RIVALS INCARNATE

Chapter Twenty-Five: Feelings Of Love

840 AD, 9th Century of Japan (Kyoto)

***both Crowned Prince Shin and General Rei were both twenty-two years old at this time, and Lady Aoi was twenty years old***

Fear was overrated.

At the time that they had triumphantly returned back to the empire after the seven-month-long war against the invaders, the remainder of the battalion led by Prince Shin and his comrades, Lieutenant Rei and Lieutenant Kaoru, was welcomed by an abundant hero's parade and was blessed by the residents with praises and honor. It was a big momentous success after overcoming enemies that had incessantly tried to conquer their land during the past decade. And now that they had finally managed to defy them from crossing the borders of the country, everyone was overjoyed.

There will be many more changes that would happen soon after this historical return. Prince Shin, who headed the battle, was also on his way to take over the throne from his father who had been suffering from signs of dementia and senility before Prince Shin had been sent to war. And now that he has returned, the decisions for changing the KIng was being discussed. And with the deteriorating health of the present King which had brought a severe concern from the Royal advisors who were now considering the expedition of the dethronement to strengthen the power of the Emperor's ruling, Prince Shin knew it would be anytime soon before he finally becomes the new Emperor. On top of that, he was not only anticipating the power that it would grant him, he also knew that this process will also prompt the plans for the inevitable marriage between him and Lady Aoi of the Takugawa clan.

At the time, Lieutenant Rei was not yet aware of such agreement that the Royal Minister and the Royal family had been setting up but he had heard the possibility of Lady Aoi's engagement. And so, as soon as they had arrived at the premises of the capital, the very first thing that Rei wanted to do was to express his intent to request a favor from the royal family. There was actually an honorable privilege for whoever who brought victory and battle success in the empire where its hero will be given the advantage to express their personal interest or wishes and will be granted by the Emperor of any favors they would ask of, and Rei had been expecting to use that in his benefit by asking to take the hand of Lady Aoi and give them the permission to get married.

Prince Shin, who had been in the works of acknowledging the marriage plans for his future, on the other hand, did not know at the time that Rei was deeply infatuated with Lady Aoi. But he, himself, had wanted to pursue the wedding with Lady Aoi and was very much eager to make it happen. So when they had been summoned in the Royal Palace for the timely ritual of recognition from the King, things took a wild turn. The Emperor's announcer was supposed to read out loud the written favors of each heroes that the Emperor must grant.

And when it was about time for Rei and Shin's scrolls to be read out loud, it suddenly dawned over the announcer's sight that something unsettling was about to unforld. Both Rei and Shin wrote the same thing in their scroll as a form of a proposal.

"Request for the hand of Lady Aoi of Takugawa clan."

And as soon as it had been revealed, parties included figured that this was not just a simple conflict of interests anymore. This was a feud for the one who would marry Lady Aoi... A rivalry that no one had thought would even happen... The very thing that made the two grow further apart and eventually made them turn against each other...

For worse.

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PRESENT, 2020 (Hamamatsu)

He was so uncomfortable. But he can't leave.

The party was very decent and simple, there were just about eight to ten relatives present who came and celebrated with Yuko's parents for her grandmother's birthday. Kyouhei Kurosaki felt like he had crashed himself into a very private event unintentionally but ended up being a part of it because he felt even much guiltier leaving. In short, he was trapped.

He looked across the living room where he stood beside a couple of Yuko's cousins who kept asking him about what life is like living in Tokyo, to take a quick peek at Yuko who was too busy talking to her grandmother and another relative. He was really surprised to see this side of her that made her look like she was a totally different person. She acted too out of her character which Kyouhei had been so used to dealing with throughout the times they had worked together. And as he watched her from afar, he felt more drawn to everything that she was doing.

"So what do you think of our town, Tokyo boy?" Yuko's cousin, who had been continuously making sure to put Kyouhei into the conversation asked this just as Kyouhei had turned his eyes back at the people around him.

Kyouhei took a pause for a second and pondered over the question a little too thoughtfully. And as he gave back a smile, he uttered a sincere, "It's really nice here. I like the entire ambiance."

The area where Yuko's family lived was really nice and very refreshing. Though it was not too far from how stores and buildings were like compared to Tokyo, it brought Kyouhei a new perspective that made him feel like it was all foreign to him. He honestly liked it much more than how he had lived in Tokyo for years, and for that, he was glad that he had come here incidentally. Though he still was regretting putting Yuko on the spot for doing so, he still was glad.

Because he discovered a place that was uniquely just Yuko... a place that not so many people knew about her.

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Evening came in just like that. And before she knew it, she was trying to sober herself up after taking a few shots of sake (rice wine) offered by her uncle after dinner. So Yuko decided to walk out of the house for a short while just to take a peaceful moment outside and breathe in the cold calming breeze of the night under the starry sky. She might have not missed this place that much after she left years ago, but Yuko would certainly never forget how amazing night moments were in this place. This was the only thing she would have to go back for, if ever.

Just this... under the night sky, all alone and free.

But her relaxing moment of solitary comfort was abruptly shortened when she heard the door from the front of their house behind her being opened and closed. Then someone started walking down the small steps to where she was sitting at the bottom, musing. She no longer bothered to turn her head over her shoulder just to check who it was because just by judging the sound of the footsteps, she already knew who followed her out. It was Kurosaki.

"Didn't expect you to stay this long."

Yuko had decided not to give him hell for it anymore. She already expected him to reflect over his previous actions on his own when she saw him struggling to fit in with the rest of her family and few relatives. And that is why, at this point, Yuko just did not want to stress over it. She initially went back to this place because she needed some peace and she realized that she did not have to ruin that anymore just because Kurosaki had suddenly appeared in it.

Kurosaki took the space on the other opposite end of the step beside Yuko and sat there while sighing. He was partially tipsy after drinking several shots of sake that he could feel his cheeks warming. He tried to fixate his eyes on the small plant placed from the distance before him and took a few seconds before responding to Yuko's words.

"Didn't expect your family to be this normal."

Kyouhei's eyes widened right after he spoke. Though it was slightly off and sarcastic, Yuko found herself laughing at Kyouhei's remark as she realized how true that was as soon as she heard it. Kurosaki who was a little perplexed that he had expressed that out loud, felt nervous when she started laughing.

"I d-didn't..." he stammered, gaping at his own words as he blabbered a rushed apology, "I didn't mean it that way. Not in a bad way. I swear it's not like I was mocking you, Yuko-san."

"Yeah, I know," Yuko rolled her eyes, still chuckling back as she grinned at him, "It was true anyway."

She did not even realize that she was still smiling at him, her eyes sparkling against the glimmer of the moonlight above them. And Kyouhei was momentarily entranced, unable to look away from her face. It was a very first... And he did not actually know how to take it. She was smiling and for some reason, it felt real and genuine. And she was beautiful. And as Kyouhei kept staring at her, emotionally swept away by that serene image of her, his feelings suddenly exploded.

"I think I like you, Yuko-san," he intoned, merely releasing a shaky breath as he earnestly went on, "For real... I really like you."

-----------------------------------------------------------------------next chapter: Chapter Twenty-Six