Bitten, but venom's mine

You thought to pierce, but I hold

The poison within

With a grimace, Akemi gingerly massages her aching belly, its subtle swell barely perceptible beneath her shimmering silk robes. She settles gracefully beside the Queen Consort, her movements fluid despite her condition. The royal physician says both the mother and the unborn child are in good health and should have an easy delivery. However, as Taiga glances at her frowning face, he's starting to believe that her physical health is never something they should be worrying about. She has softened and grown more sensitive ever since she became pregnant with his heir. If not for her plea, the deceiver and Ogiwara wouldn't be here in their presence. Reflecting on his recent outburst, Taiga admits that his reaction may have been excessive, and he knows it doesn't bode well with those who witnessed his action.

I'm an idiot. Why has he once again allowed his feelings to rule him? His father had once cautioned him about losing his temper. "A Kagami man is naturally emotional," he had said, "for we are born of the sun itself." Even as a child, Taiga never took this seriously, but he's beginning to wonder if there might be some truth to it.

Is it possible that his intense feelings are not just peculiarities of his personality but perhaps remnants of an ancestral legacy?

Fortunately, the only people here to decide Kuroko's fate are him, Akemi, and his mother. If his father were here, he wouldn't be able to look him in the eye.

Unfortunately, Aomine Hiroko's whisperer is also here. With his calm and playful smile that seems to be plastered on his face, Imayoshi Shoichi looks through squinted eyes, amused by everything.

"Isn't this crowd a little excessive?" Taiga says. He knows he's digging himself deeper; he can't help but feel like a child once more, receiving punishment for a trivial mistake. "I understand the gravity of my actions, but to convene my mother, Lady Aomine's Whisperer, and for what? A mere Dancer?"

"Taiga, you are not helping your case," Masuyo, his mother, says. She furrows her brows, a well-known look of disdain imprinted on her face. If the situation weren't serious, he might have laughed. Does she truly think her signature warning look still has any effect on him? He is the future king; who does she think she is? "Do you realise what you have done? Our relationship with the other kingdoms is already precarious. What has made you think you could mistreat one of their subjects?" She pauses as she regards Ogiwara. "Two of their subjects."

Taiga's jaw tenses. She is correct, despite his reluctance to admit it. The delicate balance of diplomatic ties is at stake, and his carelessness may have jeopardised it.

He shifts his gaze to Imayoshi, and the whisperer smiles at him. The same disturbance he feels about Tiea is tantamount to how he feels about Imayoshi. Though Imayoshi presents himself as unassuming, he also doesn't hide the glint in his eyes, as if to say that he is watching your every move. "Does he need to be here?" he asks, masking his discomfort with a stern voice.

The whisperer takes it as an initiative to finally speak. "My apologies, Your Highness. Although it seems unnecessary from your perspective, I must speak on behalf of Lady Aomine Hiroko, who is currently indisposed due to her health. We must also take into account the fact that she was the one who chose to grant Kuroko Tetsuya's request for a hearing." As he says that, he looks at Kuroko, whose head is bowed respectfully. It is both eerie and admirable how the deceiver makes kneeling look comfortable. However, such familiarity with humility is expected of those from the lower classes, where kneeling is more than a gesture but a way of life. It is one of their ways of surviving.

"I will not prolong this any further. Lady Aomine Hiroko and I have reached an understanding regarding what needs to be done. However, I will let Whisperer Imayoshi convey his lady's word. Imayoshi, if you will?" His mother nods at the whisperer, and the delicate sound of her hairpin clinking echoes in the room.

Imayoshi bows his head and then turns to Taiga.

"With much respect, Lady Aomine Hiroko proposes that Kuroko Tetsuya be retained as a Dancer in our palace. The former Dancer's wound was not of his own making; we mustn't punish him for the whims of fate. Moreover, with Haizaki Shougo's impending imprisonment, we already face the prospect of returning one Dancer to the Red Lion Kingdom. Should we have one more, we run the risk of sending the wrong message."

Masuyo's face twists into a grimace, as if the mere thought of her son's potential misdeeds causes her actual pain. He despises that look on her. It's one of the things that reminds him that their kingdom is the smallest and weakest among the realms under the Empire's rule.

"Thank you, Imayoshi," she says with a forced smile. She then turns to Taiga. "I have discussed this with your father as well."

"What?"

"—and he has already agreed. You may wonder why he isn't here. Suffice it to say, he is disappointed with your harsh action. You are not even acknowledging those you have hurt."

Akemi shuts her eyes as if seeing him like this embarrasses her. Her reaction fans the flames of his frustration.

"Is it my fault that one of them has a lack of presence and the other is unremarkable?" he seethes, his voice tinged with a mix of hurt and indignation.

"Taiga!"

"If I may, Your Majesty..." Akemi says, cutting off the tension between them. "That's not all. We have gathered here to find out if you will accept the second suggestion made by His Majesty."

"Such as?" he asks, raising his eyebrow in defiance, a quiet dare to meet his gaze. Why are you looking at me like that? This is me. You are my wife, soon to be the mother of my son. Whilst Akemi often possesses the skill to soothe his temper, there are times when her efforts are unsuccessful, causing her to put on a front of perfection, as if she has never erred.

"Such as..." Akemi closes her eyes, and when she opens them, there is an air of apology around her. "Someday, I'll be too exhausted to meet your needs. And because of our family relationships, you might not be with another woman until I give you your heir. His Majesty suggests..." Akemi hesitates, her breath catching in her throat as she struggles to find the appropriate words. "To fulfil your needs as a man, His Majesty proposes Kuroko Tetsuya as your bedwarmer," she finally says, her voice barely above a whisper.

Akemi's apology is not directed towards him but rather towards Kuroko. Despite Kuroko's valiant efforts to maintain his composure, the subtle quivering in his hands reveals his feelings. When his sworn brother cries out and tries to get up, Kuroko holds him down and tells him to not interfere.

"But Kuroko! You can't... You're a Dancer. You're bound to our king, and you're not—" Ogiwara protests.

Kuroko gently squeezes Ogiwara's hand, offering a tender smile that momentarily warms Taiga's heart. Seeing an expression like this from someone whose expressions are almost always blank is peculiar. "It'll be all right," Kuroko reassures his brother. Through their silent exchange, their eyes convey understanding and connection that transcends words.

A second goes by, and Kuroko, still holding Ogiwara's hand, bows his head to Masuyo. "Your Majesty, forgive this lowly peasant, for I am not worthy of your presence. And because I am not worthy, I feel ashamed to impose my request upon you."

The Queen Consort nods. "You may speak."

"My brother, Shigehiro of the Ogiwara family, is a dedicated worker. He is capable of fulfilling any duty assigned to him. From the art of mixology to the selection of suitable oils and fragrances, he knows which will suit his lord or mistress for the day. He is proficient in reading and writing, and he is a fast learner. And since he's from a family of farmers, if Her Majesty needs him in the field, he can and will do it."

How come someone is this calm even after hearing that he is being sold as a mere whore? Taiga squints his eye and tries to see Kuroko's shaking hands, but they are steady now, as though he had imagined it all.

🔱

He had anticipated more tears between the two brothers, or more specifically, from the boy named Ogiwara. Whatever understanding transpired between them, the cupbearer with the dark skin lowered his head and silently left the courtroom. Although, of course, he couldn't hide his sadness with his slumped shoulders and teary eyes. What truly stunned Taiga, though, was how Kuroko convinced the Queen Consort to let them be alone so that Taiga would be the sole judge of Kuroko's fate.

All his mother asks of him is an apology for what he did. She's never said that he's required to take the deceiver under his wing. What Akemi reported was merely a suggestion from his father. Why, he could have anyone, and this white-haired boy would be nothing.

He's intrigued, nevertheless, about how Kuroko will try to convince him. He knows now that Kuroko is gifted with a silver tongue. If Tiea cannot do it, what makes Kuroko special? He has no scent, neither faint nor strong, as if he exists between existence and nonexistence. His ability to fade into the background, to become almost invisible despite standing right in front of Taiga, is both unsettling and fascinating. How strange. How enigmatic.

Now that they are alone, he finally notices that Kuroko is garbed in the same garments they'd found him bathing in blood. Of course, this is deliberate. He is not stupid. Yet, what strikes Taiga most is not the message behind the act, but the absence of shame in Kuroko. He knows Taiga will decipher his intentions, playing into his hands effortlessly.

The corner of Taiga's eye twitches. Despite his standing as a future king, he feels a strange vulnerability in the company of Kuroko.

Mayhaps because Kuroko comes from a wealthier kingdom, he thinks lowly about him.

"Well? What are you waiting for? Persuade me as you did my mother." He snorts. "I need to hand it to you. Things started to get more interesting the moment you entered our lives. You have no idea how dull life is here."

"What has made His Highness do it? Why had you let me go as though I were an animal?" The sudden question catches him off-guard. Taiga stammers, his brain still processing that a peasant, a slave, would dare to ask him without first requesting his permission. Although Kuroko's voice remains serene, beneath it is intensity, a burning curiosity that demands answers.

"How...who do you think you are?" he croaks. Internally, he curses himself. He intended to come across as intimidating, to tower over this deceiver who barely reaches his chest. Yet somehow, the power dynamic has shifted, leaving Taiga feeling off-balance and exposed.

Taiga tries to gather himself again. His thoughts are racing to come up with a more fitting reply that will both confirm his authority and quell the rising rebellion in Kuroko's eyes. But beneath his bravado lies a nagging doubt, a fear that perhaps Kuroko sees through the facade, sees the insecurity lurking beneath the prince's mask of power.

As if waking up from a trance, Kuroko bows down to his waist. "My apologies, Your Highness, but the Queen Consort has permitted me to ask you questions. I'm burning with them, and I'm eager to hear your response. Would you kindly find it in your heart to pardon me?"

Taiga exhales, his breath coming hot. The legend that the Kagami family descended from the sun and once took the shape of a tiger is reinforced by Akemi's constant claim that the air emanating from his lungs is warmer than that of any other human.

"You told me you were willing to become my Shadow. I should've asked you where you heard that term and learnt its meaning, but—" he massages his nosebridge. "I got distracted. It was too promising. Something I desperately needed. As if you were a—" He pauses. How pathetic. Did he just bare his weakness to this deceiver? "So who told you that? Was it Imayoshi?" Should he be correct, he won't be surprised. Aomine Hiroko may have been bedridden for so long, but that never meant she didn't have eyes in the palace. Imayoshi officially has the power to stay in the council, so it's easy for the former queen to gain knowledge.

"Give me a knife," Kuroko says suddenly.

"What?" He is so taken aback that he doesn't even have the time to reprimand him.

"Give me a knife, and I'll show you how I can become useful to you."

"You've been crossing the line! And why would I give you a knife with only two of us here? Surely, someone who entertains the royals must realise how ridiculous your request is."

"Well, then. Perhaps you could wound me," Kuroko proposes calmly. "I could do it myself, but you might suspect trickery."

"Ha! I've been considering that. Pray tell me why you are speaking to me without honorifics? Do you wish to have your tongue severed?"

"Why would a sun god address a mere king with honorifics? I know what you want, Kagami Taiga," Kuroko answers without showing any fear, the name falling from his lips like a prophecy.

Taiga's hands clamp down around Kuroko's neck. "How dare you! Who told you about my dream? Have you been spying on my mother?" His voice is thick with anger, and his vision is clouded by a fiery haze.

Despite the pressure on his windpipe, Kuroko manages to croak out, "Wound me, and you'll see." It's an invitation, a promise of consequences, but Taiga is beyond listening. Enough is enough. This dangerous dance between them must come to an end. With a savage determination, Taiga releases Kuroko's neck, only to sink teeth into his skin.

Kuroko gasps in pain and shock as the sharp points pierce his flesh, drawing blood. Instinct screams at him to flee, but Taiga's grip tightens around his waist, ensnaring him in an inescapable embrace. The bite grows deeper and more punishing. Taiga's primal instincts have taken over, driving him to dominate and control, heedless of Kuroko's struggles. There is no room for mercy or compassion.

And then he feels blood coating his lips and trickling down to his chin. His senses are overwhelmed by the metallic taste of blood. Taiga finally wakes up from his madness and removes his teeth, staring at Kuroko with his arm still wrapped around him. "What have I done?" he whispers, asking himself more than the deceiver. He needs to get away from here. He no longer recognises himself. And truth be told, he is starting to be terrified of this version of himself.

In a desperate attempt to distance himself from the monster he fears he has become, Taiga withdraws from Kuroko. Yet, before he can disentangle himself, Kuroko pulls him back. "Wait," he says. "Look at my wound. Look at it."

"It's all blood!" To him, it looks to be nothing more than a grotesque smear of blood. Taiga leans in closer.

In a surreal and almost ritualistic gesture, Taiga's tongue traces the curve of the wound. As he does so, he senses something happening, so he once again observes the wound. His eye widens. What was once a gaping wound now defies all logic as it gradually seals itself shut. A miracle! To make sure his eye is not playing tricks on him, he blinks. But there it is. The wound is now nowhere to be seen.

"Who are you?" he says, watching Kuroko with newfound fascination and trepidation. The boundaries of his understanding blur, leaving him standing on the verge of a truth he is not yet ready to comprehend.