(Pls bare with me here, I suck at fight scenes ;-;)

The two princes charged at each other with an unrivaled passion and determination.  Shu slashed his axe towards Free, but he cleverly side-stepped out of the way and struck back.  Shu dodged it, much to Free's displeasure.  Free attempted to sweep his feet under the albino's, but Shu jumped in time and ended up kicking Free in the gut instead, knocking the air out of his lungs.  The prince of Dorein was dazed for a few seconds, mildly impressed of Shu's strength, but shook it off and ran.  Free slashed his bladed gauntlets at Shu's face, attempting to mildly wound him, but Shu was careful.  He was not going to allow another scar on his face to happen again.  Not again...

Yuna watched as the two kept striking at each other.  She saw the calmly confident fighting style Free was using, and the nimble and precise style of Shu.  She noticed how they were completely oblivious to the cheers of the crowd and haves of them chanting their names, respectively.  They were too caught up in their battle, that they forgot that the outside world existed at the moment.  Yuna may have been the only one who noticed, but the battle was getting a little too 'fired up' as Valt would say.  Mr. Trad didn't seem to notice, but the battle was getting more and more violent each passing minute.  Yuna was getting concerned, but of course, she didn't interfere.  Little did she know, she was the victim of this little situation the three of them had.  

Free struck at Shu once more, but it wasn't as effective as before.  His dull blades got blunt easier than the sharper ones, so it's definitely not a good idea for a real battle, but perfect for a training one.  Unfortunately, he should've used some better blades.  Shu was also tiring out and his analyzing skills were too as well.  His vision was blurring little by little, but he carried on.  To put it simply, his brain was frying.  With pure luck (or maybe not), he was somehow able to knock the gauntlets off of Free's hands and leave him defenseless.  Maybe not though...  Free saw this as an opportunity for some hand-to-hand combat, and knocked Shu's axe away from him.  Now, both of them were left weaponless.  But not defenseless.

Shu used his brain quicker than Free did, and attacked him.  Not with any weapon, or hand-to-hand, but with fire.  Free saw where this was going and decided to take part in it.  'Two can play at that game, Prince Shu of Atsui.' he thought to himself.  The two just circled each other for a few seconds when Free saw the opportunity to strike.  Shu's vision was getting foggy, but it was not from fatigue, exhaustion, or anything like that.  Free was draining his energy.  

A bright red and golden energy was coming from Shu and becoming like vapor-gold as it neared Free.  The two were already tired, but Shu still had one last trick up his sleeve.  He shook the dizziness from his head and focused all of his firepower to his palms concentrated that energy.  After spotting an opening, Shu blasted a beam of pure heat and a bright orange light Free's way, but with the last of said prince's energy, he barreled away in time not to be burnt to death.  The beam had left a large burn mark and could've injured Free very easily.  Everyone was shook at this new move, and Mr. Trad was preparing to interfere with this now overly-violent fight.  (For a better look at it, the move was like Bakugo's AP Shot).

Free realized that this might end up in a tie and he wasn't about to let that happen.  Free then stood at one side of the arena, opposite to Shu, and he locked his feet in a strong stance.  He began breathing heavily, which worried his friends.  Yuna is also worried, but she is also curious.  'Is this the power-up mechanism he told me about...?' she wondered. 

FLASHBACK:

Free and Yuna were walking down the halls during break time and talking about everything and nothing.  The topic went to their fighting styles and how they both learned. 
     "I actually learned from my younger sister.  Well, she's more of a cousin, but we grew up together, therefore we identify as sisters.  I mastered my water manipulation with the help of my mom, but the fighting came from my sister."  Yuna explained.  She may have been talking more, but Free was listening intently and paying attention to the conversation. 
     "I learned from my father how to fight and use my powers, but I also read up once in a while on my family history in the royal library."  That peaked the young princess' interest.  She began talking on how she always spent her time in the library when she wasn't training.  

Free commented once in a while, but that was literally it.  He was about as talkative as a hamster.

     "Oh I was wondering, Free.  You may have mastered your traditional fighting style and the power of draining you inherited, but you only use gauntlets in fighting.  You always win and hardly lose, but how do you do it with not much firearm at hand?" she asked.  This mildly surprised Free because no one really asks him question regarding his tactics.  'You sure are something, huh Yuna?' he internally said to himself.  He was impressed at first, but of course, he didn't let it show.

     "Well, I also have a special technique that I use in order to power myself up.  It hardens my muscles and increases the blood flow all over my body, giving me a big adrenaline rush.  It took years to master, but I finally did.  (this is basically total concentration breathing, y'all.  lmao Kimetsu no Yaiba vibez here)  Unfortunately, I can't use it too often because it takes a toll on my body." he explained.  Yuna finally understood and kept that piece of information in her mind.  She just carried on the conversation how it was, and the rest of the day was a blur.

END OF FLASHBACK

Free was breathing very heavily, then steam began coming out of his body, greatly alarming the others.  The heavy breathing soon became growling then he gave one final yell.  He shouted and when he looked up, it shocked everyone.  His muscles tensed up and there were veins showing all over his body, including his face.  He had a grin telling enemies to run, and his eyes were no longer black like the onyx-night it usually was.  They were gold, like a shining star lighting up in the dead-of-night.  He began laughing loudly, which scared the other royals.  
     

"I will beat you, Kurenai Shu.  You are backed up in a corner now, and I will pummel you to the ground!" Free shouted.  The others were shocked at this threat the normally-calm prince of Dorein just gave, but Shu did not flinch at all.  He just stood there calmly and readied his battle-stance.
     "You can threaten me however you please, but will you fulfill what you say?  Will you beat me?  Actions speak louder than words, but it you don't prove your thoughts to me, then you are just all talk, de la Hoya." Shu retorted.  The other students just stayed silent, but anyone can tell they were enjoying this battle from the looks of their faces.  

Shu just began focusing his power on him and bright orange flames engulfed him and danced around.  Shu became visible after a few seconds, but he was different.  The flames were still on him, but he looked unhurt.  Something else was bothering Yuna though.  Something on his right eye was glowing red.  It was the supposed scar that Yuna caught a glimpse of before!  The two boys charged at each other with more power than before, then it all happened too fast.  

Once they were within a few feet of each other, a bright silver light shone in the middle of the court like a force-field of some sort.  The two boys were sent flying across the field and were knocked unconscious.  All of her friends checked on each of them, and Mr. Trad called the medics.  Before she knew it, the young princess was kneeling down beside Shu and checking if he was okay.  She lifted his head onto her lap and caressed his face while the medics were still on their way.  His head and body was mildly scraped up from the fight, but she saw no immediate danger.  The most he would've gotten was a large scrape and/or a concussion.  Speaking of which, there was a small gash on the side of his stomach which alarmed the young princess.

"Dammit, Shu.  You were so reckless..." she muttered to herself.  She wanted a way to help heal him since the medics won't be here for a while.  Dam the large castle and not large enough medial system.  She looked on the other side of the field to see Wakiya, Honcho, and a boy she doesn't know around a half-conscious Free.  Mr. Trad was waiting by the entrance of the court and watching out for the medics to arrive.  

Valt and two more boys were beside me, checking on Shu.  Valt was panicking and one of the other boys, Xander I believe, was comforting him.  Xander had red hair like a vida flower in bloom.  His eyes were reddish-orange like the evening sky.  He had tan skin, and a very visible muscular build.  Beside him was a smaller boy whose name, I believe, was Ruwei.  The son a commander and close friend to King Shakadera.  Xander's grandpa.  He had long brown hair in a loose braid, fair skin, and onyx eyes like the jewel.  The two boys were checking if Shu was okay, and Xander is analyzing him with expert eyes.  That makes sense since his grandpa is a world-class healer using modern healing, ancient healing, and even magic-induced healing methods.  It's natural for him to be one as well-

Then it struck her.  Magical healing.  She remembered when she got a bad cut on her knees and her mom healed it with the powers they both inherited.  She has done it only once before as a coincidence, but she believes she can do it again. 
     "Do any of you have some water?" she asked.  The three other boys looked at her, bewildered, but who can blame them?  It's not everyday a friend announces she's thirsty while another friend is injured. 
     "Uhh, I do." Xander said.  Leave it to the Shakaderas to have supplies just lying around.  

I grabbed the canteen from his hands and began bending the water out of there.  It was an ample amount, but even a small handful can be reused.  She swirled the water around in the air, shocking the three boys and placed the cold water in the gash on Shu's lower abdomen.  He shifted a little bit unconsciously, reacting to the cold, but Yuna was unfazed.  She was concentrating hard and the others' confused stares were certainly not helping. 

     'Focus, focus, focus.  You healed once, you can do it again.' she said to herself internally.  After what seemed like an eternity, the water began glowing brighter and brighter until it was like a beam of light shining through a turquoise lake (y'all this is like PJO reference or something.  or maybe it is ATLA . . .  however you wanna put it).  The blood soon got cleaned up and the wound completely healed.  Yuna was surprised that she was able to do that on her own, but she had no time to celebrate.  She moved around to other wounds until the medics finally came.

She let them take the boys to the infirmary while they were supposed to go to lunch.   By then, the floating blob of water in her hands was the size of her palm.  She walked alongside the others in silence as they made their way to the dining hall.  The lively and energetic atmosphere hit the group, but the dark aura around the group never changed in the slightest, like a dark shadow hovering over them.  They ate on one large table in silence.  They kept on thinking how the battle earlier was getting a little too serious.  It was way too intense for it to be just rivalry.  Besides, they just met each other.  

After a few minutes of the whole group thinking and listening to the happy chatter of other students, someone came by our table.  It was... a nurse!  
     "Princess Yuna, correct?" she asked said princess.  She just nodded as the nurse smiled and continued.  "Prince Kurenai Shu of Atsui is asking for you." she said which lifter the heavy atmosphere, just a little.
     "H-he's awake?!" Valt asked, which probably gave the whole group permanent deafness.  The nurse just smiled.  He didn't care if he is at fault for the mbecoming deaf, he's just glad that his best friend is okay.
     "Yes, he's awake and so is Prince Free.  They are in different sections of the medical wing just to make sure they won't attack each other again.  Just precautions." she said.  Yuna then walked with the nurse to the room that Shu is in.  Thoughts of Shu, Free, and the battle earlier were coming back to Yuna's mind, and the nervousness never left.  

Finally they reached the room.  Yuna opened the door to be greeted by white everything.  The walls and sheets were white and there were white curtains flowing softly in the breeze coming from the open window.  She saw on the first bed a certain Albino boy.  He was looking at her with a sleepy expression mixed with worry and... Regret?  He really blended in well with the room with his white hair and clothes that must've been changed.  The only color that stood out, aside from Yuna, was Shu's eyes.  Those ruby eyes, just like the golden ruby crown he wears everyday.  His eyes hold power, life, joy, and color.  Just like how the owner of those eyes brought color to Yuna's world.  

"Hey." he said with a small smile gracing his soft lips.  The princess just smiled and walked to the edge of the bed.  Shu scooted over a little bit, letting Yuna sit down beside him, as their eyes never left the other's. 
     "So... Wanna tell me what happened in that battle?" Yuna asked, a small frown painting on her face.  Shu just looked down and didn't answer.  Yuna just sighed.
     "It's okay Shu, I won't judge you.  We all have our moments of regret, I am definitely no exception." she said.  Silence enveloped the room for a few more seconds when Shu finally said
     "...I-I don't know." That confused Yuna even more than she already was.  If that was even possible.  
     "Everything has a reason, Shu.  You just have to find it."  she said.
     "I know that!  I just really don't know right now!" he seethed through his teeth, clearly pissed, and turned his head around to face her.  Yuna just looked at him, startled and in shock.  She was not used to people yelling, because she was always sensitive to others' feelings for she can feel them too.  Shu quickly realized what he has done, and tears began pooling inside his eyes.  The thing is that Shu really doesn't know what happened there.  It just happened.  And questioning that is not helping his frustration in the slightest.
    

 "I-I'm sorry Yuna." he whispered.  There was no one else in the room with us, but he said it in a tone that only she could hear.  Yuna just grabbed his hand and caressed it.  He looked up with regret and tears in his eyes and she got closer and wrapped her arms around his torso.  Shu tensed up a bit, but eventually melted into the hug and buried his face in the crook of her neck.

"I-I don't really know what happened back there.  We just had some momentum I guess.  I have nothing against him, but I still don't know what got me so 'fired up'." he said as he air-quoted the last part.  Yuna just sat there staring at the bedsheets as if they were the most interesting thing in the world.  After a while, she finally said
     "I'm not sure what you mean by that Shu, but I know you didn't do, erm, whatever was going on in that fight on purpose." she said.  Shu's face immediately lit up with that statement.
     "Thank you, Yuna." he said.  

He slowly and carefully began leaning in to Yuna, seeing how she is reacting.  After seeing that she had just a small pink blush covering her cheeks, he began moving closer and was about to peck her cheek, but she did something that would've shocked anyone else in the room.  Luckily, there was no one there to see it.  She moved her face so instead of him kissing her cheek, their lips collided.  It was not a passionate one, but it held so many feeling, so many words, and so many unsaid thoughts that it left them in that position.  Shu was shocked at first, but eventually melted into it.  He tilted his head to the side and they both closed their eyes.  Their lips moved in sync, telling the story of their unspoked feelings for each other.  Feelings that might or might not be revealed to the world.  

They stayed like that for a few more seconds, but they eventually pulled apart.  Both of their faces were covered in a red blush enough to rival Shu's eyes, but they were too shocked to even move.  They just sat there, contemplating and processing what just happened.  Yuna was afraid that Shu didn't want that and he might end up giving her the cold shoulder, but to her surprise and relief, he just smiled.  It was a small one, but joy, happiness, and countless other feeling were written down on his face.  Yuna just smiled back as they held hands and intertwined their fingers.   

"So, are you feeling alright now?" she asked so casually. 
     "Y-yeah I am.  Let's go back to the room so we can change."  Shu said as he removed the bedsheets, slipped on his boots, and got ready to go out.
     "You mean so that you can change.  I quite like wearing pants.  They are much more comfortable and very convenient." she said.  Shu just chuckled as they made their way to the dorm.  

No one was there in the halls.  Just the occasional maid, guard, and teacher, but that was it.  They just talked the whole way to the dorms, but little did they know, that their hands remained intertwined and were never planning to let go soon.  Although, the fact that the kiss was being ignored was unfortunate, but it was only a brief moment, or even just a preview of their true feelings.  They may be ignoring it for now, but that fact still lingers in the air as if Eros is following them, planning out their little story.

Once they reached the door of the dorm, the sight surprised them.  It was the whole gang, waiting anxiously in font of the door.  The two were walking closer to them when Valt suddenly looked in their direction and recognized them immediately.
     "Hey guys, is that Shu and Yuna?" he asked the others with pure shock, written down on his face.  The others looked in our direction and Honcho said
     "Great Roktavor, it is them!" he shouted.
     "Oh my fucking gods, the fire prince lives." Lui said bluntly.  
     "Moonlight, language!" Zac shouted.  Everyone just sweat-dropped at the iconicness the others were showing.
     "Hey guys, we're alive!" Yuna shouted.  Everyone just swarmed Shu and was asking him whether he was alright.  The two just asked where Free was and the others said that he was still in the infirmary because apparently, that full-power mode really does take a toll on his body.

"Alright guys, as much I would love to answer you questions, we should go inside.  I have to change, you know?" She chuckled.  The gang finally noticed what he was wearing and they realized that he was in pajamas.  Lui was trying so hard not to laugh at Shu in pajamas, but he was miserably failing, much to Shu (and Yuna's) displeasure.  Shu just ignored him as they went inside the room.  They expected it to be empty like it always was without them, but there were two people inside chattering.  Two... Girls?!?!

The first girl was quite short and had a strong body-build.  She wore A red long-sleeved shirt with matching red pants and high-cut black lace-up boots wiht gold details.  She had a black sleeveless Chinese-style jacket on her with gold highlights and chains for decoration.  She had a katana on her waist which was kept up with a black belt.  She had brown hair in a long and curly pony-tail and eyes like the deepest shadows.  Her facial expression told everyone to back off or else she will snap their necks, which kept the princes far away from her before she could even notice them.

The second girl was wearing a light-green dress with embroidered details like plants and flowers.  She had yellow heels on and a golden tiara adorned with peridots.  Her hair was let loose and was the color of chestnuts.  Her sky-blue eyes looked as clear as day and her bright smile could light up even the darkest rooms.  

Everyone was confused when they saw them casually chatting in the room, and some were even mildly alarmed.  It wasn't everyday that two hot girls broke into your bedroom and just began chatting as if it were their room.  Yuna felt none of those emotions and instead felt shock and immense joy.  The two girls stopped their conversation to look at the gang.

"What in the name of Luinor...?" Lui muttered.  The others were too confused to even remind him that he shouldn't use Shimo's god's name in vain.  Their thoughts were interrupted by a loud and peircing 'OH MY MYSTIQUE!!!!'.  They turned their heads and found that the source of that large outburst was none other that Yuna.

"Tani! Kiyoko!  You're finally here!"

ooooooooooohhh~~ cliffhanger!!!

anyhow, yeet, i finally updated!!! i'm really sorry for the delay, i was just super focused on my other stories.  anyhow, this chapter is longer and juicier than others, so consider this an apology chapter.

Also the new OCs were made with the help of mah friends @chibithecat and @divinesimpdiana
So they are basically them.

pls forgive me, and if you like this one and ship Shui and/or like PJO, pls check out my other stories.  so ig that's it, i'm off

sayonara!!