It was day four of Akaashi's imprisonment and he was starting to feel restless. Spring had been tugging at the snow and melting it a bit and birds were landing on his balcony. The sun even had peeked out of the clouds that morning. It was a fiery orange and he had ate that morning on his balcony in his night clothes.

It had been absolutely amazing. Mornings like this Amaya would walk with him outside.

He was going to walk outside but he was currently trying to find his coat with a hood on it. If his father saw him the snow would turn red and his nose would be broken. Akaashi found the coat and happily slipped it on over his winter clothes. He pulled the hood up and looked at himself in the mirror.

Thin and frail as always but today the sun was gracing him with some color in his cheeks.

He made sure everything was situated and double checked that he had his dagger just in case. Akaashi tugged his bell and a servant ran in. He helped the younger boy compose himself before smiling. "Would you tell Amaya that I'm walking and perfectly healthy?"

"Yes sir."

Akaashi hummed. "And I need a basket of fruit. Don't ask what for. Just bring it to the garden entrance."

"Yes sir." The servant rushed off and Akaashi closed the door, locking it. He opened his window and climbed out to the balcony. He closed the window and proceeded to climb down a good distance. He finally got a hold of the apple tree under the balcony and headed down that to the ground.

He then went to the garden entrance where a guard was standing with his basket of fruit. "Thank you. Would you like an apple?"

"No thank you sir."

Akaashi nodded. "Do you know just how far that boy who visited the other day lives away? I want to bring him this as a thanks."

"He lives closer to the well. Bokuto Kotarou."

"Thank you so much." Akaashi headed towards the field, watching for patches of ice. He came across several little houses that had smaller children shouting and running around. He smiled at the sight, still a bit confused as to why they were being so rowdy and why they were so dirty. When he became king he'd know more hopefully.

He saw a woman picking ivy off the side of her house and thanked himself for putting on gloves. "Here ma'am, let me help." He reached up and pulled the rest of the ivy down.

The older woman beamed at him. "Oh thank you young man. This body isn't what it used to be. The cold and all."

"Oh no problem at all. Here." He handed her an apple from the basket and she chuckled softly.

"You are so well mannered."

"I try to be. I do have a question if you don't mind miss?"

"Go ahead."

"Where would I find Bokuto Kotarou?"

"Oh! That little trouble maker decided to go hunting today. He should be back any minute with a rabbit or two."

Akaashi nodded. "Trouble maker?"

"I kid, I kid. He's the most helpful boy around. He shoveled all of the trails on his own." She picked up the basket full of ivy. "He hunts for us too and helps on repairs. And he's a great metal worker."

"Oh that's wonderful. He seems sweet."

"Oh he is! Such a flirt too!"

Akaashi chuckled softly. "Alrighty then."

The woman pointed to the edge of the woods and Bokuto walked out of the trees. From here Akaashi saw him put something on a table before stretching and plopping down in front of the house. He knocked on the door and an older male came out of the house. "Looks like he caught a rabbit."

"Oh lovely. If you'll excuse me I need to go talk to him." Akaashi started back towards Bokuto's house. As he approached he saw Bokuto spreading snow over his hands and shaking it off. Akaashi finally got close to the home and stood still.

Bokuto looked up and waved. "Hey! Hey! Hey! We didn't ask for a delivery bud, sorry."

Akaashi lowered his hood and made eye contact with Bokuto. Bokuto's eyes widened and he hurried to bow. He tapped his father's leg and he did as well.

Akaashi sighed softly. "Please don't bow. It's embarrassing."

Both stood. Akaashi held out the basket of fruits. "I brought this as thanks for saving me. I would have gotten worse if it weren't for you."

Bokuto stepped forward and took the basket. He noticed the bruise on Akaashi's cheek. "Sir, what happened?"

"I fell into my doorframe because I was delirious."

Bokuto nodded. He leaned down and picked down some now, packing it in his hands. "May I?"

Akaashi turned his head and Bokuto pressed the snow in place. He cringed.

"Sorry!"

"It's okay, it just hurts a bit."

"Here, come sit inside." Bokuto led Akaashi into his home and sat him down on the bed. From there Bokuto's mother fussed over the bruise on Akaashi's face. Bokuto blushed, whispering who Akaashi was to his mother.

She smiled. "I remember when they announced your birth... it was so exciting."

Akaashi smiled.

"Back then your father was so kind to everyone. It's a shame what happened."

Akaashi nodded. Bokuto looked over. "Wait what?"

"My mother passed away when giving birth to me. It scarred my father and he hasn't been kind since then." Akaashi fixed his coat. "It's alright though I guess. He seems to love my mother now."

Bokuto walked over and put the snow in a cloth and held it on Akaashi's cheek. "I'll remove this in a second."

Akaashi hummed. He stared at Bokuto, not meaning to do so. Bokuto tried to avert his gaze, honestly thinking it was rude to keep eye contact with someone with such a high status. Akaashi took the now slightly dripping cloth and pressed it under Bokuto's eye. "You had some dirt."

Bokuto glanced at him again before quickly thanking him. Bokuto's mother laughed. "Kotarou relax, he's just trying to be nice. Not all of the royals are mean."

Akaashi yawned and relaxed a bit.

Bokuto shuffled around. He had no idea how to act right now. Akaashi was scarily quiet and it made him nervous. Bokuto's mother sat by Akaashi. "How are you? Have things been okay?"

Akaashi smiled. "They've been pretty good, thank you. I have been sick as you saw but I'm doing better."

Bokuto left the house for a moment before coming back and looking around. "I kind of feel like it's rude to just leave. I have to go clear a tree from one of the pathways."

Akaashi stood. "Would you like some help?"

Bokuto smiled. "If you want to help then I guess, yeah." He headed out the door and Akaashi followed him. Bokuto grabbed an axe from next to the house and hesitated. "Have you ever dealt with an axe?"

"A few times. I'm sure I can learn."

Bokuto picked up another axe. Akaashi put his hood back on and followed Bokuto, praying Amaya wouldn't tell on him.

Bokuto glanced back and smiled. "I like your coat."

"Thank you." Akaashi sped up and walked beside Bokuto instead of slightly behind him. This should be fun.