[Fantasy Theme AU]

There's going to be a lot of switching between Nagito's and Y/N's POV, so look out for that.

My Nagito chapters are long as hell SMH

[Word Count: 8100+]

{WARNING: VERY BRIEF MENTION OF SUICIDE}

Requested by: Artgirl21

Y/N's POV

Walking on cobblestone barefooted during the summer was certainly an experience I did not want to have to deal with, but I had to. I couldn't afford shoes, not even sandals. In this kingdom, my family made up the ten percent of households below the poverty line.

I was hauling off the corn that my family grew to the market, trying to use all of my strength to pedal the bicycle forwards. People occasionally passed by, not bothering to help since this was normal: a seven year old child doing labor for her family.

Of course, I hated it with my entire being. Just being so young yet doing so much stripped me away from my childhood. While all of the other kids were playing outside with their friends, I was stuck doing all of my parents' dirty work.

From the moment I could formulate thoughts, I loathed them: an uncaring mother who uses her time to only pity herself and a father who never stood up and took his position of a man. He believes that he doesn't belong to anyone, thus resulting in him sleeping and messing around with other women in the town.

We all lived in a tiny district in the kingdom called Ronpa, ruled by a queen and king. I've always looked up to those two with high hopes that my parents could be like them. The queen was always so kind and loving towards the king, and in return, he spent every moment making sure that she was loved and supported.

Why couldn't my parents be like that?

Sometimes, while my mom screams at me to clean the dishes or my dad comes home hoping to take me to meet a 'client', I would silently wish that I was someone else's child. Someone who was loving and cared about my existence, but that was too much to ask for.

Around the time I turned five, my mother's friend, Kyoko, came and picked me up from school. While the two of us were walking down that bumpy road, she told me a story to pass time.

Sometime before of after I was born, a child was kidnapped from the castle. It was the king's and queen's child, a small baby girl.

However, the two royal parents did not notice until the next morning as the baby did not put up a fight while she was being kidnapped. She slept soundly through the entire ordeal, and was never to be seen again.

Rumor actually had stated that the child was a creation through witchcraft and black magic instead of more "natural" means, but no one can really confirm this conspiracy.

By the time Kyoko finished the story, I was facing the front door of my house. She smiled, waving me goodbye before I pushed open the door to find my mother on the couch with the entire house looking as if a tornado had unleashed its fury upon it.

"Mother." I said blankly. "I'm home."

She slowly lifted her face, her eyes burning with hatred. "Then get out of my house!"

Staring at her in shock, I cried back. "But I live here!"

"Hmph! Then you get the fuck out of here until I tell you when you can come back! You hear?!" She roared, aiming an empty beer bottle at me.

Before it could hit me, I closed the door. I could hear the bottle hit it and smash into a thousand pieces. I sighed, feeling that same anger bubble within me. That's the same day when I decided I would run off and live by myself in the forest.

-Ten Years Later-

3rd POV

"YOU ARE HEREBY EXILED NOT ONLY BY THE DANGAN KINGDOM BUT BY THE PEOPLE YOU RULE OVER!" A man with glasses shouted, his wrinkles seeming to intensify with every word that left his mouth.

The young prince squirmed under his mentor's gaze, feeling uncomfortable. Yet, he wasn't fazed by his words. He was used to bringing disappointment.

"I'm sorry." He said without any emotions.

"A simple 'sorry' will not excuse your actions!" The man sighed, pacing pack and forth. "You know how you and Miss Nanami were supposed to wed. For heaven's sake, you're eighteen!"

Nagito could only stare out of the window, adjusting the crown on his head as it was slowly starting to slip off of his slick hair. The man only continued his rant, hoping to blow off some of the steam that had built up over the last eighteen years.

"Do you realize how much she loved you?!"

Nagito simply shrugged, not caring about that stupid word. After all, he was called "The Heartless Prince" by those whom he ruled over. It wasn't his fault that he couldn't process any emotions.

"Miss Nanami may be devastated, but she'll just come back like the rest of them." Nagito muttered, looking unpleased with the situation.

"Oh, you haven't heard?" The man questioned him in a mocking tone. "Miss Nanami died this morning giving birth to a CHILD."

For once in his life, Nagito flinched. A sudden burst of anger rushed over him. "It isn't mine, and I knew full well that she slept with that King Izuru from the Jabberwock Kingdom. There is no reason to feel sympathy for her."

The mentor could only stare at the young prince in disbelief before regaining his calm.

"You aren't to return here unless you complete these two conditions."

The white-haired prince turned back to look at the man, a look of question on his face. "Who said I was leaving?"

Within an instant, the man had motioned for a maid to dethrone him. She bowed before taking the crown from his head. She placed it on top of a purple pillow before she apologized.

Nagito stared wide-eyed at the people around him. Then, another maid came out, holding a bag with all of the prince's necessities inside. She handed it over to him with a bittersweet smile.

As he was being ushered out of the castle, feeling humiliated, the butler handed him a scroll of paper. Once he read it, he knew that he had no chance of getting back in.

What was written on the paper was nearly impossible to do.

'There is a girl, aged seventeen, living among the forests. She is the daughter of the king and the late queen of the Ronpa Kingdom. She was kidnapped at birth by a woman and a man who had many issues in their relationship.

This girl is said to be a product of the queen's side hobby that has yet to be confirmed: witchcraft. Thus, the child was born and taken away.

The name of said girl is unknown, but your task is to obliterate her. She is a threat everywhere. Think of her as a walking time bomb. However, this won't be easy. Due to the nature of how she was brought into this world, it is at least with 98.7% certainty that she is indestructible and cannot be killed unless with one method.

Your task is to make her fall in love with you and kiss her.'

Nagito's POV

As I stood there, holding tightly onto my things in the middle of the wooded area, I couldn't help but think that I was never getting back into the castle. My people all across the kingdom of Dangan needed me, and their prince wasn't there to assist them.

How stupid could my mentor and staff get? How could they possibly rule the kingdom without me? If they kept this silly little "consequence" going, there's no doubt that Dangan was going to fall into ruin.

The forest seemed to grow thicker the longer I walked. My eyes narrowed to focus on the scenery in front of me, but nothing seemed familiar. Without my trusted horse, I was lost. I sighed, looking around for any form of life, but there seemed to be none in the vicinity.

"Whatever..." I mumbled to myself. "Just have hope... like mother always said."

Being called cold-hearted and a monster seemed to unfazed me in the eyes of the villagers, but the saying "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" never applied to me. They did hurt; I had just found a good way of concealing it.

Night soon fell, and I stumbled around in the darkness a bit more. The least those worthless maids could've done was pack me a tent. The thought of sleeping on a dirt floor surrounded by worms, bugs, and anything else residing in the woods frightened me. I was so used to my king-sized bed back at the castle along with the fuzzy blankets that engulfed me in warmth.

I grunted before a small, bright light caught my eye. Having natural instincts like a moth's, I slowly made my way towards it. Soon, I came across a campfire with a wooden staircase leading up to the top of a tree.

Whoever was here had probably been here for some time. They had even built a tree house for Christ's sake. Salvation seemed to be creeping closer in my mind, and absentmindedly, I started to grip the rails and climb up the wooden planks used for steps.

"Hello?" I shouted, reaching the top step and staring at the door.

Inside, I heard the wood creak as if someone were hurrying around.

"I-I'm not going to hurt you!" I stuttered, stepping closer to the door. "I just need a place to stay for the night!"

As I was about to give up hope, the door slightly creaked open, and I saw an eyeball in the small slit.

I gave my best fake smile and tried to appear friendly.

"H-Hey..." I waved awkwardly. "M-My name's Nagito Komaeda... ex-prince of the Dangan Kingdom."

I saw their eyes widen before they yelled out. "Liar!"

Judging from the voice, I assumed they were female. "I-I'm really not..."

Slowly, the door creaked open further, and I could now see the person's full body. She was a female around seventeen to eighteen years old, just like me.

Once she looked me up and down, she placed a hand on her hip. "So why is the great prince here?" Her words seemed like venom, almost as if she hadn't had any human interactions for years.

"I was exiled." I said simply. "I'm only here because I want a place to stay besides these dirty forest grounds."

She scoffed, getting ready to close the door. "What a snobby asshole. Eat dirt, bitch."

Before she could slam the door, I stuck my foot in the opening, calling for major pain and instant regret.

I winced a bit. "I didn't want to come off as rude. You have my apologies." I muttered half-heartedly.

"Hmph!" She opened the door again, a smirk on her face. "Then beg for it."

"What?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. Various names crossed my mind to describe the female in front of me, yet I didn't dare say them out loud.

She laughed, finally pulling the door to the wooden wall. "It was a joke; lighten up."

'Oh.'

I nodded, once again asking for her approval. "So can I stay here?"

"Yeah. Just don't shit on the floor, and you'll be alright."

I didn't smile, obviously because I was "cold-hearted", but I only nodded once again. "Thank you. In return for letting me stay, please have this necklace."

I extended my hand, revealing a shiny F/C stone encrusted in silver in the shape of a heart. It glittered in the daylight, and I could see her look at it curiously.

"You don't have to, you know." She said. "It's fine."

"I insist." I said blankly, handing it over to her.

Finally, she sighed, taking the jewelry from me and clasping it around her neck. "Thanks."

I nodded as she moved away from the door, letting me in.

As I entered the tree house, I noticed the decorations that seemed to be painstaking to make, especially the sofa. The base was constructed of wood, but the top was sewn skillfully with wool.

"Make yourself at home." She smiled, walking past me and into another room. "I'm busy with some other stuff, so you can just roam around and explore, not that it's a mansion like the one you're used to."

"Correction: it was a castle." I said nonchalantly.

She rolled her eyes and and started to leave. "Whatever. Just be thankful that I'm even giving you a place to stay."

I stayed silent, surveying the rest of new environment in front of me. Before she had left, I called out to her. "Hey, I never got your name."

She looked at me, seeming a bit hesitant. "Uh... Y/N. Y/N L/N."

I nodded. "Ah, then it's nice to formally meet you, Y/N."

"So how long do you plan to stay?" She questioned, tilting her head a bit. "I mean, I already have enough trouble managing while one person is here."

"Oh, my apologies then." My reply was as monotone as usual. "I'll be able to get back up on my own two feet in a week. Then, I'll be out of your hair."

"Ah, okay." She smiled softly. "There are some herbs in the kitchen, so feel free to make tea. I'm going to prepare for my next hunt."

'Hunt?'

Y/N's POV

I left for my bedroom, slapping myself lightly on my cheeks. How stupid was I to let a stranger into the house I had spent so long building and decorating? For all I know, he could be a serial killer posing as the ex-prince.

Well, that chance may be low considering his demeanor practically screams "COLD!"

I lightly shook my head and started to change out of my lounging clothes. Sighing, I pulled on my black tank top and dirty beige shorts. For camouflage, I used my my dark green cloak stained with dirt. I was blessed enough to live not too far from a local village in order to buy or make these articles of clothing.

Finally, to be able to move comfortably around the forest, I wore my favorite pair of black boots. Not the most flattering outfit, I admit, but who was I going to impress?

I opened the bedroom door and stepped out, grabbing my bow and quiver stocked with arrows. Upon leaving my room, I saw Nagito in the kitchen, staring at the herbs curiously.

"What are these?"

I raised a brow at him, thinking that he was just messing with me. "As I said before, they're herbs."

"It looks different from the tea I usually drink."

'Royals...'

"Don't tell me you've never seen an herb." I fiddled with the bow's string.

Silent fell over us as he looked away, clearly embarrassed. "Whatever."

His eyes then looked over at me with a newfound curiosity, different than the one he had while staring at the herbs.

"So you're going to kill for food?"

"Duh." I held up my bow and slightly turned around to show him my quiver. "If I don't, you'll be munching on the grass and maggots tonight."

He seemed to be overcome with both shock and disgust since he just stood there, a priceless look on his face. "Have a safe trip."

"Oh, do you want to come with?" I asked, hoping that I would finally have something to use as bait.

"Hunting?"

"No, I need help with this shit that's been stuck in my ass for three weeks." I said sarcastically.

He continued to stare. "You should go see a doctor about that."

"Oh my Lord. That was sarcasm. Let's just fucking go." I groaned, pulling him along.

"At this time of night?" He whined.

"Oi, most of the animals are active at night. That's the joy of hunting!" I smiled, pulling him out of the door and down the steps. "C'mon!"

***

"End me..." Nagito panted, laying flat on the couch in exhaustion.

I could only laugh, recalling the memory of the two deer trying to "kiss" him. Funny part was, they were both male. One actually had this big tuft of fur sticking up in the middle of his head. How strange.

"They seemed to really like you!" I grinned cheekily, nudging him.

"Shut up." He groaned closing his eyes tight and trying to erase the memory. "Why me?"

"Maybe they have a thing for douchey ex-princes." I teased, heading into the kitchen to make tea.

"Hey!"

Once I finished, I headed back into the living room, setting the two teacups on the coffee table. He stared at it suspiciously, looking back and forth from me and the tea.

"I didn't poison it." I immediately said, somewhat offended. "Just drink it."

Carefully, he picked up the teacup quite elegantly, sipping it bit by bit. "It's good." He said curtly, setting it down for a bit.

"So I guess this is your first day gone, huh?" I said with a smirk. "Then the sweet taste of solitude will fill me once again."

He looked at me, a strange expression crossing his face. "Well, it's nice to have some company, right?"

My eyes darted back to the tea in front of me while my eyebrows furrowed. "I don't know. It's been a while since I've seen another human. Everyone just... casted me away, I guess." I murmured, getting up and taking my empty cup to the sink.

Nagito stared at me as I made my mini journey into the kitchen, a look of sympathy seeming to appear on his features. "So where am I going to sleep tonight?"

"You can have the bedroom; I'll take the couch tonight."

Without any complaints, he simply nodded, getting up in the process. He lightly set down the teacup and plate next to the sink as I was washing my cup.

"I'll be going to bed now. Thank you for this evening."

With that, he disappeared into my room.

I sighed, shaking my head. These next six days may be the most eventful days in my life, so I might as well enjoy it.

-Day Two-

After I had cut and preserved last night's hunt, I stared out of the window of the tree house, blowing the loose strands of hair from my face. It was raining pretty hard outside which prevented me from doing many of the things I did on a daily basis. Thunder boomed in the distance, which made me slightly flinch.

Nagito was sprawled out on the couch, an arm over the top of it and a leg hanging from the side. You would've never guessed that he was a prince because of his posture.

"Hey, so you never told me why you were exiled." I said casually, turning to face him. Almost immediately, he sat up, reluctance reflecting his eyes.

"Do you really want to know?" He sighed, looking a bit more tense than usual. "You might think of me as a monster after you hear the truth."

'A monster..?'

"If anything, I'm the monster." I laughed bitterly. "I'm just curious. What did the great prince do in order to get himself kicked out?"

His hand shakily covered his right eye, holding his head which was most likely throbbing with painful memories. He let out a shaky sigh before continuing on. "I killed her..." He whispered, nearly inaudibly. "I killed Princess Nanami..."

My eyes widened once those words spilled from his mouth. "How did you kill her?" I muttered, not able to think of anything else to say.

"Well..." He started off weakly, staring at the wooden ground. "I didn't kill her directly. I was just cold to her that she started to feel hate towards me. Because of that feeling, she decided to meet other people.

"I'm pretty sure one of them got her pregnant since I never even touched her, let alone any other woman. She died giving birth."

By the end of the story, I could feel his body shaking with both rage and sorrow.

"I didn't feel a thing back then... so why now?" He asked himself, little droplets of tears falling into his lap. Quickly, he used the back of his hand to wipe it away. "I apologize. This is inappropriate for someone like me."

I saw him trying to escape the situation, and I got up after him. As he was about to walk off like he did last night, I caught him.

I wrapped my arms around his torso from behind, resting my head on his back. "It's okay to cry... You can't run away from your problems forever; you're going to have to face them like I did. They won't go away until you do." I said softly, my eyes brimming with past regrets.

His breathing hitched, and his hands slowly started to pry mine off. Slowly, I let go, and he turned around to face me. A small yet nearly invisible smile was on his face.

"Thank you. I'll try to." He placed his large hand on my head, ruffling my hair while he did so.

"Hey!" I exclaimed, backing away and trying to tame my now tangled hair. "I didn't expect you to be the type to treat others like dogs."

"Me neither." He said blankly, looking at his hand. "I guess it just came over me."

I raised a brow at him, crossing my arms. "Yeah, yeah. Just go and sort this out. It's not like it was entirely your fault. She chose to cheat, and you can't blame yourself for that forever." I gave him a sincere smile before heading off into the kitchen to make lunch.

-Day 3-

Y/N's POV

The rain persisted from yesterday. Nighttime would soon fall, and the food supply was quickly running out. Because of the thunderstorm yesterday, I hadn't been able to go hunting. If I didn't go today, both Nagito and I would go hungry.

Despite the rain, I quietly slipped on my hunting gear and raincoat. I then headed out without telling him. In the midst of the rain, I exchanged a soft smile with the woods. "You have always been my friend... ever since the day I ran away..." I whispered.

My ears picked up the sound of a boar scampering away, and I drew out my bow, quickly taking action.

Nagito's POV

I sat in Y/N's room, thinking to myself. My thoughts wandered to yesterday when she hugged me from behind, telling me to face my problems instead of running away from them. I could still feel her touch around my torso, but I still wondered why she embraced me so casually.

Throughout the day, I sat in her room with my own thoughts, occasionally heading out to eat or use the restroom. Y/N was usually on the couch, reading a book or attempting to make a new piece of furniture. She always seemed to be busy.

I decided to head out and see if I could get anything to eat. As soon as I reached the living room, I noticed that she wasn't there.

'She probably went to pee or something.'

I opened the fridge to see that it was nearly empty. All that was in there were a few herbs and a few cups of water. All of the meat was gone. I guess lunch really drained out the supply.

"Hey, Y/N!" I called out, closing the fridge. "There's no more food!"

The only thing that answered my question were the loud booms and claps of thunder outside. I looked out the window and saw that I could barely see past the trees. The rain rendered my vision useless.

I looked towards the mat near the door and noticed her quiver and bow missing. My eyes widened as I ran towards the hall closet. Her cloak and raincoat were gone as well.

I cursed aloud, grabbing her spare green cloak while pulling on the hood and burst through the front door. I climbed down the stairs, the rain wetting my entire body. I felt cold as the cloak didn't help at all.

"Y/N!" I screamed out, hoping she'd answer back.

It'd be pretty easy to get lost, especially if the rain kept on pouring, which it did. She could be in danger for all I knew.

I took a step forward and saw a figure standing in the rain, trying to hobble back. I could see them swaying as they walked forwards. As they neared, I saw their quiver and the familiar green cloak they wore.

"Y/N!" I shouted, running towards her. Luckily, I had caught her before she had fallen, and she smiled up at me weakly.

"I guess boars are stronger than they look..." Weakly, she help up a dead boar by one of its tusks. Her hand was covered in blood, and through the cloak, I could see the same red stain on her clothing.

I picked her up, carrying her like a newborn baby. Her eyes slowly closed from fatigue, and I trekked up the stairs. Relief seemed to wash over me, and for once, I smiled at her while she wasn't looking.

Once we got in, I set her down on the couch. That's when I got the full view of her wounds. The boar seemed to have stabbed her a few time with its tusks, especially considering that she couldn't see where it was.

I took the dead animal and placed it on the counter in the kitchen. I then tended to Y/N's wounds.

Every wince and whine that escaped her mouth affected me, seeming to inflict pain on my heart.

'She went hunting just to feed us.'

I grabbed the first aid kit and wrapped the bandages around her waist and ribcage, trying my hardest to not look as I lifted up her shirt. Once I was finished, my face was warm, yet I couldn't pinpoint the reason why.

Her eyes slowly opened, confusion displayed on her face. "Where's the boar..?" She muttered, looking around.

"It's in the kitchen. I'll cut it and preserve it later. For now, you're my top priority." I said bluntly, carrying her into the bedroom.

She chuckled wryly before erupting into a coughing fit. "I didn't know you moved that fast..." She joked.

I rolled my eyes, hiding my crimson face. "Whatever. You're such high maintenance." I mumbled, placing her down on her bed.

I went into the restroom and grabbed a towel and wet it with cold water. When I came back, I saw her trying to climb out of bed.

"Nope." I said shortly, shoving her back down. She groaned in protest, crossing her arms as she did so.

I placed the back of my hand on her forehead and felt that it was pretty warm.

"I'm going to have to take care of you tonight. It looks like you have a high fever."

She only looked over at me, trying to hide her red, fevered face. "Fine. Some of the herbs in the kitchen should help." She said before sneezing.

"Bless you."

"Thanks..."

All night, while she slept, I watched over her, changing the towel every few minutes to keep her forehead cool. I was able to crush some of the herbs to make medicine, so that was an upside.

Soon, I felt myself grow drowsy, and I joined in with her slumber.

-Day 4-

Y/N's POV

I woke up, feeling better than I had originally last night. I felt the damp towel on my forehead and gently took it off, turning to put it down on the nightstand. My head turned over to the right, and immediately, I stifled a yelp.

Nagito was sleeping, leaning on the bed with his head in his arms. He was still holding a towel which was slightly wet, so I carefully took it from him and stacked it on the other one. His fingers were wrinkly from touching it, telling me that he kept this up all night.

A blush fanned across my face once I saw his sleeping form. He seemed peaceful instead of some cold-blooded prince.

Slowly, my opinion of him changed. At first, he seemed like such a hassle to deal with, but now... he wasn't too bad. I never knew he could be caring.

I sat up in bed, feeling a tightness around my waist. Confused, I lifted up my shirt and saw gauze wrapped around me, colored a dark red in some areas.

With my face reddening more, my eyes flicked over to look at the sleeping prince.

'Oh my God, did he see?'

"Idiot..." I muttered, my eyes narrowing the longer I stared at him.

As soon as those words left my mouth, I heard his voice huskily whisper out. "Who's the idiot, I wonder?" His eyes opened to reveal their bronze green color. "Who's the one who went out during a thunderstorm and got screwed over by a boar?"

I huffed out, rolling my eyes. "I got food, okay?"

When I looked at him again, I saw a smile on his face, not a sincere one or a sweet one. It was an "I won this argument" one.

I sighed, climbing out of the bed.

"Woah," Nagito warned, sitting straight up. "Are you sure you can stand?"

"Yeah..." I said, swinging my feet over the bed. "Thanks to you, I'm feeling a lot better. Thanks." I gave him a sweet smile before heading into the restroom to brush my teeth.

After I finished, I was greeted by Komaeda in the living room, reading a book on myths and fairytales.

I went into the kitchen and saw the boar perfectly cut and preserved with the correct spices in the fridge. What was strange was that I didn't recall teaching him how to do this.

"Hey, Nagito?" I called.

"Hm?" He hummed from the couch, flipping onto the next page of his book.

"How did you do this? I never taught you, and I'm guessing you never stored hunted prey at your castle."

His eyes made contact with mine despite them being upside down since he was laying on the couch. "I watched you do it the second day. I wanted to learn."

'Oh...'

"Wow, I'm impressed." I admitted, closing the refrigerator. "I guess you're pretty useful. Too bad you're staying for three more days."

He seemed quiet at my statement. "Yeah..."

An awkward silence enveloped the room, making the tension almost unbearable. I mentally slapped myself for saying something so ridiculous.

Nagito was the first to break the silence. "Where's the shower? I've been needing one for a while."

"Oh, I don't have one." I said. "There's a little lake connected to a river, and that's where I usually bathe and stuff. You can go tomorrow."

"Ah, okay. Thank you."

-Day Five-

Y/N's POV

When I woke up this morning, I didn't see Nagito anywhere. I figured he was still sleeping as my bedroom door was still closed. I headed into the bathroom and realized how dirty I had gotten and how much dust I had accumulated in my hair.

"I see why he wanted a shower." I said comically to myself. I grabbed my spare clothes in the hall closet and headed down to the river.

I tried to memorize the specific directions for Nagito as I went. When I reached the river, I set my clean clothes down on a log and started to strip off my dirty ones until I was in just my bra and underwear.

Before I had the opportunity to take both off, someone rose from the water, their hand running through their hair, pushing it back.

I screamed, falling back on my behind while clutching the shirt I had just taken off to my chest.

"N-Nagito?" I stuttered, staring at him with a red face. His body was completely bare, and only the water covered his... privates.

I could see how toned his chest and arms were, and I was immediately flushed.

"I-I'm so sorry!" I apologized, covering my eyes with the shirt even though I could still see him half-naked in my mind. "I thought you were still asleep!"

Nagito's POV

I arose from the water after hearing a bit of rustling on the land. As soon as I brushed back my bangs and looked over onto the grass, I could feel my face flare up.

Y/N stood there, wearing nothing but undergarments while holding a shirt to her chest. I couldn't help but stare as I realized how awkward the situation was for both of us.

She had fallen on her behind, covering her eyes in the process. I looked away as well, having enough of staring at her body.

'What the hell is wrong with me?'

Y/N apologized profusely, and I nervously laughed it off.

Not once had I been embarrassed to see a woman half-naked. To think that my face was redder than the finest rose in the castle gardens was nearly impossible. No matter how hard I tried to play clueless, I already knew what this emotion was.

I was falling in love with Y/N.

Y/N's POV

"You can come into the river." Nagito said, regaining his composure.

"Are you fucking insane?" I asked, bewildered at his not-so-casual statement. "You're basically naked, and I'll be too!"

"Does that really matter? Your hair looks like a rat's nest."

I cursed under my breath, crossing my arms. "F-Fine. Just look away."

He turned around, covering his eyes.

I quickly took off what was left of my clothes and dove into the water. After the splash, Nagito turned around, a smirk on his face.

"I didn't think you'd be bold enough to dive into the water." He mocked. "Especially naked in front of a man."

"A man?" I tilted my head with a smile on my face. "Where?"

He glared at me before splashing water in my direction. I yelped as I splashed back at him, careful not to come up from the water to much for obvious reasons.

That morning and into the afternoon, the two of us played around like little children. That was the first time I heard his genuine laughter and the first time I fell in love.

-Day Six-

Y/N's POV

I didn't want him to leave. Tomorrow would be his last day. Currently, he was napping peacefully on the couch without a care in the world. Ever since yesterday, I had noticed how carefree and happy he was. I saw his warmth, and I fell deeper in love.

When I went into my room to retrieve some of my belongings, I saw a scroll sitting on the desk. Curiously, I unrolled it, reading over the contents.

'It's instructions for him to be prince again...'

I sat down on the bed, reading through all off it at least twice. I could feel tears slip from my eyes as I stared at the paper.

My entire body shook as the possibility of a self-sacrifice would occur in the future. A few years ago, I had discovered I was the Queen of Ronpa's child. It was such a blurry process that I never caught and understood it.

I knew of the curse, but I didn't know that it would ever come down to this...

Of course, once I turned eighteen, I would unleash a fury of black magic and witchcraft into the world, endangering everyone, but I was waiting until that time came so that I could die peacefully by taking my own life.

The thought that Nagito would take it was unreal, but he didn't know. He didn't need to know who I was...

I bit my lip, placing the scroll back in its original place on the desk. Maybe it was time for me to disappear. If I did, Nagito would be prince again, and maybe his happiness would return.

***

Y/N's POV

Nightmares plagued my dreams. I saw myself getting ripped away from my biological parents and relived my childhood up until the day I ran away. Everything left me speechless.

When I woke up on the couch, I was screaming hysterically, tears streaming down my face as I hugged a pillow tighter and tighter.

Nagito sprinted out of the room, his eyes filled with concern and worry. "Y/N, are you okay?"

Once I saw him, I could feel a sense of relief come over me. Almost instantly, I ran towards him and embraced him, burying my face in his chest. "I-It was just a nightmare..." I muttered, wetting his shirt with my tears. "Just... a nightmare..."

I felt his hand stroking my hair gently as his other hand was wrapped around my waist from behind. "Hey... it's okay. I'm here." He said softly, kissing the top of my head. "Do you want to sleep with me tonight?"

I pulled away from him, averting my eyes from his gaze. "Is it okay? Will I be a bother?"

He tiled his head, giving me the softest and warmest smile I'd ever seen. "If you'll be able to sleep tonight, I'll gladly help. Plus, I need a teddy bear to cuddle." He snickered at his own joke, but I just felt more embarrassed.

The only thing I could do was stare at the ground.

"Now come on," He wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "Let's go to bed."

We both slept that night in the same bed, and true to his word, I noticed that he unconsciously wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer. I could feel my face radiating warmth, but for the first time in a long time, I was able to sleep peacefully.

Before I fully went unconscious, I whispered. "I love you, Nagito."

-Day Seven-

Y/N's POV

The sunlight shone through the window, making me arise from my peaceful dreams. Secretly, I smiled slightly, feeling the arms of the person who I had taken in not too long ago around my waist. I could smell his scent, and frankly, I didn't want to get up.

'It's the last day...'

I thought to myself sadly, trying to shake away any feelings of regret.

'It was bound to happen, Y/N! You're not in some fairytale book with a happy ending!'

Sighing to myself, I tried to wriggle out of Nagito's grip on my waist, but it was no use. He was clinging onto me for dear life. As much as I wanted to stay in his arms, I couldn't. It didn't feel right. It felt like I was betraying him.

I knew something that he didn't.

"Nagito..." I mumbled out, rolling over to face his chest. "I need to go and make breakfast."

"Mmhm..." He hummed, still in his sleep. His hand slid from my waist to my hair as if he was cupping my face.

Slowly, his eyes opened, a sexy smile carved on his lips.

"Why don't you stay?" He asked huskily, his voice still trying to adjust. "You woke me up from a good dream."

"You know I can't. We're both going to starve at this rate." I argued quietly.

"It's my last day," he murmured back, closing his eyes. "Just let me stay like this for a while."

I huffed out, annoyed yet relieved at the same time. "Fine."

***

"So where are you planning to go after this?" I asked, cleaning some of the plates that were left in the sink.

Nagito scratched the back of his head, not knowing himself. "Honestly, I'm just going to wander around the forest. I need to redeem myself to get back into the kingdom."

My body felt stiff as I heard those words roll off of his tongue. "S-So what's the quest that you have to complete?"

I could feel him conflicted whether to tell me or not, but either way, I already knew.

"I have to find this girl..." He started. "I kind of have to kill her by kissing her and making her fall in love with me or something."

I practically snorted. "That's pretty vague, isn't it?"

"Maybe..." Nagito said gently. "At first, I didn't think I was capable of making someone fall in love with me, but maybe I can now that you've helped me."

I turned off the water and dried off my hands, facing him. "How have I helped you?"

He raised a brow at me, most likely wondering how dense I was. "I... used to be so cold-hearted and rude to others, especially women. I didn't bother to smile except when I had to fake one to get what I want."

He flashed the cutest smile at me, and I couldn't help but smile back.

"But now... I just feel so happy. I never knew what happiness really felt like, and now I can understand why people smile without a reason. I found what this warmth feeling was because of you. I can't thank you enough, Y/N."

Shyly, I nodded, glued to my spot. "You really feel that way?"

"I'm really sure that you changed me for the better." He walked over to me and took my hand, kneeling down onto one knee and kissing the back of it.

I exhaled, feeling as if my heart would burn the entire race track it was blazing down. My eyes looked towards the window and saw sky dipped in a cobalt blue.

"Hey, let's go somewhere before you officially leave." I helped him stand up and grabbed his hand, guiding him out the door.

While I dragged him along, he asked me where we were going. He was understandably confused. As the sky darkened even more, I picked up my pace. Luckily, the ex-prince had enough stamina to keep up with me.

Finally, I reached my destination and grinned.

Nagito's POV

I stared at Y/N wide-eyed. After minutes of walking in the middle of the woods, I had found myself standing in front of a crystal clear lake with the moonlight reflected upon the surface waters.

Fireflies buzzed around us, illuminating the both of us in their greenish glow. I looked over to Y/N and saw her with the most child-like grin on her face, the one I absolutely adored the most.

"To think you'd find a spot as beautiful as this one." I said, amazed by the sight before me.

"C'mon, let's sit near the shore and skip some stones!" Y/N cried happily, continuing to drag me.

We soon sat down near the lake, and then a comfortable silence wrapped around the two of us. That is until Y/N broke it.

"I can't believe that you're leaving tonight." She picked up a small pebble and threw it across the water. It bounced twice before sinking. "You were really fun to have around, you know?"

I nodded quietly, feeling the butterflies swarm in my stomach. Trying to copy her, I picked up a small stone and threw it across the water, but it didn't even skip once. It just sunk.

"I guess there are some things the great and mighty Nagito can't do!" Y/N laughed, her eyes shining in the moonlight.

"Shut up." I shot back jokingly, laughing alongside with her.

Soon, our laughter died, and I felt Y/N leaning her head against my shoulder. She picked up another stone, and this time, it skipped across the water three times.

"It's... going to be really lonely without you." She admitted, looking down at her lap. "But I hope you'll be prince once again soon... and king someday..."

"If I complete this task and become prince again, I'll officially ask you to be my princess. I don't care if the villagers and castle staff don't agree. I want you to be mine." I said softly, my hand running through her soft hair.

Y/N's POV

I tensed up at his words. There was so much I wanted to tell him, yet the words were trapped in my throat. 

"I-I want you to be mine, too..." I said, pulling away from his shoulder.

Underneath the glow of the fireflies and the rays of the moonlight, I could see his face flush as well as mine. We both stared at each other, unable to muster out another word.

Still in the comfortable silence, he leaned over, cupping his hand on my cheek. His eyelids started to flutter shut as he muttered out the words I longed to hear.

"I love you, Y/N."

"I love you, too, Nagito."

As soon as those words left my lips, I could feel his press onto mine, sealing the deal. Tears rolled down my cheeks as the moment I had been waiting for finally arrived. I could feel the weight of my body starting to become lighter and lighter.

It was a passionate kiss, not one filled with lust. I could convey all his emotions from just that one brief contact of our lips.

When he pulled away, I saw his eyes widen. My hands were glowing a vibrant white and blue light, and I could feel my body starting to float upwards.

Nagito's POV

"No..." I mumbled out, tears now running freely from my eyes. "No..! Stop it, Y/N..!"

I was blinded by the bright light emitting from her body, and before she could float out of my grasp, I embraced her, keeping her tight in my hold. Her warmth was nearly gone, and I felt my heart sinking further and further into the bottomless black pit it was in once before.

"I was the product of witchcraft and black magic..." Y/N said sadly, still smiling in my grip. "I knew that this day was going to come... If not, I was going to end myself by my own hands..."

"P-Please don't say that..." I cried, my hold around her tightening. "Th-This was supposed to be... a happy moment."

I felt her place her hand on my head, ruffling my hair like I had with her not too long ago. "Hey... at least you'll be prince again..."

"I... don't care about that." I sniffled, burying my face in her hair for the last time. "I'd give the whole world to be with you. Y/N, you're way too important for me to let go!"

"Please..." Y/N cried, now wiping away my tears with her thumb. "This is my fate... These seven days were the best days of my life..."

I stared up at her one last time, my chest heaving up and down rapidly. Tears fell onto the fresh earth as I begged her to stay. "I-I feel the same! I... I hate fate." I sobbed, cradling her.

"There's nothing we can do about it." She composed herself to be calm again. "Maybe in our next life, but you know what will make me happy?"

I shook my head, pressing my lips on her fading forehead while I still had the chance.

"Please... let me go."

"No!" I shouted, feeling all of my willpower leave me. "I won't..! Don't say that! I'll-I'll find a way... Just please don't go!"

"It's too late..." Y/N said sadly, pushing away from me. I struggled to hold her, but finally she was able to break free.

Her hands cupped my face gently as she left a fleeting kiss on my lips. "I love you, and I always will."

I weakly reached out to grab her once again, but she was gone. Everything... it was gone. All that was left of her was the necklace I gave her the first day we met. It fell in front of me, the heart shape seeming to mock me the longer I stared at it.

Even though she was gone, I could still feel her presence around the lake, and I made sure to memorize the location. I vowed to visit her death place whenever I got the chance.

In the end, someone else died for me, leaving me alone in the dark, but I was thankful for her. I was thankful that she changed my life. My only regret was not expressing my love for her sooner. If only I could see her again... What I would give to see her smile...

I clutched the necklace in my fist tightly, kissing it as it was the last keepsake of Y/N's. Shakily, I got up, looking at the sky one last time, seeing the last of the fireflies' lights die out. All alone once again with sadness swelling in my heart, I made the long journey back to the castle with yet another death to bear on my shoulders.

Another angsty chapter! I feel like I rushed it near the end, but it's fine. The word count literally slays me each time. Finding plots as thick as some others is really hard, but it makes for a good storyline :)

School will be starting soon, so I might not update as much, but I'll still be on Wattpad replying to comments and following those who follow me, so shoot me a message or something :)) Next up is Chihiro!

-TJ-