Hello all. I hope you've been enjoying so far. I know I have. I love this world of mine.

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DaeHyun's POV

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"You sure you all will be okay?" I smiled softly at dad, taking his hands in mine. His fears were warranted of course, and his feelings about us leaving were valid, even if he was the one who suggested this little get away trip anyway. He took a couple deep breaths, his shoulders slumping. Pa sidled up behind him and wrapped his arms around his waist, resting his chin on his shoulder. I studied the pair of them. It had been years and yet they still seemed infatuated with each other. Like they couldn't get enough.

"I promise we will be okay," I assured him, giving his hands a gentle squeeze. "I know that if something DOES happen, which it won't, that you're only a call away. Emperor Nakamoto said we were very safe at his palace." Going somewhere dad was familiar with helped immensely I'm sure. "I love you guys." I swept them up in a hug. I felt their arms go around me. Sandwiching me. Keeping me safe. And all at once I realized soon I would be left to navigate the world mostly alone, with them cheering me along on the sidelines. It was a scary thought.

"Dae." I turned, seeing Hojun standing on the steps leading up to the jet. He motioned me forward. "Let's get going silly." I took a breath, grounding myself. I wasn't going to invite Hojun. Not really. I never meant for this to drag on like it had. But when dad proposed the idea it struck me how little friends I had that were the same age as I. Sure I had the twins. And I had ChaoXing and Sungbin. But they were all older or younger. So in a momentary lapse of judgment (and maybe panic) I called him up. Plus, I knew the sleeping arrangements. And I wasn't enthused, even if I had done it a thousand times before this.

"Coming!" I called to him. I turned to dad and pa, getting one last hug and kiss from them before finally mounting the stairs to the jet. Hojun reached out and captured my hand in his. I let him. I shouldn't have, and I knew that. But I did. Li Jie, seated all by himself on the first row, swiveled to face us as we walked by. Hojun led us towards the back. We paused at a row, and I took the time to study the little arrangement. Little table drug over in front of the two seats. A small stack of board games piled in one small section. A portable DVD player and screen set up in the middle.

"Might as well travel in style, right?" Hojun said. I could only nod. I took the seat next to the window. Hojun plopped into the spot beside me. ChaoXing met gaze from across the aisle. She, of course, was with Sungbin, who appeared to be asleep already. She quirked an eyebrow. I simply shook my head. I wasn't going to get into it with her. She was just a kid. She wouldn't understand. I gazed out the window. "Hey." I jumped when fingers brushed mine on the armrest, instinctively jerking away. "Sorry." He mumbled out am apology. "You okay?"

"I...yeah," I lied. "I'm fine. Just dandy." Lies. All lies. But of course I would pretend. I had to. It was the sort of thing I would do when I eventually became king. Hojun frowned thoughtfully. He was more observant than I gave him credit for. I peered towards the front of the jet, at the slumped form of my best friend. I made out the outline of headphones on his head. I wanted to bad to get up and join him. Maybe listen to whatever he was playing with him. But Hojun captured my attention once again with the mini DVD player.

The jet ride felt like it went on forever even though it was only a few hours. Hojun and I watched a movie and played a couple board games. Sungbin didn't stay asleep long and soon he and ChaoXing were playing what looked like a complicated game of house with some dolls she had brought. Weimin had come along with the the most of us, though he sat in a row by himself, reading a book, earbuds in his ears. And Li Jie... well he just ignored us all.

"Welcome." We were greeted promptly when we landed and began disembarking. Lie Jie busied himself by gathering our luggage. And even though I wanted to tell him to stop, I let him be. He seemed to want to stay distracted. I shook hands with Emperor Nakamoto, allowing our little ragtag party to be led along. To a rather large town car, suitable to hold us all. Weimin climbed in front, while Sungbin and ChaoXing scrambled to the third row. That left the middle to me, Hojun, and Li Jie. I swallowed hard.

"I'll sit in the middle," Hojun announced without missing a beat. And even though I was relieved for it...I couldn't help feeling a little disappointed all the same. Li Jie plopped himself onto the right side, instantly fixing his gaze out the window. "Dae, you okay?" Hojun asked lowly, in a tone so soft I almost didn't catch it. And he was right beside me. "You seem out of it. You okay? Tired? Do you want to nap when we get to the palace?" But already I was shaking my head. This was supposed to be part vacation. And I didn't want to waste it on sleep. Even if I suddenly felt exhausted and like I could feasibly sleep for the next 5 years of my life. Maybe then things would be easier. "Can I hold your hand?" Hojun asked instead after I'd shot down his idea for a nap.

"Yeah, that's fine," I replied distractedly. I felt his fingers thread through mine. "We should do something tonight. Head to downtown Tokyo or something," I continued. I was hoping Li Jie would agree with me. But it was like he couldn't hear me at all. I wanted to scream. I wanted to hit things. I wanted to throw a tantrum like I was suddenly 4 years old again and didn't have a handle on my emotions yet.

I just wanted my best friend back.

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Li Jie's POV

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This will be fun, yes. But this is also business for you. Your job will be to be their assistant while you're there. And BEHAVE. I will not have our name dragged through the mud just because you and the prince can't seem to get along these days.

Pop's voice rang through my head as I lugged DaeHyun and ChaoXing's bags through the Japanese palace to their respective borrowed rooms. He'd given me quite the stern talking to before we departed. I stopped by ChaoXing's room first. They were all downstairs, in Emperor Nakamoto's grand throne room, greeting dignitaries and being reintroduced to Shotaro. No place for me. And before now it never bothered me. I knew my lot in life. I wasn't born into a wealthy family. Well. Not traditionally wealthy anyway. And we were very fortunate to have been under Yixing's reign. He treated us with the same kind of respect he did other royals, even if by all accounts he didn't even have to acknowledge our existence. We got lucky in life.

I set ChaoXing's little suitcase in her room, glancing around briefly before leaving. I wandered down the halls slowly, taking on the traditional paintings on the wall. Some tapestries. An ornate looking vase on a pedestal that looked like it had stood there for a thousand years or more, yet not a speck of dust to be seen. It was a beautifully kept palace. One almost rivaling the Chinese palace I'd grown up in. I stopped outside a single wooden door. Extremely unimpressive compared to the walls around me. But I swung the door open, revealing a beautiful, lush room. DaeHyun's quarters. And Hojun. And...mine.

"Why do you even want me in here sire?" I asked aloud, albeit to no one. I rolled his suitcase to the foot of one of the queen sized beds, realizing on dismay there was only two of them. Great. I'd have to watch DaeHyun and Hojun share a bed. Why couldn't I have just been put up in the servant's quarters? It's where I belonged anyway. "I don't get it. Why? Why do we keep playing this game?" And why did I keep going along with it? This was becoming increasingly unfair. On all parties involved. I sighed, busying myself with getting the room ready for DaeHyun when he arrived. Making sure he had everything he needed. Making sure the bathroom attached to our room was adequately stocked. Fluffing pillows and smoothing over blankets even though the room was immaculate. Finally I collapsed in the chair tucked into the corner, sinking into its plushness.

"Jie?" My ears perked at a familiar voice. A voice that sent my heart racing laps around my ribcage. But I knew that it shouldn't have. So I forced myself to keep calm, rising and bowing as DaeHyun entered, Hojun trailing behind him like a lost puppy. On the jet ride over DaeHyun had changed from a more relaxed style into a sleek black suit, coupled with a blood red tie. ChaoXing had changed into a cute little pink dress (King Junmyeon was fond of the color, and both his children frequently wore it). He looked...expensive? Exactly like a prince or other royalty. Especially after he'd also slicked his hair down. He looked older. Handsome. Way less like the goofy kid I'd come to associate with my best friend in life.

Also way out of my league. In this life and any.

"Hello sire," I finally gurgled out, wincing at the sound of my own voice. "I trust the meeting went okay?" DaeHyun huffed a sigh, and since I'd grown up with him I knew that meant it went okay and he didn't really want to talk about it. "Any specific requests for right now?" Severvant Li Jie I was, servant Li Jie I'd be. "A bath? Something to drink? Maybe you're hungry. I could call up something to eat." I straightened, facing his thoughtful expression. His hand absentmindedly went to rub his stomach. Ah. He was hungry.

"Some food would be nice," he admitted quietly, almost shyly. I simply smiled, feeling triumphant at having accurately guessed his needs. At least this time. "Enough for all of us," he stressed. "And can you please check on ChaoXing and see if she needs anything? She and Sungbin are by themselves."

"Of course sire," I agreed easily. "I'll see to it right away." The barest trace of a smile touched his features. Finally. He always did have a nice, easy smile. I retreated out of the room, swinging by ChaoXing's room. I poked my head in.

"Xingie, do you...." I trailed off, taking in the sight before me. ChaoXing and Sungbin, seated cross-legged together on the bed. Shotaro sitting with them. All three appeared engrossed in something on the bed between them. The sound of my voice, however, snapped ChaoXing out of it. "Sorry to interrupt miss," I apologized with a quick bow. "I was just coming to see if you needed anything from me."

"I'm good Li Jie," she said crisply. I wrinkled my nose in amusement. Her "authority voice." Something she'd yet to perfect. "How's my brother?" I shrugged.

"Hungry," was all I said. "I'm going to go get him something to eat. If you need anything give me a buzz." She nodded, easily distracted after by Sungbin. I smiled as I backed away. Those two... They sort of reminded me of DaeHyun and I when we were that small. Close. I missed it. No one told me when you grew up things became so, so, so different. No one warned me the person I once felt the closest to now felt like a total stranger in the skin of my best friend.

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DaeHyun's POV

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"Li Jie sure is attentive," Hojun mused once he had left. He was. Always had been. Sometimes he knew my needs before even I did. He was very good at his job. It was large in part why I was so thankful he was willing to travel around with me. "You guys are close?" That was definitely phrased as a question.

"Yes," I answered. "We've grown up together so it just kind of happened. He's...he's my best friend." Hojun frowned thoughtfully but nodded all the same. "Fuck I just want him back," I admitted. I didn't even really feel sad. Just sort of numb. "I want things to go back like they used to be."

"But why?" Hojun asked. Genuinely curious. "He doesn't even like you that way. Why bother giving him the time of day?" I gaped. "I know you like him Dae. And that's fine. But..." He paused, seeming shy all of a sudden. "But he obviously can't see what an amazing person he's passing up on."

"I..." I'd known Hojun for awhile. And never had a seen this side of him before. This mushy, sentimental side. "Thank you Hojun." He beamed. Then, quick as lightning, pecked my lips. Sparks flew for a second.

"I like you Dae. A lot," he confessed. "Will you be my boyfriend?"

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Hi it's done I gotta work bye.