Bokuto watched from his perch in his favorite tree as Akaashi walked out of the woods. It was getting dark and Akaashi's father had sent a group to find Akaashi. In this group was a very well dressed man who Akaashi had described earlier.

It broke his heart to watch Akaashi cower in fear at this man's touch. If he could he would make this man a weak sword that would break and shatter the bones in his feet. Bokuto climbed down and walked at the edge of the woods towards his home. He heard screaming from the group and froze.

Akaashi was screaming.

Bokuto turned back around and prayed he wouldn't be charged with treason. He rushed to the group and put on his most panicked face possible. "I heard screaming! Is everyone okay?"

Akaashi shielded his face, holding himself and trying to pull away from Satoru.

"Is the Prince okay?!"

Akaashi was forced to stand straight by Satoru, who huffed. "He fell."

"I've seen him fall sir. And no offense to you but he is very quiet and-"

"Who are you to talk to a future king like that? Bow before I make you."

Bokuto paused. He glanced at Akaashi, who had blood streaming down his face. Akaashi wouldn't look at him.

Bokuto lowered to his knees and bowed fully. "I apologize."

"You should be sorry." Satoru grabbed Akaashi's arm. "Your father told me to bring you home and you chose to spit on me. Just wait until we're in private."

Akaashi whined. "You're hurting me."

"Oh get over it."

Akaashi was pulled up the hill. Bokuto got up and sprinted back home, his chest hurting by the time he was there. His parents stared at him, worried. "Kotarou?"

"Keiji... he..."

Bokuto's mother sat him down and rubbed his back. "Slowly. What happened?"

"His suitor just cut his face. I'm pretty sure he's about to do worse."

His mother sighed. "We can't do anything."

"Not yet. I'm going to make him a sword."

"Oh good God."

****

Akaashi watched as a maid poured dry rice on the floor, terrified. Satoru had made him wear shorts and forced him down the stairs. Satoru was now in a chair and had a hold on Akaashi's wrist.

"Are you listening?"

"I am."

"When you are told, you are going to kneel on the rice."

Akaashi nodded. The maid stepped away and gave Akaashi an empathetic look. Akaashi looked at Satoru again before kneeling like he was told. Immediately it hurt his knees. They were soft from lotions and balms and baths to help his skin. Now the skin was being torn into by rice and it hurt.

"You stay there until I come and get you. There's a guard watching you and he is completely allowed to hurt you if you get up."

Akaashi nodded. Satoru kissed his cheek and left. Akaashi just closed his eyes and waited. He completely zoned out and the pain filled.

It must have been hours before he heard anything. It wasn't even Satoru coming back to tell him he was allowed to get up. It was a maid with a tray of bowls from tonight's meal. His stomach rumbled at the sight. He hadn't ate all day long.

A few more hours passed and he could no longer feel his legs. It was only a matter of time before he fainted or collapsed.

Akaashi shifted slightly and felt exhaustion and nausea both hit him. He looked back and the sun was rising. "Sir please... help... I feel ill..."

"I was ordered to only watch and punish sir, I'm so sorry."

Akaashi's eyes watered. "Please. Please I really do feel ill and I don't want it to get worse."

"I'm sorry. I promise not to harm you if you do get ill and I will call for your mother or sister."

Akaashi nodded. His fingertips were numb and his head felt foggy. He tried to shift again to help his legs but instead his hands slipped from their place on the wall. He fainted and his head hit the floor. The guard hurried out of the room and found Akaashi's mother.

"Ma'am!"

Akaashi's mother turned. "Oh honey slow down. It's early, why are you rushing about?"

"It's Keiji. He's fainted."

"He shouldn't be walking around this early. Is he in his room?"

"No ma'am. I think it's better if I show you."

She followed hurriedly behind the guard until they came across Akaashi. She bent down and saw the rice and the blood. His face was still bloody. She lifted his head. "Keiji! Keiji wake up!"

Akaashi coughed, startling awake.

"Who did this to you?"

"Satoru..."

She took a deep breath. "Do you just want to sleep here?"

"Mhmm..."

"Alright." His mother motioned to a servant nearby. "Would you mind cleaning this mess up? I also need warm water and a cloth. Get someone else to get that and from there I need bedding and a pair of pants for him."

Akaashi whimpered.

"What is it?"

"I feel so bad... I don't want to marry him..."

"I can see what I can do."

Akaashi started to cough. He turned away, curling in on himself. He was covered in his mother's shawl as he tried to rest. Not a single maid or nurse was allowed to touch him throughout the next half hour. His blood was cleaned and his pants were changed. His mother wrapped him in blankets and ordered a guard to carry Akaashi to her room where he would stay for the rest of the day. She personally brought him food and water and made sure he was comfortable.

He barely talked and barely ate, his apetite gone. It made sense because of his weakened state but his mother found it painful to watch. Finally, she put on clothes to wear outside.

"Someone get me my horse!"

A servant ran out of the room. A guard followed her to the gate and got on his own horse. "Where are we going maam?"

"Bokuto Kotarou's home."

"That is my nephew."

"Oh really? Lovely then, show me the way."

He smiled. "Yes ma'am."

****

Bokuto looked up from chopping wood as he had been asked to do and stared at the approaching horses. They were covered in gold and silver and he could see the queen from here. "Oh shit."

The horses stopped and Bokuto wiped the sweat from his brow. He bowed slightly. "Good morning miss. Is there something you need from me?"

"I need you to lay with Keiji. He's very weak right now and he trusts you a lot. I can't stay in my room with him. And do not worry, my room is a restricted area so the King and Keiji's suitor are not allowed to even step foot into the hall."

"Of course. I'd need to wash off somehow but I would love to lay with him."

"I have a bath you can use. If you wish you can bathe with my son but do not deflower him in my room. It's disrespectful."

"No, no! Never!"

She eyed him before gesturing to the guard behind her. "That is your uncle. Ride with him."

Bokuto smiled and got on the horse. He clung to his uncle. They started back towards the castle and Bokuto grew worried. What did Satoru do to Akaashi? Why hurt him?

"So you've got a thing going on with the Prince?"

"You could say that."

"Good. Kill the bastard who hurt him if you can."

"What'd he do?"

"Made him kneel on rice. And cut his face."

Bokuto hummed. "Good to know."

They got to the castle and the queen led Bokuto upstairs. Amaya met them halfway and looked surprised. "Mama? What's going on?"

"Keiji is sick again. He is in my room so I am taking Kotarou there to keep him safe."

Amaya stared as they passed by. Bokuto was shown to a bath and his clothes were taken to be cleaned. Fresh clothes were set outside the tub and he scrubbed as much dirt as he could from his body. The tub was filled with dirty water that he quickly drained after finishing. He dried off and put on a new set of clothes. He got oddly clean now and it was like he was being cleaned over and over again by even the air.

When he was shown Akaashi he just sort of stood there for a moment. He carefully got on the bed and kissed Akaashi's temple. "Keiji."

Akaashi whined softly.

"Oh my... you don't look too well right now. Do you mind if I lay here with you?"

Akaashi reached out and huddled into Bokuto. "Mm cold."

Bokuto grabbed another blanket and held onto Akaashi. "Better?"

"Mhmm."

Bokuto ran his fingers through Akaashi's hair. Akaashi whimpered instead of whining this time. "Shit. What's wrong?"

"Hurts right there. He hit me in the head to make me quiet for a moment so he could cut me."

Bokuto checked the spot and sure enough his hair was matted with blood in that spot. "Gotcha. Can you move at all? We need to wash your hair."

Akaashi nodded. "Slowly."

Bokuto eased him up and uncovered him. He went to the door. "Hi um... can we get some warm water? And a towel? I also need soap for him. It's for his hair."

The servant by the door nodded. He went downstairs and soon returned with what Bokuto needed. He held Akaashi close and put his head over the bowl.

"It's warm so it should feel okay."

"Mhmm."

Bokuto scooped up some of the water and eased it around the cut. Akaashi was fine until water touched the wound and he whined loudly. "I promise I would hurt you on purpose. I'm so sorry."

Akaashi grabbed Bokuto's sleeve and just nodded. The whole time he tried not to cry. Rinsing was easy but the actual soap made him start to cry. He begged for it to stop over and over until Bokuto finally got the soap out of his hair. He wrapped Akaashi's head in a towel.

"I'm so sorry."

Akaashi held onto Bokuto, sobbing. "I know! I know! It just hurts so bad!"

Bokuto rocked him and immediately regretted doing so as Akaashi clamped a hand over his mouth. Bokuto hurried him to the bathroom where Akaashi threw up. "Damn it."

Akaashi spit and let his body lean into Bokuto. "Water... and cold press. For my forehead."

Bokuto put him back on the bed and traded the dirtied water out with cold water and a cloth. Akaashi got a glass of water that he sipped from until he felt that it would be okay to put the cloth on his forehead he laid against Bokuto, this time with the curtains closed and with only two blankets.

He was back asleep within minutes and Bokuto kept him that way for hours. He slept so much and was so ill. This wasn't natural. This wasn't normal. This definitely wasn't right.