𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒊𝒅𝒏𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 | 𝒂. 𝒌𝒆𝒊𝒋𝒊

𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒑

After another two hours, it's late and Akaashi has finished bathing in a little tube you built in the tree house from the waterfall not too far away. Sitting on the chair, he waits for you until you're finished bathing. When you come out, your hair is dripping wet and your lips are even more plump from the warm water. Akaashi's face reddens and he turns to avoid looking at you.

"D-did you make all of this?" he hesitantly asks as you raise a brow.

"The tree house?" you ask as he nods.

"Well, yes. I have to have a place to live. Especially since I don't own a lot of money and I don't technically work." You shrug and sit across from him as you both stare out of the window.

"How did you come up with the idea of building a treehouse? Especially one all the way up here and away from society?" he curiously asks which makes you smirk.

"Curious one, aren't you?" you tease before answering. "In a story book I used to read back when I was small. There was a treehouse the main character had that was her secret hideout... I wanted to have my own hideout, so I did the same. Simple as that."

"You read?" Akaashi turns his head towards you as you lift a brow.

"Not really. Only when I was a child."

"Why not?" The question makes you frown as you lean back on the chair and cross your arms.

"Hate to break it to ya, but some people can't always live having fun. I didn't have the time to play around and read like you, prince," you bluntly say. Guilt floods Akaashi's body as you sweat drop. "Don't feel bad. What's happened has happened," you try to cheer him up which fails. "W-well... What do you do for fun, Akaashi-sama?" you sing.

"Don't call me that if you're just teasing me." Akaashi frowns as you giggle.

"Sorry, sorry! But seriously, what does the prince like to do at home? Pretty sure you were just like any other kid who liked to have fun." The question brings back memories in Akaashi as he lets out a little smile.

"Well... I like to read--"

"That isn't obvious," you interrupt as Akaashi frowns again. "Hehe, sorry! Continue." Taking a deep breath, Akaashi continues.

"Growing up, I wasn't surrounded by any kids my age and I grew up alone. Especially after my older brother had passed away... My parents were also always busy doing their own things, so I just read books in the library and learned how to fight with a sword from my professional sword masters." Attentively, you listen and observe Akaashi's expressions.

"You must've felt lonely," you blurt. Akaashi stiffens a little bit before relaxing his shoulders again.

"Yeah, but my brother was amazing. Everyone in the castle loved him, including me. He would always read to me back then, teach me about how amazing the kingdom was, and talk about how much he wanted to go to the Garden of Eternity. It was always a dream of his but... he never got to go." His excitement drops and Akaashi crosses his arms together.

"Is that why you want to go to the Garden of Eternity?" you hesitantly ask.

"Yeah... to fulfill our dream that we once shared together." After a few minutes of silence, you chuckle.

"When did you trust me so much to tell me your life story?" You smirk as an irk mark appears on Akaashi's head.

"I don't trust y--"

"Well, let me give you some more knowledge about the world since you obviously don't know that much still, Prince." Giving him a wink, Akaashi grumbles and decides to just listen. Taking a deep breath, you look out the window and at the starry sky. "My parents passed away when I was 7 years old leaving me alone," you start out which surprises Akaashi. "Growing up, I was confused and didn't know how to survive on my own. I should've died back then." Feeling a needle being stuck into his heart, Akaashi tightens his grip on his arms. "But then I met the prince... Prince Ken."

"W-what?"

"Yep." You nod your head. "He saved my life... As I was starving from not being able to eat for weeks and weeks, Prince Ken was the one who gave me food and water. He didn't need to and there were a whole bunch of other kids out there who he could've helped, but he helped me. It was... a blessing from God. However, when I heard that he had passed away, the hope he had given me disappeared." Akaashi waits to hear you continue on with your story, but you don't continue.

"What was the point of telling me this?" Akaashi's body shakes from the pain of his brother's death.

"To tell you how amazing of a king your brother would've been... and how amazing of a king you can become," you lightly whisper as blush creeps up his cheeks.

"W-wha--"

"Well, let's go to sleep, lover boy! We have places to be tomorrow!" you yawn as Akaashi's brows twitch. "You sleep on the bed, Prince Akaashi-sama!" Akaashi looks at the bed you're pointing at and frowns.

"What about you?" The concerned voice makes you giggle.

"No worries, babe! I'll sleep right here." Leaning back on the chair, you bring your hands behind your head. Unexpectedly, Akaashi suddenly grabs your wrist and pulls you towards the bed with him. "H-huh?"

"The bed is big enough, just sleep on it w-with m-me," he stutters and avoids eye contact with you. A smile grows on your face.

"You don't need to, Princ--"

"Just listen to me!" He suddenly pulls your body onto the mattress besides him which causes you to blush.

"F-fine... so demanding," you whisper and play with the collar of your shirt. Since it was so dark, the blush on both of your guys' faces were invisible.

"One last thing I want to say before we go to sleep," Akaashi hesitantly whispers after a good 5 minutes of trying to calm down.

"What is it, Princ--"

"My name," he interrupts you, "My name is Keiji... Akaashi Keiji." He couldn't understand why his heart wanted to tell you his name, but he decided to follow it anyway. Warmth fills you when you hear his confession and you feel his grasp on your hand tighten.

"Then I have one last thing I want to say before we go to sleep," you whisper back.

"My real name... It's L/n F/n." It was the first time you've ever told someone your real name in ten years. You would've forgotten your name a long time ago if it wasn't for Akaashi's older brother for telling you how beautiful your name was. Akaashi feels you return your grip on his hand and unconsciously smiles.

"That's a beautiful name... L/n F/n..." he whispers before falling asleep.

Date: 18 July 2020