The sun rays hit Ajin's face, the warmth was calming. The sun rays peeked through his eyes lids, he opened his eyes and groaned, turning to his side. “Right, let me wish Akimatsu good morning.” Ajin thought, turning back on his other side to look at Akimatsu. Akimatsu wasn’t there. “AKIMATSU?” Ajin yelled. Ajin looked side to side and couldn’t see him. “RIKI, RIKI?!“ Ajin yelled, not seeing him inside his chest. “RIKI, HELP, WHERE IS AKIMATSU.“ Ajin yelled, worried, he stood up, “RIKI!” 

Riki didn’t respond, and he couldn’t see Akimatsu. “AKIMATSU! RIKI, WHERE ARE YOU GUYS?“ Ajin panted, feeling out of breath, he couldn’t breathe well; his heart was racing. “RIKI! This isn’t funny! Come out now! Please!“ He pleaded.

“FINE, I LIKE HIM! Is that what you want?! I like him! Just stop messing around! Where is he, Riki? This is not funny!“ Ajin yelled, tears streaming down his face. Ajin felt something hit the back of his head, he looked back, nothing. “Riki! Is that you?" Ajin asked, he couldn’t see anyone. "Riki, stop this, I’m scared, don’t do this to me, where is Akimatsu?!“ Ajin yelled more. “So, you like me?“ Ajin heard; he turned to see where the sound was coming from—no one. He heard a laugh, “Up here, silly.“ Ajin heard, he looked up, trees and branches, “To your left, Ajin.“ He turned to look to his left. A boy with Persian green eyes and desert brown long hair. “Akimatsu…“ Ajin whispered. “I’m alive, Ajin.“

“Akimatsu..” A swarm of emotions hit him. “You like me, Ajin, I’m so happy you do, I’ve always liked you.“

Ajin’s went red, he touched his cheeks, they warmed up. “Oh, you heard-“ He stuttered, “I always could hear everything you’ve ever said.“ Akimatsu jumped down the tree branch he had been on. “Be careful!“ Ajin scolded, “I just got you back, I don’t want you to get hurt.“

“You won't lose me again.“

“I really don’t want to.“ He sighed. Akimatsu walked towards him, now only a foot away. His expression was gentle, he got closer and held Ajin’s face. “What are you-?" Ajin stuttered, looking up at Akimatsu, he was as tall as he remembered. “I’ve missed you all these years.“

“I’ve missed you too.“ Ajin replied, letting his head rest on Akimatsu’s palms. He smiled, he felt so happy, it felt like a dream. “Ajin, let's be together forever.“

“I'd love to!“ Ajin happily exclaimed, “Let's head home; this is the forest that is near the kingdom, right? We're near home, lets go back.“ Akimatsu pleaded, moving his hands from Ajin’s face to his shoulder. “But it's unsafe to...“

“Really? Why do you say that?“

“Because they’ll know I am me and that you are you.”

“Why is that a bad thing?“

“…“ Ajin didn’t know why it could be a bad thing, what was so unsafe about going back? “Well- when you were basically dead- they couldn’t see you like that.“
“Why? Couldn’t a doctor have been called? And since you are the heir, they wouldn’t argue with you, if you say to keep me in a castle room, then I simply get to stay, they would’ve followed your orders.“

“…“ Ajin now didn’t see the logic to running away. If he was found, the men he heard could’ve helped him, they were looking for survivors. They were calling out for survivors, why did Riki say they had to leave? “I... I don’t know why I listened to Riki.” Ajin muttered. “Let’s go back home, Ajin."

“Ok, lets go back.“ Ajin and Akimatsu walked quietly home, Ajin didn’t know what to say, and Akimatsu didn’t say a word, so they simply stayed silent. Once they got to the castle, the people of the kingdom greeted them happily, with happy tears and cheers. They had a king again.

A ball was thrown by the royal guards to celebrate the return of Ajin and Akimatsu, more Ajin, however. Ajin sat on what seemed to be his father's gold throne, it was big—too big for him. On his head, a gold crown. “You said the seamstresses made this for me?“

“Yes, they did, they’re so happy it fits you.“ A royal guard beamed. Ajin wore a white and gold color robe, much like one he knew his father had owned and wore before he married his mother. “Tell them thank you.“

“Of course your highness.“ The guard bowed and walked away. Ajin looked to his right, there was another throne, which seemed the size of his mother's throne, and a gold crown on the seat of it. Ajin turned to face back at the dance floor. Men and women in elegant attire danced, and to a side, women sang. Men played harps and tambourines. He felt his face glow with happiness. “You look great“ Ajin heard, he looked to his right, and it was Akimatsu, his robe was gold with silver sprinkled about. “Oh- thank you-” Ajin stuttered as his face flushed. “You look great too.“

“Thank you, Ajin.“ Akimatsu replied as he turned to look at the dance floor. “Akimatsu-“ Ajin felt himself say, “Will you rule this kingdom with me?“

“I thought you’d never ask Ajin.“ Akimatsu said with a smile. Ajin stood up, and he picked up the crown that was on the throne next to him and looked at Akimatsu. Akimatsu kneeled down, and Ajin placed the crown on Akimatsu’s head. Akimatsu stood up and took Ajin's hand and pulled him down the steps of the platform they were on. The room went dark, and light loomed over both of them. They were the center of attention, Ajin saw everyone’s gaze on them. “Look at me.“ Akimatsu whispered. He placed his hand on Ajin’s waist and held the other, Ajin instinctively placed his hand on Akimatsu’s shoulder. He felt light, his heart warm, and his face warmer. Akimatsu looked down on him lovingly, and Ajin couldn't help but smile.  They danced, and Akimatsu twirled him. Everyone stood speechless. Thoughts raced Ajin’s mind.“I can't believe this is happening, this feels so nice,” But then he wondered, “Why didn’t I just stay at the castle? I could’ve had this ball a while ago as a, 'Yay, I’m alive,‘ party.” He wondered why he had listened to Riki. He slid through the dance floor feeling like he was flying, his eyes locked on Akimatsu, and all Akimatsu did was stare back with a loving smile, Ajin couldn’t be happier. “Why did I listen to Riki… Where is Riki…” Ajin thought, “Why are there only two thrones? There should be three—mine, my father's, and my mother’s. Where is my throne?“

“How did the seamstresses make this robe... If I have no more seamstresses… they are dead.“ Ajin’s eyes widen. He looked behind Akimatsu, he saw people, but he couldn't form their faces. Who were these people? The background seemed to blur and only Akimatsu was clear. “Why was Akimatsu up on a tree? He’s never called me silly before. Akimatsu is serious and calm and kind, he’d never throw anything at me, and he’d never hide from me…“ Ajin looked back at Akimatsu, who was still smiling. “Riki said he’d always be with me… Where is he?“

“Whats wrong?“ Akimatsu asked. “Where is Riki?“ Ajin mumbled as a response, “Who is Riki?”

Akimatsu knew who Riki was, though he had never directly spoken to him. “Akimatsu… You’ve never called me silly, you wouldn’t throw things at me, you aren’t you…“ Ajin stuttered. He felt his eyes water, he was scared, who were these people, who was Akimatsu?