Junjou Romantic Fantasy Medieval Au: Oneshot 🧸🏰
First ever time writing something for this long forgotten au! Hope you guys enjoy, and hopefully I’ll have to write even more of it 😔😫😤
Featured Character:
Misaki (Farm Boy)
Akihiko/Usagi (Prince)
Hiroki (Wizard)
Nowaki (Plague Doctor)
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After traversing the castle's treacherous cliffs and the perilous bridge, Misaki, Hiroki, and Nowaki finally reached their destination. However, the labyrinthine corridors of the gigantic castle soon caused them to split up, with Hiroki finding his way to the prince's chamber first.
The chamber was cold and dark, a stark contrast to the flowing burgundy garments that were slowly making its way inside. Hiroki's heart ached as he approached the bed where his best friend lay. The prince, once vibrant and full of life, now lay lifeless, his silver hair matted and overgrown to waist length and his skin paler than snow. His once strong and graceful figure was now sunken and thin, engulfed by roots and thorns that had grown around him like a cruel embrace of nature.
Hiroki bent down, his breath catching in his throat as he took in the sight. The prince, his childhood friend, his unacquainted love; lay there in a cursed sleep that had lasted five dreadful years. Desperation clawed at Hiroki's heart as he leaned in, thinking that perhaps a true love's kiss could break the curse, just like in the stories they’ve read together as children. But as his lips brushed against Akihiko’s, he was met with nothing but silence. The prince remained motionless, his chest still, his body cold.
Hiroki clung to the edge of the bed frame, heartbroken. Shoulders shaking from uncontrollable sobs. Tears streamed down his face, each one a testament to the years of pain and longing. He choked on every breath, the weight of his grief almost too much to bear. He had come so far, yearning to save the one person he had always relied on, only to fail him.
Suddenly, the chamber's door slammed open, breaking the heavy silence. Misaki burst in, exhausted but relieved to see a familiar face. "Hiroki!" he called, his voice breathless with exertion and hope. Behind him, Nowaki entered, his robes stained with blood and guts, though none of it was his own. His presence, normally welcoming and calm, now seemed eerie and unsettling in the dim light of the chamber.
Hiroki looked up, his tear-filled eyes meeting Misaki's. The farm boy's expression shifted from relief to concern as he took in the scene before him. "Is he...?" Misaki's voice trailed off, unable to finish the question.
Nowaki stepped forward, his bluebell eyes assessing the situation with clinical detachment. "Let me see him," he said, his voice steady. He approached the bed, discarding his blood stain gloves. His long, slender fingers moving with practiced precision as he began to examine the prince.
Hiroki watched, his chest aching and throat in knots. He knew deep down there was nothing that even the best doctor could do to cure the prince’s state. As Nowaki worked, Misaki stood by Hiroki's side, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We'll save him," Misaki said softly, his voice filled with determination. "We won't give up. Maybe if we splash some cold water—-"
The sudden touch of the boy's hand on Hiroki’s shoulder made him jolt. What kind of answer was that? His friend is literally dead! Anger flared in his eyes, masking his vulnerability. Yanking Misaki’s hand off him, Hiroki couldn’t take it. He had to get out!
“Hold your tongue and make yourself useful and watch over the prince’s body!” Hiroki commanded Misaki, his voice sharp and unyielding. Without another word, he stormed past him, his mind a whirlwind of grief and rage. Nowaki, sensing the wizard's turmoil, followed closely behind. Not before giving a calm nod to the shaking farm boy. Although distraught, Nowaki knew his presence would offer some stability to Hiroki.
As the door slammed shut behind them, Misaki found himself alone with the slumbering prince. The heavy whistling flowing through the cracks of the stone wall chamber’s comforting the boy. Approaching the bed, Misaki began to feel a deep sense of defeat. The weight of their failure hung heavily in the air. Misaki reached out tentatively, his hand trembling as it hovered over the prince's arm. He had dreamed of becoming a knight, of saving those in need, but now he faced the harsh reality of their situation.
The silence of the chamber pressed down on him, and for a moment, Misaki felt the crushing burden of their journey. Yet, as he stood there, a quiet determination began to replace his despair. They had not come this far to give up now. He would watch over the prince and protect him, just as he had vowed to help those in need. For now…
---
Hiroki ran outside the chamber, his footsteps echoing through the stone corridor until he burst onto the castle’s battlement. The cool night air hit him, but it did little to calm the fire raging within. He stopped, his breaths coming in ragged gasps, the weight of his emotions finally crashing down on him. The guilt, the pressure, the crushing realization that he would never see his best friend alive again was too much to bear. With a strangled cry, he dropped to his knees, burying his face in his hands, his body shaking with uncontrollable sobs.
Not far behind, Nowaki approached silently, his calm demeanor hiding the deep understanding he held for Hiroki's pain. As a doctor, he was no stranger to loss and despair. He had seen countless faces of the dying and the bereaved, had felt the weight of helplessness time and time again. Yet, seeing Hiroki like this stirred a rare empathy in him.
Nowaki moved slowly, deliberately, until he stood beside Hiroki. Without saying a word, he sat down next to him, the distance between them almost nonexistent. He placed a gentle hand on Hiroki’s shoulder, offering a quiet, steady presence. Knowing that words would do little to ease the wizard’s suffering, he chose instead to be a silent pillar of support.
Hiroki's sobs eventually subsided, his breathing still uneven. He looked up, tears streaming down his face, and met Nowaki's gaze. The towering doctor’s eyes were filled with a compassion that spoke volumes.
"I'm so-sorry, Nowaki," Hiroki choked out, his voice breaking. "I... I failed him. I failed us all."
Nowaki shook his head slightly, his grip on Hiroki's shoulder firm but gentle. "You did everything you could, Hiroki. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, the outcome is beyond our control."
Hiroki swallowed hard, his vision blurring with fresh tears. "He was my best friend. He sacrificed so much for me…and I couldn't save him."
Nowaki sighed softly, his own memories of loss flickering in his mind. "Grief is a heavy burden, one that takes time to heal. But you're not alone in this. We will find a way forward, together."
Hiroki's shoulders slumped, the weight of Nowaki's words sinking in. "I…I don't know if I can…" he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.
"You can," Nowaki replied with quiet conviction. "And you won't have to do it alone. Misaki and I are here with you. We'll find a way to break this curse— or at least honor his memory with our efforts."
For a moment, they sat in silence, the night enveloping them in its calm embrace. Hiroki leaned into Nowaki, allowing himself to draw strength from the man's steady presence. The pain was still raw, the future uncertain, but in that moment, he found a glimmer of hope in the companionship of this stranger.
---
Back inside the chamber room, the candles that had once bathed the room in a warm eerie glow began to melt, their flames dimming until only the cold, silvery light of the moon remained. The chamber seemed to sink into despair, the air thick with hopelessness. Misaki sat by the prince’s bedside, just as Hiroki had demanded earlier. His tan weary face brimming with determination despite the encroaching darkness. But even that light of determination within him began to flicker.
*What if Hiroki was right? What if this whole journey was all for nothing?* Misaki thought, despair creeping into his mind. *My brother was right; I should have stayed home! Why didn’t I just stay?! How could I be a knight when I can’t even save the prince?*
The thoughts spilled out of Misaki's mouth, his voice breaking with the weight of his doubts. Tears welled up in his eyes, spilling down his bruise-kissed cheeks. He became a sniffling mess, his heart breaking not for himself, but for the prince who lay lifeless before him. Prince Akihiko would never get to witness the warmth and brightness that life had to offer. He would never get to laugh or smile, to feel, see, or smell the wonders of the world.
"If only I could have saved you…" Misaki cried out, his tears falling like raindrops onto the cold stone floor. He buried his face beside the edge of the bed in defeat, his shoulders shaking with sobs. However— a single tear landed on the prince’s bare hand. As the droplet seeped into Akihiko’s skin, something magical transpired. The prince's hand began to warmly glow dimly, and the once dead flowers and vines that surrounded him began to move and flourish. The faint glow grew brighter and brighter until it consumed the entire room.
Outside the chamber, Nowaki sat by Hiroki’s side, comforting the grieving wizard. Their somber moment was interrupted however when Nowaki noticed a soft, warm light emanating from inside the tower’s room. As they turned to face the light, they were met with an almost blinding glow and a strong breath of air. Instinctively, Nowaki shielded Hiroki with his larger frame, both of them squinting against the brilliance. The dead plants that had clung to the castle walls suddenly sprang to life, growing and blooming, their vitality spreading to the area surrounding the kingdom.
It was enchanting to say the least.
---
As life returned to the kingdom, the light inside the chamber began to fade. Misaki’s face lay buried within the bedding, unaware of the events that transpired— or even the prince's chest rising and falling with steady breaths. Such as a fish flailing for water, Akihiko would let out hoarse gasp; eyes fluttered open, revealing their lavender hue. He blinked a few times, unsure if he truly was awake–perhaps it was just his mind playing cruel tricks on him. This was all tose aside once he took in the room that he lay vacant in. Mustering all his strength, the prince was able to lift his upper torso. His disgruntled grunts alerted Misaki, who raised his head from the bed to be met with Akihiko’s gaze.
The prince's dull violent eyes, filled with a turbulent mix of curiosity and intensity, locked onto Misaki's lively warm green eyes, which shimmered with a blend of kindness and vitality. For a moment, the world centered around the two of them, everything else fading into the background. Misaki’s heart swelled with relief and joy, tears of happiness mingling with those of his earlier sorrow.
"Y-You're awake." Misaki whispered, his voice filled with wonder and disbelief.
Akihiko, still weak but very much alive, gave a faint response. "Yes... and you are?"
Although the interaction between Misaki and Akihiko was rather lackluster, the sincerity of the situation was nothing but. Somehow, it felt familiar, almost like it was destined to happen. Nevertheless– this moment would be embedded into their minds for the rest of their lives.
However; the fragile stillness was shattered as the prince’s weak arms gave in. Being nearly stuck in the same position for 5 years can’t be good for one’s own body.
With this in mind, Akihiko lost his balance, his body tipping forward, and he nearly hit the cold stone floor. Misaki reacted instinctively, clumsily catching the prince in his arms. Colliding in the process. They ended up with little to no space between them, their breaths mingling in the small distance that remained. Misaki's face turned crimson, a mix of embarrassment and the intimate position they found themselves in, causing his heart to race with adrenaline.
"Uh... I... I'm sorry, Your Highness," Misaki stammered, his words coming out in a rush of gibberish and apologies. "I didn't mean... I mean, I just... oh no, are you okay?"
Akihiko, unbothered by the awkwardness, leaned closer to the trembling boy, trying to gain balance from his sudden fall. The proximity didn't seem to faze him as he adjusted himself into a more comfortable position, his face calm and composed despite his recent awakening.
Once settled, Akihiko turned his attention to the blubbering mess that was his savior. He offered a gentle smile, his lavender eyes softening with gratitude and amusement. "Thank you," he said quietly, his voice carrying a reassuring warmth. "There's no need to apologize."
Misaki blinked, his face still flushed, but the prince’s words began to soothe his nerves. "I... I wouldn’t want to see you get knocked out again..," he managed to say, his voice trembling slightly. "I mean that would be really really bad and um... I mean, it's nothing really..." He nervously spewed while scratching the back of his head, nearly dropping the prince as he did so.
"Mhm, well thank you for your service." Akihiko replied, a tiny smile softly displayed on his face, although deep down it was a rather bitter sweet moment for him.
Misaki’s heart swelled with pride and relief, his earlier doubts and fears melting away in the presence of the prince’s kind words. The world around them began to reassert itself, the chamber's details slowly coming back into focus. But for that brief, intense moment, it had been just the two of them, bound by a newfound bond that would forever shape their futures.
As the prince’s strength slowly returned, Misaki helped him sit back on the bed, ensuring he was comfortable. The boy's heart still pounded, but now it was with a sense of purpose and accomplishment. He had saved the prince, and in doing so, had proven to himself that he was capable of far more than he had ever imagined.
Outside the chamber, the castle and the kingdom were coming back to life, but inside, in that quiet room, a different kind of magic had taken place—the magic of connection, of hope restored, and of new beginnings.
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