as propriety demands

Hikaru was brooding after that crazy day he’d shared with Mortis. His usual bright smile didn’t show on his pale features and his steely gaze seemed like it was locked on something far far away. He wandered out of the Armada’s borders and made his way into Ashen to be on his own. There were a lot of deep thoughts that wanted to be dredged up. Hikaru needed to focus so he could forget them. Imagine they wouldn’t exist. Will them to disappear so he could continue on with the life that he’d found here. Hika looked forward to returning to the den he shared with Mortis every night, he liked the feeling of safety and comfort he provided when they slept so close.

He could ignore the deeper meaning and how much he really cared about Mortis to keep from losing him now. He hated to think about the future he’d have without him someday, but then again he was a prince. There were a million and one things different here than Nippon but the duties of a kingdom’s heir weren’t so different. Hikaru had no place beside him.

The young koi tried again to stomp the thoughts down and his silver eyes lifted to the horizon as he looked out over the many islands under the Empire’s control. He took in a deep breath and tried his hardest to clear his mind, perhaps a bit of meditation would help him focus. The evening was settling in, what birds hadn’t flown south began to amass in the trees and their voices sang out to the slowly setting sun. Hikaru settled back on his haunches, eyes closing as he steadied his breath and tried to let his mind empty.