had been led back to their quarters and put in a room. Some random farm somewhere in a deserted town that the Diceans were using as their base of operations in this area. Information his own side would have wanted to know…and Ryoma had strongly considered making a run for it. Trying to get that information to his commander…but that would have required leaving Gonta, who still couldn’t walk by that point. And as nice as the Diceans seemed, Ryoma hadn’t been willing to risk it. Gonta was a huge fella, strong as anything, with a temper that popped up because of the weirdest things…but he was a sweet, simple fool at the heart of him, and Ryoma wasn’t going to leave him to die. He didn’t care that Gonta was an Indentured. Ryoma was gonna take care of him.

And months later? When the war was over and Gonta could get by on a limp, and the Diceans told them they were packing out to leave, and they were free to go, if they wanted to…Ryoma had looked at his sweet, simple Indentured friend, thinking of the kind of life the giant still had waiting back for him…someone like Gonta? He’d never get out of his contracts. His owners would always trick him into signing up for more, even if there was no legal reason to do so. And Ryoma? ...there was nothing waiting for him back there anyway. And he liked the way the Diceans thought about things.

So, they had come with. And now Gonta and Ryoma had been sort of settling onto the idea of resting in the capital city for awhile, being assured over and over again that this was the kind of place they could flourish in, that there was a doctor here that specialized in caring for conditioned patients like Gonta, who sometimes had a hard time admitting when he was in pain because of his. This was their best chance…

…and it just happened to be in a castle that had three of the biggest nightmares Ryoma had left behind in Luminary.

Or, at least, that’s what he had heard. There were nightmare stories about the irrational, disgraced second Momota son and his deadly entourage. The detective was called the Bogeyman, even among military circles, and it was said that he could make whole families disappear overnight. If he knocked on your door? You had one chance to prove yourself loyal to the royal family, because if he reported that you weren’t…

Well, that was where the other one came in.

Everyone knew the stories of the junior royal assassin. They said she was heartless. That she tortured people before they went just for the fun of it. That she specialized in children. She was a Reaper, a harbinger of death, who spared no one and showed no mercy and, in fact, delighted in her work…

As for the second Momota son?

He was crazy. Everyone knew he was crazy. There had been a short period of time where you couldn’t go a month without hearing about the new, batshit insane thing the entitled, spoiled, disgraced prince was doing. He was so bad, that even his own family, each more corrupt and evil than the last, had still looked at him and decided they couldn’t risk the kingdom in someone like his hands. If your actions were so terrible that it gave a war-mongering king and his oppressing, policy flinging wife pause for concern, you knew you had a sicko on your hands. Between the tales of violent blood orgies, the public, arbitrary executions his brother ordered on his behalf, his claims that Atua spoke directly to him? Not to mention he was constantly in fights, attacking anyone he felt like, knowing legally no one could touch him, beating people to death…it was no wonder a bastard like him had literally moved to a different kingdom and brought the two scariest Luminaries Ryoma had ever heard of with him as his escorts. Ryoma could only imagine the shit he was getting up to here.

And he didn’t want anything to do with it.

He was trying to start a new life. He and Gonta were going to rebuild themselves here. He didn’t need to be anywhere near the raving Luminary Prince, and, frankly, he was worried about his escorts seeing Gonta at all. Gonta was a runaway Indentured, after all…there was no telling what people like the Bogeyman and the Reaper would do to him if they knew…

So, they left the dining hall when they heard the Luminaries were coming down. Ryoma promising Gonta they’d go get food out in town.

Gonta, in turn, had frowned and said, “…but they Luminaries too, yes. They are same as Gonta and Ryoma. Shouldn’t Gonta want to introduce himself? Maybe Gonta make friends with them!”

“No, Gonta…they ain’t the same as us…you and I are on a different path then them. And the Luminaries upstairs?” Ryoma sighed, chewing on an unlit cigarette that people kept raising their eyebrows at here, though no one commented, “…they got a loooong way to go.”

-

There had been a third member of their party. Another Luminary who had surrendered to the Diceans and asked to come back with them once the fighters moved out. He was a plain-looking soldier that neither Ryoma or Gonta had known before, and hadn’t really gotten to know well on the journey down, as he liked to keep to himself. Ryoma hadn’t seen the guy since they had gotten here, though. He wondered where he had wandered off to.

-

An extremely plain-looking young man stood outside of the adorable, quaint home, and admired it with appreciation. What a cute, cottage-looking house. He liked the light blue coloring. Very sweet looking.

A small child was playing on a swing set in the front yard, and she looked curiously at the plain-looking young man. “Hi,” she said shyly, when the young man looked over at her, looking somewhat sheepish to be caught staring, suddenly looking down at her dress.

The young man smiled warmly at the child. “Hi! Is your mother home? Tsumugi Shirogane? I’m a friend of hers.”

The little girl looked at the young man appraisingly for a moment, before calling back to the house, “Mom? A friend of yours is here!”

The man chuckled at the child, waiting patiently as the front door opened, a woman with long blue hair and dark, gray eyes stepping out, wearing an apron as she looked over at her child, who looked nothing like her, with jet black hair and eyes that narrowed at their edges. “What was that, honey? Mommy has a friend…”

The woman named Tsumugi Shirogane stared at the plain young man, eyes wide with horror. “…no…”

The plain young man smiled warmly at her. “Hey. Can we talk somewhere private? I have some bad news.”

“Mom?” Tsumugi’s daughter asked, glancing between her mother and the man, getting a grasp that something was wrong.

Her mother stared at the man, before glancing at her daughter, then back at the man. “…it’s okay, honey. Mommy’s gonna talk with her friend upstairs, okay? Just stay on the playground and don’t leave the gate for any reason, understand?”

“Okay, Momma,” the girl agreed, watching curiously as the man walked into the house, her mother giving her a long, longing look for a moment, lingering…before closing the door behind her.

As the door shut, Tsumugi took a shuddering breath. “How…how bad is this?”

“Do you mean, did I come with flint and an urn? No, not that bad,” the plain-looking man laughed, noting the somewhat relief on Tsumugi’s face. “But you’ve made a lot of mistakes lately, my love. The sex parties were one thing, that was halfway useful. But now a human doctor is making medicine that counteracts our reproduction? Tsk…that’s bad, love. That’s real bad.”

“It was Monokuma! That little shit kept encouraging them, supplying them-“

“Which he had full permission to do. Get them started, get them on course, start spreading our seeds. He did his job well, in fact! We have more seedlings in Dicea than we’ve ever had before! There are five new babies developing as we speak! In their capital city! That’s amazing, especially for a country as difficult to penetrate as Dicea’s always been. That’s five more of ours who are going to grow and develop and spread their influence among them…remarkable. Your job, however, was to keep their government off Monokuma’s back. To which you have, spectacularly, failed.”

“There’s only so much you can do as an ambassador here. People don’t take bribes here! Their concept of personal egos are almost entirely non-existent! They’re a better hive mind than we are, and it’s almost impossible to corrupt anyone here! I couldn’t risk doing anything more than I did, I would have been found out in a week!”

“Right, right. Entirely impossible without risk…and you certainly went ahead and gave yourself a big ol’ liability, didn’t you…” the plain looking young man said, glancing to the front window. The sound of swings outside.

Tsumugi clenched her hands into fists, glaring at the plain man…before saying, “I’m being reassigned?”

“Yes. Back home. They’ll find something new for you to do there. You’ll likely never get an assignment this important again though. Sorry, love.”

“I don’t…what about my daughter?”

“The human? What about her?”

Tsumugi scowled, moving those fists to her chest, trying to control herself as she said, “My daughter…her mother died crossing the border from Luminary…she doesn’t have anyone else…I need to take her with me…”

The plain man rolled his eyes. “You know that’s not going to work. Tsumugi Shirogane is the trusted and long term ambassador from Danganronpa to Dicea. She’s been here fifteen years. She has friends. She had responsibilities. And she has…a daughter. Because of your foolishness, that’s just… part of that narrative now. The kid can’t go. She has to stay.”

“We could say we sent her to boarding school. No one would question it. She struggled to read, the letters spin for her, so a boarding school that could accommodate Dyslexia would be a perfect-“

“The child stays.” The plain man sighed, looking at Tsumugi sadly. “Think clearly. What would you rather for her? To grow up in Dicea, a kingdom of humans, happy and secure? Or Danganronpa. Where she’s just a particularly useful animal? You’re her mother. What do you want for her?”

Tears started to well up in the Flora’s eyes. “I…I wanted to r-raise her…I love her…”

“Good parents make sacrifices.” The plain man sighed, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she never knows the difference. Her mother will be just as loving and attentive as she’s always been. I promise.”

“…th…thank you…”

“Of course, my love. Let’s go ahead and do this now. There’s no use delaying it.”

Kimiko kicked her legs on the swing, wondering what her mom and her friend were talking about, when the front door opened. She saw her mother come out with the plain looking man, her mother now looking far more at ease, the plain-looking man looking…sad. Really sad.

“It was lovely seeing you again! Good luck on your trip home!” her mother called to the man, smiling warmly at him with a wave before looking at Kimiko. “Meal’s coming soon, honey. I hope you’re hungry!”

“I am!” Kimiko called back to her mother, the house door closing as she went back in. She realized that the plain man was still standing there on their front sidewalk, looking at her. That look of grief on his face. Kimiko tilted her head at him. “Are you okay?”

The plain man startled at this…before smiling at her. “Yes…thank you. It was…it was lovely to meet you, Kimiko. I…hope you have a good rest of your life,” the plain-haired man said, sounding on the verge of tears. Then, ducking his head, he walked out the front gate, and out of that life forever. 

-

Kokichi knew he didn’t have time to be loafing around in bed, but...he was sleeeeepyyyyyy! And it was still warm from where Kaito had been, all of them agreeing it would probably be fine to sleep in their usual beds that night. But now Kaito was gone, training down in the courtyard with Maki and Tim, and Kokichi was left to snuggle into the last fleeting moments of warmth. 

After training, Kokichi and Maki were going to go down to the guards’ office to do all the things they’d agreed on, and then after that, Kokichi and Kaito were going to look through the counselors and therapists who specialized in anger management, and they were going to set up a meeting with one. Seiko was going to be in the castle today, and it seemed like the plan was for Shuuichi to have another check up with her to see if the new medicine was working. He didn’t need to be involved with that, but if Shuuichi was in the mood, he did want to spend some time with his boyfriend. 

A lot to do! And he had work on top of that! But he just wanted ten more minutes to huddle under the covers and breathe in the sweet, woody scent of his husband…

…

...okay! Okay! He was awake! Time to get ready for the day!

“It’s your last day in the cast?”

“...maybe. Seiko’s supposed to look at it today after the checkup on Shuuichi...why?”

“I need you to ask her if there’s still any exercises you can’t do once it’s off. Pushups? Pullups? Can I now officially cut you at that side? That sort of thing.”

“I may keep out that last part. Seiko might disapprove.”

“Nah. She’s actually pretty chill. At least in my experience. She didn’t tell Kokichi I deepthroated you with a taser.”

“...yeah. Maybe don’t do that again? That was kind of a rough one...also, this is the same woman who kept Shuuichi and Nao’s stuff secret too. She might just like keeping horrifying secrets. Maybe that’s her kink?”

“I’ll keep my end of the bargain if you keep yours. And so long as we keep an eye on her, it’s a useful enough kink for me...we should probably keep an eye on her, though, actually. That’s not a great track record.”

“Hey, at least we know she’s untrustworthy. That practically makes her trustworthy! We’ll keep her on our side, it’ll be fine so long as she likes us,” Kaito assured Maki, finishing his stretches at her side, the training done for the day. Timothy had finished his stretches and run off about ten minutes ago, but Kaito was taking his time, just talking to Maki a bit as he did so. 

Cracking his neck, Kaito glanced over at Shuuichi, who was writing in his journal under the tree. “He seems better this morning...yesterday was kinda wild, huh?”

“We’ve seen him worse. But, we probably shouldn’t have taken him down to dinner in the first place. We let him around other people for twenty minutes and he immediately told everyone he was a drug addict, had been subject to medical abuse, and tried to convince all of Kokichi’s friends that he was a mastermind in Seiko’s attacks for literally no reason.”

“He’s...frustrated. And lashing out. And since he doesn’t cut people like you do or fight people like I do, that’s his way of, I don’t know...letting off steam. We don’t have a place to judge.”

“I’m not judging. I’m trying to keep him from sabotaging himself while he’s emotionally and mentally compromised. We need to be more careful who we leave him around.”

“Maki...do you think maybe we’re getting a bit controlling?”

“It’s temporary. We’re not doing this to him his whole life. We’re just setting him up for success.”

“...”

“It’s not like Kokichi. We’re not like King Aiichi. He needs us to do this. Just, when it’s your turn to watch him, try to keep him away from other people. Just for now.”

“Yeah, alright...speaking of, I’m watching him now, aren’t I? You and Kokichi are doing something with the guards?”

“Yep. Meeting him in a minute. It shouldn’t be long. Bring him to medical at noon, we’ll get him and you looked at by Seiko, and I’ll take him for the rest of the day so you can go get your conditioning started.”

“That’s not what I’m-”

“I’m teasing, Kaito. Have fun with Shuuichi this morning. Let me know if he does anything strange...don’t fuck him.”

“Why not!?”

“I don’t know. Again, I’m just teasing. Lighten up. See you later.”

Kokichi had taken his time getting up and ready, grabbing a light but substantial breakfast before going to the mailroom, pleased to find one copy of Maki’s employee paperwork in his mailbox. He’d give this one to her--it would be okay to hold off on filing the paperwork until that afternoon. 

He’d taken some work and had gathered materials before heading down to the courtyard, realizing that he’d never discussed the place he and Maki would meet and...while she could find out where the guards’ office was pretty easily, he would really rather show her himself. So! To the courtyard, and hopefully he’d be able to catch her. 

It looked like he was just in time too, as he saw Tim running through the halls in the direction of the stairwell, likely going to stop by his room. Maybe finishing up that wishlist. 

Peeking outside, he broke into a grin as he saw Maki walking away from Kaito, Shuuichi under the nearby tree. Waving to his husband, Kokichi met Maki halfway, holding up the papers for her to see. “Morning, Maki-chan! And your employee documents are all nice and copied, so here you are!”

“Good morning, Kokichi. Thank you,” she said, taking the documents and looking them over. “Give me one moment, please.”

Heading to Shuuichi with the documents, Kaito already talking to him, though he lit up when he saw Kokichi, giving him a wave back. “Shuuichi, could you do me a favor? Could you look over-”

“Your new employment docs? I probably should have done that before you signed it, actually. But yeah, Maki. I can look them over. Here, let me see them,” Shuuichi said, taking the documents from her, tucking them into the journal. 

“Thank you...don’t leave Kaito.”

Shuuichi sighed. “Can’t just not say it, huh…”

“You guys have a good morning. I’ll meet you at medical at noon,” she promised, heading back to Kokichi. “Alright. Lead the way, boss.”

Kokichi watched Maki hand Shuuichi the documents with...an unreadable expression. Not because he was hurt that she was wary about the contract or anything--that was one benefit of hiring a friend, he supposed, since he wouldn’t be bothered in the slightest about writing up a new contract for anything she wanted changed--but...he just wished she’d said something about it last night. He would’ve explained anything she wanted, but…

...had she been embarrassed? 

…he didn’t want to embarrass her…

He picked himself back up as she returned, though, smiling and spinning on his heel with a pleased little giggle. He was her boss now, but...it still tickled him to hear someone call him that. 

“Okay! So, usually guards sign their weapons in and out when they’re on and off shift, but since you’re not a government employee, I don’t think it will apply to you? And Maki-chan knows about weapon safety and the effect open carry has on people. And if we’re going out at night ever, it’ll make it easier to not have to go somewhere else to get your weapons.” Kokichi chatted in this vein as they made their way to the guards’ office. It was early enough that some people were still getting ready for their shifts or were checking in to drop off reports, and, thankfully, Kokichi easily spotted the wave of a red cape. 

“Lake-chan! Hey, you have a sec?”

The woman back-tracked a few steps, looking back towards the front of the office before grinning at the visitors, giving them a friendly wave as she jogged up to them. “Prince K, Maki, hi! I’d appreciate it, but I don’t think you guys are just here to let me know that Maki got the job, right? What can I do for you?”

“I expect you not to feel limited by my hours, Prince Kokichi. We can leave whenever you want us to, for any reason. That’s including at night,” Maki informed him, her face careful, but serious. “Security isn’t meant to restrict your movements. It’s meant to make the movements you wish to take more secure. Unless you change the requirements of my employment, my job isn’t, and never will be, to be a restriction to you...well, not for any longer than it takes for you to recover from any previous damage, anyway. I hope that’s something we can both understand.”

She looked around the guard office, surprised at how busy it was. It looked like there were more guards than usual...unless the guards’ office was just being swarmed with random civilians for some reason. She supposed it made sense. The front line fighters were back, and it made sense many of them had been guardsmen before they left. 

...a significant amount of the guardforce were people who spent the last fifteen years fighting anyone wearing dark red. Sigh…

Maki stared at Lake as she approached, just...reconsidering every decision she’d ever made that brought her to this point. She was like a female Kaito...and Maki was about to ask to learn from her...ugh…

“Hello, Lake. We’re here to ask a favor actually…” Maki hesitated. Perhaps she should let Kokichi speak instead. She glanced at him, ready to follow his lead.

Kokichi looked to Maki, but when it looked like she wasn’t going to continue, he turned back to Lake. “So, Maki-chan did accept the job! She’s now my bodyguard! However, we both realized that protection and investigations have different limits and allowances between Dicea and Luminary, so to make sure that she would be able to perform her job to the fullest extent, we wanted to ask if you would mind having her shadow you to get experience working within Dicean law.”

Lake perked a bit, but Kokichi kept talking. “We discussed that two weeks might be an appropriate amount of time? And I would be willing to compensate you for your time, since this is pretty much job training.”

The green-haired woman was grinning brightly and was just shy of outright exploding with excitement once Kokichi finished. “Ohmygosh I’d be honored! This is awesome! Don’t you worry, Maki, I’ll show you the ropes so well you’ll be able to tie ‘em into knots blindfolded!”

“And pshhhh with that compensation,” she waved. “I’m still planning on getting you that congratulations gift, but let’s call my compensation getting a drink with you guys sometime, eh? You’re not part of the force, but we’re comrades! I’ve been meaning to get to know you guys more anyway.”

More than being yelled at and fought confusingly, anyway.

“Are you good to start tomorrow? I’m usually stationed around the castle most of the time, but with more hands on board I think I can get us some good patrol routes.”

“You just tell me the time, I can reset my schedule around it,” Maki assured her, thinking mostly of Shuuichi. Timothy’s training could be taken up by Kaito in the morning, so that was fine...but could she trust Shuuichi in the morning with them? Maybe she should take Shuuichi with her on patrol. Maybe Timothy too, even?

...shoot, maybe she was getting too controlling…

“And I don’t drink on the job,” she said.

“I start my shift at six, we can meet here then,” Lake nodded before she chuckled. “Nah, miss, I wasn’t talking about, like, going to a bar tomorrow or anything. Just sometime! And we can even just scope out an empty room in the castle and shoot the shit over a bottle if you wanted. Works just as well, right, Prince K?”

Kokichi snorted, fondly remembering the times he and his sort of aunt/sister had done just that. It definitely wasn’t the same as going to a bar, which he hadn’t been able to do, but it had been fun. And if they stayed in the castle, then Maki wouldn’t be on the job! Perfect!

“We can find a time to socialize, sure. I also wanted to ask, though, do you know if there are still extra supplies? We were hoping to assign restraints to Maki-chan, though I’ll leave it up to you to explain them more--don’t actually know that well myself.” Kokichi grinned with a shrug. He’d never had a reason to use soft ties or padded cuffs. 

“Oh, yeah! Actually,” Lake held up one of her hands, pointing to the paper she had been holding the whole time. “I need to go submit this anyway, so I can sign a set out for ya. We can go over the standard equipment and all that tomorrow, though since you’re an independent contractor, sorta, you can probably set your own loadout. But this is a baseline!” 

“I’ll see you tomorrow, Maki!” With another waved, Lake headed back into the office to turn in her report and nab Maki a set of supplies, humming to herself, “Mmm...she needs a nickname too...Hmm… Snaki? Nah...Mak-attack! That’s cool!”

-

Kaito moved his arm up and down, marveling at the new mobility he had. It was so strange. His arm felt cold…

They had settled on three people. Kokichi had insisted on going to see several different people in the same day, so that Kaito didn’t feel like he had to go with the first person they talked with. Each therapist had been contacted and agreed to sit down with them for twenty minutes that day, to get acquainted. 

Kaito...was a little nervous. Maybe more than a little nervous. He had been relieved Kokichi was coming with him to do this, and had found himself having difficulty saying anything. Just sort of worried he’d say something wrong and make...everything worse…

And that was maybe a good thing. It was illuminating.

The first therapist was a slightly older woman with calm, ice blue eyes and with no hair out of place on her perfectly bobbed hairstyle. She greeted the two warmly, asked them to take a seat, and immediately started offering Kokichi different treatment types for Kaito...very specifically offering Kokichi different treatment types for Kaito. She barely looked at Kaito, and the one time Kaito did bring himself to say something, asking for clarity on what exactly cognitive behavioral therapy was supposed to be, her nose had scrunched slightly, as if she had smelled something mildly foul, before continuing to explain it to Kokichi.

They had thanked her for her time, left the building...and Kaito said, “...maybe not her?”

“Definitely not her,” Kokichi grumbled. He knew Kaito was nervous, so even though the point of a therapist was, yanno, to talk to them, he wasn’t planning on pushing Kaito too much to, like, lay out his whole life story to a stranger. But he wanted his husband to have a say, at the very least. 

And anyone who started with a treatment plan before getting to know their client was a big red flag. 

“I think I’m going to review her credentials when I have the time...at least put in a question about xenophobia, mark it in her catalog file.” Kokichi huffed before ever so gently squeezing Kaito’s newly freed hand. “Sorry about that… I promise that’s not what therapists are supposed to be like. Are you still good to meet with the others?”

“We don’t know she was xenophobic...could have just good old fashion not liked me.” Kaito laughed, immensely relieved Kokichi had noticed it too. He had been afraid it was in his head. “No, I’m still all about this. That’s why we’re meeting different people, right? It’s fine. I’m sure the next guy will be better.”

The second guy was...wow.

He was a squirrely man with expensive glasses that didn’t quite fit his face, wearing clean, pressed clothes that were slightly too big for his frame. He was trying to grow a beard and failing. And though he seemed nice enough, when they started to talk…

“S-so you are being referred for anger management due t-to...well, a-attempting to beat a man to death! Th-that's novel!” the man said, moving his hands too often as he laughed nervously, glancing over at Kaito over and over again, his eyes following his movements like he couldn’t help himself. 

Kaito grinned uneasily. “...is it? I mean, you’re an anger management therapist...don’t you see cases like mine all the time?”

“Oh, what? Sure, sure, all the time! W-well, maybe not exactly like yours. Mostly people who destroy o-offices when they’re fired, getting into shouting matches on elevators. Maybe the o-odd punch thrown. Full on b-beating to death! Whoo-boy, that is...n-novel! Wait, wait, it’s okay, don’t get up!” the therapist insisted, getting nervous as Kaito leaned forward to grab the water pitcher, a little concerned for the guy and wanting to pour him some water. Kaito stopped going for the water, leaning back into his seat, and glanced at Kokichi.

“Um...thank you for your time, sir. But I think we have to go now.”

“W-what? So soon? But we still have ten minutes! W-well, you both have my number! You be sure to call anytime!”

As they closed the door behind them, Kaito took a deep breath...and then chuckled. “That poor dude was about to have a heart attack…”

Kokichi nodded, sighing softly. “I’m sure he helps his other clients, but...well, this is good to know. Aiichi started a project to refer our returned citizens to therapists or group counseling sessions--or, rather, some of the towns closer to the border started offering that sort of support and let him know so he could spread the word. If there are therapists who can’t handle heavier subjects, then that’s important information to pass on.”

Laughing quietly, Kokichi pressed his head against Kaito’s arm. “Didn’t think you would be helping me vet counselors today, but I’ll take the free insight! When we find someone who meshes with you right, I’ll have to ask them if they have colleagues they can recommend who can help with trauma. It’ll be helpful to be able to pass that info along.”

...and they would find a good therapist for Kaito. Partly because it was required of him, but also...Kokichi really wanted to find someone for Kaito to talk to. Who would actually have answers for his husband’s questions, and who he could speak plainly to without worrying about messing up. 

It was a burden on her, he knew, but being able to talk like that with Maki had been...so freeing. It didn’t change what had happened but...it made him feel like it would be easier to move past it. And if there was someone out there who could do that for Kaito?  Kokichi would never stop looking for them. 

The third guy was an older gentleman, with slightly tan skin, a heavy pouch around his waist, and friendly eyes. 

His name was Doctor Valigon Ford, and when he clasped Kaito’s hands between his own meaty paws and shook his hands in greeting and first spoke, Kaito’s eyes widened in recognition. “Where are you from?”

“Ahh, what? Is it obvious? Don’t answer, yes, I am aware! I speak like I’m gargling rocks, I know!” The man laughed, leading the two into his office and offering them seats. “I hope that won’t put you off too much now, Prince Kaito? Can you understand me well enough?”

“No, no, I like it, I just...I knew someone with your accent a long time ago and never found out where she was from,” Kaito said, blushing slightly. Fuck. He was immediately attracted to the guy. God dammit.

The man raised an eyebrow at Kaito, rubbing at his thick, black beard with an air of intrigue. “Ahhh, you met someone else like me? In Luminary even? People where I’m from don’t travel off-continent very often, but it seems when we go, we go far. Fascinating! I am from far, far away from here. Have you ever heard of Fein? Literally the other side of the world. Very beautiful there. Very cold.”

Kaito shook his head. “Sorry, no… Kokichi? Ever heard of Fein?”

Kokichi shook his head, his gaze turning from cautious optimism to curiosity. So far, just from the introduction Dr. Ford seemed more promising than the last two had been, but now with such an...odd connection, he was intrigued. “I can’t say I have...but if it’s on the other side of the world...wow! And if you say it’s cold, Dr. Ford, after experiencing a Dicean winter, I’ll certainly take your word for it.” 

He offered the man a friendly smile, knowing he’d be searching through all the atlases in the library later, looking to see if there was a map containing a country named Fein. A trip to the other side of the world was...inadvisable at the current moment but...maybe someday. Or, at least, he could ask around to see if any of their sailors were interested in extended voyages. See what they had to say about their travels. 

“Ah, Prince Kokichi, I could tell you tales...extremely vague tales, based primarily on what I remember my parents telling me!” the doctor laughed, shaking his head. Kaito found himself chuckling with him, his stomach fluttering. The doctor glanced at Kaito and smiled warmly. “I left there when I was eight...but we do not have time for that. Twenty minutes, right? So, let’s get to this. No time to waste! What are we hoping for out of these sessions, should we decide to work together.”

“We?” Kaito asked.

“Oh, it doesn’t happen often, but every now and again I realize I won’t do much good for a patient in front of me. Not every therapist works well for every patient! It’s hubris to assume we can always help. So, yes, what are we hoping for?”

“Um...I mean, I have to be here, but...I am hoping to get myself under control?” Kaito said. 

The doctor gave Kaito a curious look. “Are you out of control? You seem to be sitting still well enough now.”

Kaito shrugged. “No, but, I mean...I don’t know,” he said, not sure how to explain. He just didn’t...feel in control lately…

“Hmmm...okay! So, better self control. Admirable goal! What about you, Prince Kokichi? You came with him to meet me. I’m assuming you’re looking for some results for these sessions as well? Not unusual, spouses are always concerned, and in most relationships, end up being the therapist that my patients talk to about fifteen minutes after they’re done talking to me. So, go ahead. What are we hoping for, ‘Doctor’ Kokichi?” Ford coaxed, giving him a welcoming smile.

It might just be his naive hope, but...Kokichi was feeling better about this by the minute. Looking fondly over at Kaito, Kokichi rested his hand against Kaito’s bicep. “Really… There are so many differences between Dicea and Luminary that it’s hard to even conceptualize that we share a border. Kai-chan’s put in so much work trying to understand Dicean culture, but...sometimes I feel like I just can’t explain things right. And…”

He sighed a little, rubbing Kaito’s arm. “I just want him to be happy here. To not feel like he’s in danger all the time, or feel like I’m in danger all the time. We’re here officially for an anger management course, and as far as the law is concerned, Kai-chan needs six weeks of tri-weekly meetings, but...I just want him to feel at ease, I guess.”

“Ah, another worthy goal, yes...culture shock is a funny thing. I can tell you from personal experience, some people can go anywhere and never have it. They are at ease right away, even when they are not, if that is not a riddle in itself. Others? It starts bad and gets worse before it gets better. Sounds like we may have one of the later cases here, eh?” Doctor Ford asked, giving Kaito an inquiring look, who just shrugged back, looking down at Kokichi’s hand. “Ahh, well…”

“So! Like Prince Kokichi pointed out, my goal is the one that was assigned to you, Prince Kaito. Anger management. Which means controlling how you ‘react’ to anger, not that you never get angry again. Reaction to anger displayed in a healthy, non-self destructive, socially approved way...that is my goal. Does that sound alright to you, Prince Kaito?”

Kaito nodded, blushing slightly as he glanced up and caught the doctor's gaze again. Fuck he was beautiful. It was so distracting...but he was also by and far the best therapist they had seen that day, and honestly, Kaito always found people attractive. That couldn’t be what made or didn’t make this decision. It’d be fine. 

So Kaito grinned, and forced himself to look up at the doctor and said, “Y-yeah. That sounds good…”

“Well…” Doctor Ford said, rubbing his beard again, leaning back into his seat, “Then that sounds good to me too! Prince Kokichi? Shall we sign some paperwork and make it official? If you don’t have any objections, I mean?”

Kokichi looked up at Kaito for a moment, trying to find any warning signs that Kaito would be uncomfortable with this--more than the regular amount of uncomfortable from questioning your world views, at least--and...Kaito looked a little nervous still, but...not in a bad way. Something he could live with, at least. And...if it ever turned into something bad, they could stop and keep looking. 

Nodding with that in mind, Kokichi smiled. “I think we can sign, yeah. These sessions are supposed to be pretty focused on Kai-chan, and I don’t want to insert myself? But if either of you want me to come to one, I can do that. Just...letting everyone know, I guess.”

“Ahhh, what a good spouse. I will be certain to keep that in mind, personally. But, as you said, we should all remember,” Doctor Ford said, glancing at Kaito, who already was looking a little relieved at Kokichi’s offer, “That we have very specific goals, and a limited amount of time. And that these sessions must be focused on the patient. So...I would request that my patient at least give me a chance to treat him, before bringing a buffer to the sessions. Yes? Shall we try, Prince Kaito?”

Kaito blushed again, before nodding. “Yeah? Yes! I mean, yeah, of course. Kokichi just knows I get...I’ve been weird around people lately. Since I got here…” Kaito frowned, shrugging, “Maybe a little before that too.”

“I see. That’s something we will have to discuss in our sessions, yes? But, for now, let us go ahead and work out some paperwork and set up some schedules. Alright, let me go find my secretary. She’s better at getting this all done quickly than I am. With her help, won’t take more than another twenty minutes, I’d say!”

And in another twenty minutes, it was done. Kaito’s first session was going to be the day after tomorrow, at three in the afternoon. They both thanked the doctor for his time, who walked them out of the building, clasped both their hands again, and wished them a good day.

On their way back to the castle, Kaito said, “Well...that seems promising? Right? He seemed nice.”

Honestly, Kokichi was relieved. It would be concerning on multiple levels if they interviewed all the counselors in the city and found them all ill-equipped for Kaito’s sessions. Which, admittedly, weren’t the most common problems, and he was sure the first two therapists they’d seen had helped people! But...he wanted to know that his people were able to get the best help they could. 

“Right! Like he said, you guys have a goal, but I am sort of hoping you come back from a meeting one of these days with a story from Fein. I gotta make sure I don’t get sucked into researching it,” Kokichi giggled before rubbing his thumb down the side of Kaito’s hand, looking up at him in calmer affection. “...I hope you get something good out of this, Kai-chan. But if you ever start feeling like it’s going badly? You can stop. We’ll just have to find someone else.”

They walked quietly for a beat before Kokichi swung their hands. “...I love you, Kai-chan. I know this is required but...thank you for going through with it, all the same.”

...Kaito really hoped it would help.

He didn’t feel good lately. 

Sometimes he didn’t feel good. That wasn’t a ‘being in Dicea’ thing. After training sessions as a kid...after Shuuichi had rejected him...after his mentor had died...plus countless other things, had sent him spiraling in the past. Unable to cope or see anyone or leave the sanctuary of a shrine. It had happened less and less as he got older. Hell, during university, he had... thought he was over this...had permanently gotten past it.

But he felt like he was going to freak out. All the time. He was just...waiting for the thing that was going to finally push him into it. Then it’d be...just a long time hiding and sobbing and punching walls and praying desperately to a god who wouldn’t just talk to him…

He didn’t want to freak out again. He had almost lost it before. But, he had managed to pull himself together after just an afternoon after receiving the letter about his parents. He had been proud of himself. Glad that Kokichi hadn’t had to see how bad it could get. But he was clearly just delaying the inevitable by this point...maybe Doctor Ford could delay it indefinitely? That’d be nice. He didn’t want to freak out...Kokichi needed him. Shuuichi needed him. Maki was talking to him about taking up Timothy’s training in the morning, counting on him to fulfil his end of the co-guardian stuff. He didn’t have time to freak out! He had to keep it together!

...and he would! He could do it! He was getting help! M-maybe not for the freak outs, but...maybe Anger Management would help by proxy? He’d talk to Doctor Ford about it. He had liked him. He was confident, assured and assuring, incredibly authoritative in his office…

“Thanks, Kokichi...it’s gonna be good. I have a good feeling about it…” Kaito grasped Kokichi’s hand, squeezing it as they walked...before saying, somewhat bashfully, “He was handsome, right? That's not just me?”

Unlike the nerves from before...Kaito could still just be lying to him, and Kokichi wasn’t able to see it, but it felt truthful. And if Kaito had a good feeling about it, then that just bolstered Kokichi’s own good feeling. This was for Kaito, after all. Kokichi was just there to support him. 

He just...felt so unequipped for helping his friends. He didn’t know how to give them what they needed… He wasn’t a psychologist, or a doctor, or an ambassador, or a fighter…

...but he was a leader. And if he couldn’t help someone himself, then it was his job to find who could. 

Snorting, Kokichi rolled his eyes with a nod. “Oh yeah. Not just you, though I have the suspicion that anyone you clicked with you’d find at least somewhat attractive. Kai-chan is very good at seeing people’s good qualities.”

“Mmm...did you have any plans for the rest of the afternoon? We were gonna hang out with Shuu-chan while Maki-chan takes Tim shopping, right? I was thinking about getting some work done, but I miss my boys.” Nuzzling at Kaito’s arm, Kokichi sent him a teasing glance. “Think you can stand me snuggling with you for a bit?”

Kaito looked down at his husband and...immediately dug a palm into his eye. Don’t, Kaito. You know he means it. He just wants to snuggle. Just...don’t. You‘ve already been rejected by Shuuichi today, don’t push your luck or both your lovers will be annoyed with you. 

Running a hand over his face, Kaito laughed, looking back down at his husband. “You’re real cute, you know that? Drives me crazy. Yeah, alright. I gotta tell you though, Shuuichi’s doing better today, but the guy is still a little grumpy. Or, he was this morning anyway. I think it’s just particularly bad in the morning, because he expects to feel way better than he does after his dose? And I think it disappoints him and puts him off after the dose doesn’t do what it's supposed to. That’s my theory, anyway.”

Kokichi snorted a bit at the ‘cute’ comments, though he sighed at Shuuichi’s update. Shuuichi was completely in the right to be grumpy and pissy and frustrated. But he still wished there was something more he could do to make him feel better. “Okay, thanks for letting me know. Like, I’d be over the moon if both my very cute and sweet loves wanted to snuggle with me, but I wouldn’t push Shuu-chan in any other situation, and I won’t now.”

“...I am looking forward to when we can spend the nights regularly together, though. Shuu-chan is very nice to hold.” Getting softer to hold too, compared to the first time they’d slept together, or even that hour in the beach house. But Kokichi got the impression that Shuuichi wasn’t very comfortable with his weight, so he wasn’t gonna be a jerk and point it out to him. Even non-verbally, even if Shuuichi’s plush, round ass looked like it’d be nice to squeeze. Like he’d told Shuuichi before--he wasn’t going to do anything that he wasn’t comfortable with. 

“...Maki-chan’s getting job training from Lake, did she tell you? Mostly just to get a hold on Dicean law when it comes to deescalation and apprehending people. I think Maki-chan would do a great job already, but it makes me happy and proud to see her taking on additional education.” He was pretty sure Maki had already talked to Kaito about all this, but he was mostly filling space on their walk back home. “I’m glad she took the job… She does so much for us, so much for me, and now she can get official credit and compensation for it.”

And people would see that and...maybe people who weren’t children could admire Maki for the amazing, caring person she was too. 

“Yeah, Maki told me. That’s...that's good! Great! I’m sure Maki will learn a lot from her.”

Lake…

“Yeah, I’m really proud of Maki. I was worried about her when we first came down here, you know. Was afraid that, I don’t know...well, I didn’t know what Dicea was like when I first got here, so I was mostly afraid people here would take advantage of her skills too much. Maki hates her job...or, hated it, I guess. It’s not her job anymore! That's...honestly amazing? I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it.”

“And now she’s...well, kind of like a personal guardsman, sorta? So, it makes sense to learn from Lake. She’s, ya know...she’s a good sort…”

...Kokichi had looked so small in her arms...he had been so scared in the closet, clutching that stupid fucking toy like it was his only comfort in the world...it was so hard for Kaito to just..let go of all those images. Kokichi had told him over and over and over again that he had no friend in the world...that the castle had trapped him. That his father's rules had been wildly out of proportion. Had made him suicidal. 

...Kaito just...he didn’t understand...had he misunderstood? The whole time? He had been so scared...had wanted to fight everyone to defend his husband from...dangers that just didn’t exist? 

Had Kokichi just...lied?

No, no, that couldn’t be right. It couldn’t. Kaito was...god, he was so confused all the time now. It didn’t feel good. He didn’t feel good…

...pull it together. You don’t have time for this. 

He clutched his husband closer to himself, looking at him softly. “Thank you, Kokichi. I know that Maki is good for the positon, that it’s not, like, something you’re doing just to give her purpose or anything but...I meant what I told your dad. You’ve been invaluable. Maki, Shuuichi...Timothy and myself? As bad as we’ve all been the last month or so? It would have been way worse had you not been as patient as you’ve been. It means a lot to me.”

The idea was absurd, but...for as much as Kokichi knew so little about Luminary, Kaito had known just as little about Dicea. And...it was mean, but if you lived in Luminary? And believed that you were headed somewhere worse? ...then the fear that someone would have constant use for an assassin wasn’t that irrational. 

“Really… If she never has to kill another person in her life, I’ll be really happy for her,” Kokichi murmured, not just because it would be an alarming thing for anyone to overhear, but because of the genuine, tender sincerity of his sentiment. Sure, of course he wished Maki had never been made to kill a single person in her life. But...the best time to change was the present. 

He didn’t want his friends to...to not be who they were, but...he hoped they would take advantage of that. So they would realize that they didn’t need to hurt people to keep themselves safe. Not here. And for Maki’s siblings back in Luminary? ...he was waiting on Kaede’s letter. On what Byakuya was actually planning. On the hope he had that there were others working for change in Luminary. 

Sighing softly, Kokichi smiled up at Kaito. “I care about you guys--I want to see you all succeed and live happy lives here, Kai-chan. For that, I want to help all I can. You’ve all helped me so much already, it’s really the least I can do to return the favor.” He pressed a small kiss to Kaito’s arm, feeling warm and affectionate.

Kaito sighed, leaning down a little and kissing the top of Kokichi’s head, not minding the occasional glance towards them the two were getting as they walked down the road. They were the princes of Dicea, for one, and both of them were hot as fuck, for the other. They’d get stares either way, public display of affection or otherwise. 

“Thanks, babe...alright! Let’s get home! We can come out to town later, do some things, but for now our emo boyfriend needs us. And, maybe later, we can do something fun? Like…play miniature golf? I’m not gonna lie, Kokichi, I saw a building advertising miniature golf, and I don’t even like golf, but I am endlessly fascinated by the idea of watching you try to play it. Hopefully they have really short golf clubs. Maybe we can get one made custom?” Kaito teased, bumping his hip lightly against his husband.

Kokichi didn’t mind the glances either and was much more pleased with the returned kiss. And...it was probably good for people to see him and Kaito walking down the street, hand in hand, exchanging kisses and being happy and comfortable in each others’ presence. According to Tomomi, there were plenty of people who thought they were a cute couple but...the more people who saw them as that and not...someone being held against his will...someone manipulated…

…

Well, then that would be better. 

Snorting, Kokichi rolled his eyes. “I dunno, maybe I’ll just get a toothpick from the kitchens. That just might work for me.” Bumping his hip right back (though it was more against Kaito’s leg than his hip), he shook his head. “That does sound fun, though. I’ve never been mini golfing. Or full-sized golfing. You think I could hit the ball farther than an inch at a time?”

He smirked up at his husband, admiring the way his hair almost glowed in the afternoon sun, enjoying the banter between them.

“Mmmmm, yes? Eventually? Like...after years of dedicated training? Probably even two inches!” Kaito said, eyes lit in mocking wonder...before smiling warmly down at Kokichi, “You can do whatever you want to, babe. I believe in ya.”

-

On their way back, getting near the castle, Kaito’s eyes suddenly widened, a random idea flitting its way into his head in lieu of nothing, and he said quietly to Kokichi as they passed the guards at the front gate, “Hey...you know that massage oil I put on you ages ago? Do you think we can get some more of that… I think it could-”

He continued to explain, heading into the castle.

-

Kokichi had snorted, but he agreed wholeheartedly. If it had the chance to ease some of Shuuichi’s aches, then of course he’d give it a shot! He promised to ask Mikaku about it soon, but for the time being, they did still have a bit in the bottle still in their bathroom. While Kaito went right to Maki’s room to announce their return, Kokichi stopped by their room, grabbing the bottle and some of his work and materials. 

Ideally, he’d like to snuggle and chat with his boyfriends, but if Shuuichi wasn’t in the mood, and Kaito got restless, then it’d be smart to bring something else.

Figuring that they knew he was right there anyway, Kokichi just gave Maki’s door a cursory knock before coming in, grinning at his friends. “Hey, good afternoon! How’s it goin’?”

Shuuichi was currently lying flat on the ground, staring up at the ceiling, while Maki sat by his head, looking down at him. The two had been talking about Seiko’s medical exam earlier that day, Shuuichi dully complaining that she had confirmed he was, in fact, still gaining weight, and why?? and Maki saying if it really bothered him, there was training he was sitting out on literally every morning…

This was the scene Kaito had walked in on as well, Kaito now sitting on the bed, smiling uncertainly down at the pair, not sure if he should chime in or not, as the two of them seemed perfectly content to continue the conversation as if he hadn’t walked in.

Maki glanced up at Kokichi, giving him a small wave. “Hello, Kokichi. I heard the hunting for therapists went well.”

“Sure, except Kaito laughed before he said it, which means it probably didn’t go well,” Shuuichi pointed out dryly, annoyed with the world. Why did his back hurt so much? Was his...chest getting worse? Seiko hadn’t asked to see him with his shirt off and Shuuichi hadn’t offered. He didn’t even look at himself in the mirror before or after his showers anymore. It disturbed him.

“Hey, come on...it mostly went well. There were a few hiccups, alright? But it still ended well! I liked Doctor Ford. I’m looking forward to seeing him again in two days,” Kaito said earnestly.

“Doctor Ford...Ford...isn’t there a brand of carriage named Ford?” Shuuichi murmured, brow furrowed as he went over the information in his mind, “You think he’s part of the Ford family?”

“He’s from Fein.”

“What the heck is Fein?”

Maki sighed, standing up. “Are you two ready to be here for a while? I’m taking Tim into town. It’ll probably take all afternoon. That good with you two?”