I told my friend I couldn't post any more chapters until I was ten ahead again so I'd better get writing.

To celebrate everything happening at once here's an update. Enjoy.

...

Junmyeon's POV

...

I smeared a hand across my face, stifling a yawn. I'd spent the better part of the night sitting in my study going through the pile of domestic disputes, writing my input to be sent back to the towns they came from. I didn't lay down in bed until close to four in the morning. And here I was, up again at eight because at the last minute I had guests coming from Japan (Heechan cautiously woke me up with that bit of news).

I walked into the dining room, expecting to find it empty, but was surprised when a sullen Yixing slouched over his untouched breakfast, looking like he hadn't slept a wink last night. Wordlessly, I sat at the head of the table. Neither of us said anything as a butler hurried to serve me whatever the chef had thought up this morning. I picked up my chopsticks, but all I really did was push my food around. Only the sound of silence greeted us both, and it was damn near suffocating.

"Yixing, I..." A voice a knew all to well spoke up, shattering the silence like glass. We both turned as Luhan made his way inside the dining hall. "Oh, Junmyeon, you're up. Good morning." He bowed quickly in my direction, but was soon on his way to Yixing's side. He began doting on him in a way I'd honestly never seen before, and it was kind of fascinating to watch. "Your mother is going to kill me if I take you home sick," he mumbled.

Sick? I guess that explained his blank expression. Luhan forced what appeared to be a thermometer in his mouth. Yixing just sat there, letting it all happen. Worry began to gnaw away at my stomach. I'd never seen him this unresponsive to Luhan.

"39 degrees." Luhan whistled lowly. "Alright Xing back to bed with you. Come on." He helped the Chinese Prince to his feet, and in all honestly of Luhan hadn't been there Yixing just might have toppled back to the floor. Be that as it may, he swayed unsteadily on his feet, blinking at his surroundings like he didn't remember getting here. Luhan led him out of the dining hall, and I was left alone once again.

"Jaeseop," I said the man hovering in the corner of the room. He sprung forward. "Go tell chef Wonsik that we're having company for lunch, and that he needs to make sure he has something special prepared."

"Yes Your Majesty," he said, scurrying off. I glanced down at my breakfast again, finally lifting the chopsticks to my lips and taking a few hesitant bites. I still didn't feel particularly hungry, but I also knew if I didn't eat something it would be bad. Especially with as little sleep as I'd gotten last night.

"Sire." I looked up at Heechan, just barely catching a sigh before it escaped passed my lips. "I've just been informed the royal family from Japan are here already." I groaned and plunked my head on the table. "Would you like me to have them wait."

"No, no that won't be necessary," I said quickly, sitting up straight once again. "I was done anyway. Have someone escort them to the throne room. I shall meet them there."

"Right away sire," Heechan said, disappearing from sight. I shoved my plate away from me, then rose and strode to the throne room. With a twist to my insides I realized mother and father's thrones had been whisked away, leaving only mine. I rubbed my temples with my fingers. With every new thing it just felt like too much. I sat down, glancing at the windows across from me.

"Your Majesty." My gaze snapped back as Heechan spoke. I rose just as quickly as I'd sat, meeting the guests in the middle of the throne room. Heechan retreated the way he'd come. So it was all my doing today.

"Welcome, Emperor Nakamoto," I greeted, bowing respectfully. I heard a pleased hum above me. "Please, make yourselves at home."

"Hello, King Junmyeon," he said back. "I'm sorry we couldn't make it to your festivities a couple days ago. We were in the Philippines at the time. I heard it was quite something." I shrugged. Sure. You could say that. "And this is my son, Yuta." A little boy of about ten peeked out from behind his father, his curious eyes roaming his surroundings. I found myself smiling. I always had a soft spot for kids.

"Hello Yuta," I said to him. He regarded me with serious eyes. "Is this your first time in Korea?"

"Yeah," he replied, stepping away from his father now that he felt a little more comfortable. "Your palace is really pretty King Kim." I smiled brightly. "You should come see ours some time."

"I will do that," I promised him. "It's almost lunch time. I've had my chef prepare something special. Are you hungry?"

"Starving!" Yuta exclaimed. I chuckled, taking his hand in mine and leading him down to the dining hall. Maybe this wouldn't be as bad as I'd thought.

...

Yixing's POV

...

Maybe it was just me being delusional, but I could've sworn I just felt someone crawl into bed with me. I'd spent the better part of the day here, fading in and out of consciousness while my fever burned my insides alive. I groaned, attempting to piece together what was going on. For a moment I thought nothing was, but then I felt that all too familiar feeling of someone's breath hitting my skin.

"Sick..." I croaked out, craning to see of my assumptions were correct. Junmyeon peeked up at me, heavy bags under his eyes. He breathed out a small sigh, burying his face back in the crook of my neck.

"Get me sick for all I care," he said, his voice slightly muffled by my shirt. "I'm so tired Xing. I spent all afternoon entertaining the Nakamotos. They've finally gone home, and I could gladly collapse." I hummed in sympathy. "I just want to sleep."

"With me?" I teased, watching as he grew shy and flustered once again. But I'd admit, I was loving this. It felt so natural. He murmured something quietly, in Mandrin, much to my surprise. He must've been practicing. "What?" I asked, believing my fever fried brain was playing tricks on me.

"I miss you," he repeated. So my mind hadn't deceived me. "I've missed you. Every day. I'm glad your here." He paused. "Why?" he asked, switching back to the language most comfortable to him. "Why are you here and not with her?"

"Can't I want to see you?" I asked instead, becoming more alert as the conversation progressed. Junmyeon, however, was a few sentences away from slumber. I took in what he was wearing. Pajama bottoms and my oversized shirt again. I hooked an arm around his waist. He squeaked, but then sighed happily. "I missed you too Junnie," I continued, gazing up at the ceiling as I spoke in fear that if I looked at him I wouldn't continue. "A lot more than I should have. As for why I agreed to stay here, despite the fact I do have a fiance waiting for me..." I sighed. "It's not as simple as you might think."

"But you moved on," he pointed out, a slightly bitter tone coating his blunt response. "You don't need me in your life, right?" I turned my attention to him, curious and horrified. "You make it look so easy," he added, this time his voice dropping to a whisper. "You make it seem so simple. That I can just look at some girl and go 'that's the one' and have that be that. But I just can't."

"Do you honestly think it was an easy choice to make?" I asked him gently, feeling my insides boil, though I wasn't sure if it was from my sickness or my anger. "Do you think I just waltzed into some palace and plucked up the first girl I saw? Do you think I could ever forget someone like you? Someone I loved?" And as soon as that got passed my lips, I realized it. He froze, refusing to look at me. "I can't just 'get over you' Junnie, try as I might. And don't you dare say I don't need you in my life, because I do."

"You loved me?" he asked. I swallowed hard. I hated confronting my feelings. But once it came before I could stop it. Truth be told I wasn't even fully sure myself. It wasn't just simple like, that much was obvious. That was for Ying Yue. But him...

"In a way, I suppose so," I said at last. "I couldn't just say I liked you, otherwise it would make my present actions very questionable." A lot more than they already were, but I'd leave that out of it. "I definitely wouldn't be reflecting on those two weeks now like they just happened yesterday if all I did was like you."

"You don't like me anymore," he sighed. "Or love or whatever. You love Ying Yue." Well, I guess I fooled him then. And only him it would seem.

"I like her, sure," I said at last. "She's a nice girl." I moved away so I could see him properly. He blinked at me. "But she's not you. None of them were ever meant to replace you. But you know as well as I do that we have to get married and carry on our bloodlines."

"I hate it," he spat, and the venom in his voice was enough to make me pause. "I hate it so much because I can't ever get you out of my mind and even if I did it's not like I'd ever find my forever with the women who sometimes literally throw themselves at me." He gazed up steadily. "I've already found my forever."

"Your corny," I laughed, pecking his cheek. "I'm glad you came here to see me tonight. What a welcomed surprise."

"Yeah, well," he responded, once again going shy on me. I cooed at him. "I always did kind of sleep better when we were together."

"Same," I admitted, reaching blindly in the dark and flipping open the music box. "I'll admit also, this music box has lulled me to sleep every night for two years."

"Is that the one I got you?" he asked, the smile evident in his voice.

"Yep," I replied. "The very same." He smiled a sleepy smile, resuming his favorite position. I squirmed as his breath once again hit my neck, but at the same time it soothed me. "Sleep tight Junnie," I murmured.

For a good long while I lay there listening to the combination of soft music and steady breathing. I felt content. More so than I had in a long time. I'd forgotten exactly how much I missed this. Missed him. Being close to Ying Yue didn't even compare to being with Junmyeon, and I was stupid for not realizing it sooner.

"Yixing?" I glanced over as Luhan let himself into my room. "Oh." A soft smile overtook his features. "I'll be quiet then," he said to me, sidling up to my bedside. He placed the back of his hand against my forehead. "Thank god I think your fever finally broke. You had me worried today."

"It felt like I was being cooked inside out," I moaned. "I feel a lot better now though." And I was not by any means a superstition person, but it seemed more than a mere coincidence that I began to feel better the minute Junmyeon crawled into bed with me. My grip on him tightened just ever so slightly.

"Random bought of sickness then," Luhan replied. He set some things on the bedside table. "I brought water and soup and medicine and you know where to find me if you need anything. I shall be back later. Let's let him sleep a little while longer."

"Alright," I agreed. "Thank you Lu. See you later." Luhan reached out and ruffled my hair, then padded quietly out of my room. I let go of Junmyeon and carefully scooted away, rising to a sitting position with my back against the headrest. I glanced down at him, a smile gently tugging at the corners of my mouth. Why did this scene feel so natural? I really hoped, whenever the time came, I'd wake up and have the same reaction to Ying Yue.

Though I'm pretty sure I wouldn't. It was a hard pill to swallow, but I was starting to realize that no matter how much I liked her she just wasn't the love of my life. She didn't make the stars dance the way I expected them to. Her kisses didn't send my brain into overdrive, just shy of short-circuiting altogether. Her touch didn't set my skin alight. Her presence was comforting, sure, but not really in that I-want-to-comfortably-spend-the-rest-of-my-life-with-you sort of way.

But damn he sure did.

...

An uneven amount for both of them but I didn't want to spend the majority of Junmyeon's part with him entertaining Yuta (also thanks NCT for letting me borrow him).