Archive of Our Own

Akane was by no means an idiot. She was aware that her family make-up was a little… different… to everyone else's. She remembered as a kid being told to only call her dad by first name when out in public. Around the castle was okay, but the general populace could not know that the first born child to Prince Zen wasn't technically, in a biological sense, her father. Rather it was their most trusted advisor who bore that title.

Akane herself never considered there to be a difference. She had two loving fathers in much the same way she had two loving uncles. It was just how their family worked. In all complete honesty, it wasn't until she became a teenager that she truly started to see how different things were for them.

Though she was the oldest, it seemed to always be Hoshi who was greeted first by visiting nobles. Hoshi herself might insist that they were twins and so it didn't matter who was older, but that didn't change that fact that Akane had eighteen whole minutes on her. That, in terms of inheritance law, made her their father's heir, not Hoshi. Because she was Prince Zen's daughter. She really really was! Right?

She tried to ignore the thought. If she started questioning parentage she'd have to accept that the rest of her siblings only had one father too, and that really wasn't fair on Dad. It meant she had to keep all these feelings locked inside of her. It was easiest to ignore them back in their home of Wirant Castle, where she knew the layout like the back of her hand, and ignorant nobles had long been put in their place.

But then there were days like today, where the whole family had to pack up and journey down to Wistal for whatever official function Uncle Izana had decreed they attend. It was the anniversary of some peace treaty as well, which was even worse because it involved foreign nobles attending too. And nobody loved to gossip about royals like other royals.

Luckily for her, Wistal was also filled with plenty of places to disappear. It was excellent for hide-and-seek, although her parents had apparently memorised all the best spots from when they lived there. Papa had declared it a right of passage to learn how to sneak out of a castle, and Dad had taught them all the ancient art of tree climbing.

Practice made perfect, which was why she was currently hiding in the top branch of a tree with a book. It was meant to be the quietest part of the castle save for the woods, but apparently word had gotten out to the rest of the castle visitors. She knew something was up the second she heard the clop of heels along the paving stones.

It had to be nobles. People who actually worked for a living wore flats, the only exception being Auntie Kiki who wore them when undercover to be used as a concealed weapon. Most people weren't Auntie Kiki though.

She climbed a little higher in her tree, using the leaves as camouflage. If she could just wait it out, maybe they'd get bored and go away?

"--pregnant again I hear. There's been no official announcement yet but there's no hiding that kind of weight gain. I know for a fact the food in Wirant isn't that good."

Akane froze, she recognised that voice as Lady Millena, which meant her companion was probably her cousin Lidah. Their families were from one of the western districts furthest from the main cities and thus of little interest to anyone beyond fishing. Of course Akane knew right away they were talking about her mother. Mama had told them just last week that she was expecting another child.

That'd make five of them in total, a fact that, at age fourteen, Akane really didn't want to put too much thought into. They were all in their late thirties now, Dad was turning forty next month! Old people were most definitely not meant to be getting up to that sort of thing. That said, the woman's tone of voice didn't sit well with her either, what right did these women have to judge her mother for being pregnant?

"Well, Prince Zen is still an attractive man, can't say I blame her." -- oh god that was so gross why was she having to listen to this?-- "Still, five kids is pushing it a little bit. What are they trying to do? Make their own special forces unit?"

The women laughed in that high pitched way that made Akane's flesh crawl. Their words were designed to hurt, and her mother wasn't even there to defend herself! She debated jumping down from the tree to give them a shock when--

"You're assuming that it is Prince Zen's, and not that so-called Knight of theirs. Why the King allows them to go on like that I have no idea! Poor prince, to think his heir isn't even his."

Akane's heart froze in place, and suddenly she couldn't move even if she wanted to.

"I don't care what sort of witchcraft that woman used to give birth to two of them at once, that girl is still a bastard."

It was a knife to her gut. Her parents were married, they'd told the tale a hundred times. Maybe not publicly but-- but did that still make her a bastard?

"It's a good job that the King finally managed to sire some kids of his own, because there is no way I could have tolerated some brown haired, cat eyed freak on the throne."

Bile rose up in her throat. She wanted to scream, she wanted to throw her dagger at them she wanted to do-- to do something! But their words were nothing she hadn't wondered to herself late at night. And nos they were bringing her cousins into this! Akira was only eight years old how could they even begin to--

"Akane! Where are you? Dinner's gonna be soon, and Papa said you need to-- oh. Hello ladies, a pleasure to see you."

Hoshi had arrived to save the day it seemed. She never knew if she should be grateful to her twin for always having her back, or resentful that she never seemed to be able to fight her own battles. The same could probably be said for her too, if anyone messed with Hoshi they usually found a dagger in their desk with a not-so-polite note attached. But still, on this one occasion she wished that Hoshi had just left well alone.

"Your highness! Why, it has been such a long time, how beautiful you've grown." The pair of hags crooned, as though they'd not just been slagging off her family just a second before, "You know you look more and more like your grandmother every day."

"Yes, you really are your father's daughter."

Akane rolled her eyes at the silent jab. Their words still hurt, but there was some comfort in knowing it was actively malicious, and thus peppered with lies. Hoshi was wise enough to be able to pick up on their tone though, and shifted her own to suit.

"Yes, though I assure you, I take after him in more ways than one." She gently shifted the sword at her side and the women's gazes flicked down to it, then back up to her face. Their smiles became a little more fixed. Neither of them seemed to be carrying a weapon, and Akane doubted that even if they did their skill would be nothing compared to her sister's. Even at fourteen, she was their tutor's star pupil.

Though of course Akane would always win when it came to hand-to-hand. There were no rules when it came to shoving your twin's face into horse shit.

"Now then, if you fine ladies will excuse me, I must continue my search for my older sister." The women swapped nervous glances and then accepted their dismissal. Their heels clacked across the paving stones. Akane was pleased to see them stumble in the cracks.

Once they were gone from sight, Hoshi looked up into the tree and right into her twin's eyes. "The hags are gone, you can come down now."

"Like I'd ever do something you told me to," she said on instinct, throwing her book down at her sister's face. Hoshi caught it, but still didn't look pleased at the show of violence.

"Papa said I had to come and get you by any means. So you better come down here before I make you come down." She folded her arms as though that sort of threat would actually work on her.

"Then come up and get me," teased Akane, wiggling her fingers. Hoshi gave her a long hard stare. She somehow considered it a personal insult that Akane was taller than her. She was holding out on a growth spurt but Akane still had full confidence that she would never be anymore than average in height. Thus meaning that Akane would always be the better climber.

She didn't know why she was so reluctant to come down. Beyond the fact that it was what Hoshi wanted her to do, it also felt as though if she did then she'd be forced to deal with everything that had just been said. If Hoshi looked like Grandmama, then it could equally be said that Akane looked like Grandpa Mukaze. Though that wouldn't explain the slimmer build and the slit pupils.

Hoshi took a step closer to the tree. "Look, if I don't get you then Papa will have to send Uncle Mitsuhide and you know what he's like."

Akane sighed in defeat. Right now a worried Uncle Mitsuhide was the last thing she needed. She signalled for her twin to back up, before leaping from the top branch and making a perfect three point landing.

"Show off," muttered her twin. Akane just flipped her braid behind her back in the most dramatic of fashions possible. She took a second to examine her sister. She really did take after Papa... where Akane was slim and agile, Hoshi was broad and strong. Their eyes were both the same shade of green as their mothers, but Hoshi's were sharper and more angular. Whilst Akane's may be round like their mother's there was no denying who she inherited the slit pupils from. Then there was their hair, again: no denying that either.

Hoshi kept hers shoulder length and choppy, just like their uncle the king-- making their similarities a little daunting on occasions. Right now she had it tied up in a ponytail, but it wouldn't take much work to make her look identical to half the portraits hanging in the throne room.

Meanwhile Akane kept her hair tied in a long plait down her back. She was criticised sometimes since it could easily be weaponized against her in a fight, but Akane pointed out that it could also make for a good improvised weapon should she be somehow unarmed. Plus she liked the versatility of it. Everyone knew her for her long plait, so it was that much easier to disguise herself. All she had to do was let it loose or tie it in a bun and hey presto: who is that mysterious girl walking out through the streets?

The blue and white of the Wisteria Family also just looked so good on Hoshi! As though she were, well, born to it. Akane always suited black and green better, colours that helped you blend into a crowd without issue. Yes, Hoshi was made to stand out and charm anyone who came near her. Akane was designed to hide in the shadows and not make a noise. Perhaps the kingdom would be better off with Hoshi as heir to Wirant Castle?

Her sister frowned at her, the same tiny crease in her forehead as their papa got. "You alright Aki? You seem off, more so than usual."

"I'm fine, I just-- I just hate formal dinners, is all."

"You hate anything with a seating plan."

"Yeah! And I'm right to do so."

"God you are so much like Dad sometimes," sighed Hoshi, shoving her hands in her pockets and they trudged back to their chamber to get changed.

"You have no idea how true that is."

Akane folded her arms behind her head and looked up at the castle ramparts and fought back the urge to run away.

~*~

Dinner was as frustrating as she'd expected. It was just the main family in attendance, but that still meant eight courses and staff waiting on them hand and foot. At least Dad had been granted space at the table this time, even if he was shoved to the end with Auntie Kiki and Uncle Mitsuhide. Tomorrow, when the real event happened, he'd have to stand to the side and play bodyguard once more. He'd be forced to eat in the kitchens afterwards, or else sneak food off of their plates when nobody else was looking. When she was a kid it all seemed like some sort of great game! But now she was older she knew it was just another way in which her family was forced into a shameful secret.

It made Akane want to scream! How did he stand it? How could he put up with it all for so many years? Was love even a good enough reason to suffer through so much pain and humiliation? Her gaze flicked down the table at the rest of her family. Her mother sat opposite her, with Papa on her left and Taro on her right. Hoshi sat at Akane's right with Kana next to her. Linette (Aunt Kiki's daughter) sat on the other side, the logic no doubt being that the two girls could prevent Kana from any sort of mischief she might choose to get up to from being forced to sit still for so long.

Down the left side of the table sat their blood Uncle's family. The King himself sat next to her with his eldest son Akira on his right followed by his two youngest who were bracketed by their mother. The Dowager was still always granted a position at head of the table, claiming she liked to view her entire family without having to strain her neck.

Akane was surrounded by light haired, blue eyed people. The only specks of colour were her mother and little brother, but their unique red only made them appear that much more regal. She caught her reflection in her over polished spoon. Nothing special there other than her eyes, which she was reliably informed by gossiping nobles were her worst feature. Apparently they made her always look like she was up to something. Which wasn't fair at all because mostly what she was doing was hiding from them.

She felt like she really belonged on the far end of the table, squished in at the end with her dad. She was placed next to the King out of respect for being the former second heir to the throne. Should she have ever been that heir though? If the time came, should she just abdicate and hand over the task to her sister? Maybe it was a bit harsh, but she had to think of what was best for the kingdom.

The thoughts swarmed in her head like flies. The banal conversation passed her by in waves of sound. She just gave a cursory "hmmm" or "yeah" to anyone who tried to engage her. She could feel her papa's concerned gaze drilling into her, but she ignored it. It wasn't even as if-- no. She had to stop thinking about that!

She tried to zone back into the conversation, focussing on what was happening right now by means of distraction.

"-- boy or a girl, so long as they're healthy!" her mother laughed freely.

Oh. Baby talk. Great.

"I want a baby brother!" piped up Taro. "It wouldn't be fair for me to be the only boy."

"Yeah! And Auntie Kiki said that boys are easier to beat up," added Kana with her usual glee.

"Did Auntie Kiki say that now…" came Papa's dry tone as he stared at her. Aunt Kiki just gave a small shrug that had Hoshi and Linette giggling. Uncle Izana made the diplomatic move to ignore Kana's statement, though Akane didn't miss Aunt Haki's tiny wink. She glanced down the table to see her dad lean over and whisper something in Aunt Kiki's ear that had him stifling his laughter too.

Kana, oblivious to the discord she'd set about, decided it was time to release some more. "I wonder what the baby will look like?"

The grip on Akane's fork tightened.

"Well, they say that boys look like their mothers, and girls look like their fathers," chimed in Uncle Mitsuhide. "That's so far proved true for you."

Her papa raised an eyebrow "I don't think one boy is enough proof of that. But it would be nice to have another red head around." He brushed a kiss to his wife's cheek. Akane was too focussed on stabbing her steak to join in with the chorus of disgust from her siblings at such open displays between old people.

Akira's voice suddenly perked up "What about you Akane? What do you think?" His tone was like one practicing the art of conversation. "I think it would be cool if the baby looked like you for once. Since none of the others do."

Akane slammed her fork down on the table, the force of it almost knocking over her glass. "I'm very sorry, but I must be excused." She bowed to her uncle, and her grandmother -- no -- to the King and the Dowager -- then fled the room.

She could already feel the hot tears pricking at her eyes. Akira hadn't meant anything by it, he was just trying to engage her in the conversation! He was just a kid, he couldn't tell she didn't want to be involved. But she didn't need a reminder that she was the outsider. That she didn't belong in the same way the others did. Swift footsteps were following her down the corridor now, judging by the speed and gait, probably her dad's. She sped up as she turned the corner, hoping to find a cupboard or something to hide in but didn't have time to do anything before his hand was grabbing her shoulder.

"Okay Kiddo, what was that about?"

"Nothing," she said, tugging her shoulder away. "I just felt a bit sick, is all. I'm gonna go to bed." She hid her face from him, begging that he wouldn't notice her tears.

"Well then I'll walk you there," he said patiently, not pushing her, not in public anyway. Never in public. He couldn't be seen to be parenting his own kid now could he! God it was such bull shit.

She couldn't think of anything that would lead him to leave her alone, so she had to put up with him escorting her. He blabbered the whole way about his time spent in the castle, and all the mischief he'd gotten up to.

"I know you don't like it here Aki, but it's where the three of us fell in love! I know all this royal protocol is a bit much compared to how things are back home, but you'll get used to it, I promise! I know this lot can be a bit stuffy sometimes, but they're still family."

Akane clenched her fists by her side "No. They're not. I'm no more a royal than you are. I don't belong here."

Her dad let out a bark of laughter "Well that's rubbish, you were born here you know? Your uncle insisted on it, he couldn't have an heir to the crown not be born in the Wistal Castle!"

"Yeah well he didn't, did he?" she snapped, stopping dead in the corridor, "Because I'm not the true heir, am I? That's Hoshi. Hoshi should be next in line, not me. In fact, I shouldn't be in line at all, should I? After all, I'm just some mongrel bastard, the same as you!"

"Akane, where's this coming from?" Her dad's jovial tone was gone, replaced with one that made grown men shiver.

"How do you stand it?" She didn't hide her tears now, letting them fall down her face and spill onto the floor, "How do you put up with-- with all of this? The constant secrets, the toadying, having to be put at the end of the table! At the banquet you're gonna be no better than a butler! And you let that happen. Why? Why did you agree to any of it!?"

"Because I love them, and they love me." His answer was so simple, so succinct that it made her want to vomit.

"Yeah, well, next time think about what that means for everyone else, you good for nothing concubine." she spat, and this time when she ran away, he didn't follow.

She flung herself straight onto the mattress and screamed into the pillow. The scream became sobs, became quiet tears and soon she had no energy left for anything else. When Hoshi came into the room later, she pretended to be asleep.

She woke up with the sun, a familiar restlessness filling her bones the longer she lay there. Hoshi was still snoring in the bed over, completely star fished across the sheets like usual. Sneaking out without waking her would be laughably easy. But then what? Where would she go? The banquet was today, if she went missing then people would go looking for her! But then again… would they?

Maybe her parents, Kiki and Mitsuhide would… but it wasn't like the whole castle would go out looking for her in the same way as if Akira went missing. And it wouldn't take long until they gave up either. Maybe if she was the actual heir they'd need her there, but she wasn't! Hoshi would just take her place at the banquet table, charm all the guests as she usually did, and then maybe Akane could eat with her dad in the kitchens afterwards.

That was the life she was meant to lead, after all. That was her real birthright.

Filled with new determination, she quickly got dressed into her civilian clothes. She'd slept with her plait in, but now took the time to unravel it and attach two ornate ribbons to the side. Whilst they definitely drew attention, none of that would be to her face, and a style change was just as good as a mask.

Whilst there were a few guards patrolling the corridors, it was easy enough to avoid them and pass herself off as one of the servants. It was then simple enough to slip down into the stables, and start to saddle up her mount. Her own horse was still back home in Wirant, but the ones here were used to being handled by strangers, and were easily bribed with a stolen apple.

"Don't forget to tighten the girth, otherwise you'll fall straight off."

"Yeah Papa, I know what I'm--" she turned around with a snap, and there was Prince Zen of Clarines, leaning on the stable door with a big grin spread across his face that matched the shit on the floor. He was dressed in his civilian clothes too, a travelling cloak draped over his shoulders.

"What do you want?" she said coldly, once more turning back to her work.

"Well that's no way to speak to your father, is it?"

"Yeah well, you're not my father are you? So you can just leave me alone." She picked up the reins and moved to lead the horse out the stable but the prince refused to budge.

"See, that right there is why I'm not going to leave you alone. What's happened? Is it something I did? Please talk to me Aki, I don't like seeing you like this." His concern was so genuine, and she could tell from his face just how much he loved her, which just made her even more frustrated.

"You didn't do anything. That's the problem. Can I go now?"

"No, because you still haven't told me what's wrong. You stormed off from the dinner yesterday, you called Dad a concubine, and now you're telling me I don't count? Akane, that hurts, you know that right?"

"It's just what everyone else is saying," she muttered, turning to hide her face in her horse's neck.

A thin silence dragged out between them. Zen looked completely heartbroken, but there was a hint of rage burning in his blue eyes. It wasn't the kind she was used to, the tempered rage from when she'd failed to show up to a tutoring session, or deliberately poured ink all over Hoshi's favourite dress as punishment for using her practice sword without permission. It was something more feral and far more deadly.

"Akane, whatever you've heard, I need you to understand that --"

"Prince Zen! Prince Zen where are you?!" The familiar cries of Mitsuhide echoed through the morning light.

"-- oh for God's sake, how could they need me already?! Mama and Dad were meant to hold him off."

"Well, if you need to go then you need to go." Akane went to lead the horse again and this time Zen moved aside. There was a pensive look on his face, and in all reality Akane should have seen it coming.

She'd barely put one foot in the stirrups when Zen swung up behind her from the other side. Bracketing her in place, he pulled the reins out of her hands and set the horse off in a canter.

"What the-- Pap-- Prince Zen! Stop! I'm not--"

"--What, you thought I was just going to let you leave all by yourself?"

"But what about--"

"-- There's nothing Mitsuhide can want from me that Mama and Dad can't handle on my behalf."

They were speeding towards the castle entrance now, the gate already open. Mitsuhide's shouts got louder, she looked back and saw him desperately trying to chase after them. Prince Zen simply waved at him, fully aware there was no way he'd ever catch them.

Mitsuhide was trying his best though, and it wasn't until Aunt Kiki appeared that he gave up the fight. Despite herself, Akane laughed. She'd missed this! When she was younger they'd often sneak out of the grounds together as a family, Zen explaining that there were lots of different kinds of duty and sometimes duty to yourself came before duty to paperwork. She found herself settling into her papa's arms as he slowed the horse down to a walk.

"Remember to thank the horse." Zen said, giving her a little nudge. She gave them two big hearty pats. They leaned back up, Zen letting the reins a little loose.

"So, we've got twenty minutes before we hit the town so how about you tell me who said what and how we can all fix it?"

Akane shuffled awkwardly in the saddle, acutely aware that she had no means of escape. "It's-- it's just that, well-- well I don't look like you. I look like Dad."

"Is that a problem? I think your dad is quite handsome, really. Though don't tell him I said that, it'll only go to his head."

Akane rolled her eyes "It's not about that stuff. I don't care about any of that! It's just that -- well. Hoshi, Kana and Taro all take after you, they all look like Wisteria Children! And I-- well. Like I said: I look like Dad; dark hair, cat eyes and skinny bones."

"So? Grandpa Mukaze has brown hair too, doesn't he? That doesn't make him any less your mother's father!"

Akane let out a groan of frustration "You're not listening I'm just saying that -- I'm not a child anymore okay? I know how all that stuff works, and I know that I'm not your actual daughter!"

She could feel him tense up behind her, his elbows coming a little closer to her body as if to hold her in place. His words were careful, yet filled with stern conviction.

"Whatever anybody else says, whatever you might believe, I am and will always be, your father. You are my daughter. I knew that the moment the midwife put you in my arms, I was the first of us to hold you: and I'll hold you as many more times as needed to prove that."

Akane looked down guilty at where his arms were wrapped around her, and shuffled a little further up the saddle to try to get out of his embrace. "You say all that, and I get it, but I'm still not yours by blood, and blood is all that matters to the throne."

Zen let out a small put upon sigh, the kind usually reserved for paperwork and bickering children.

"Firstly, it's not the throne that matters, it's Clarines. And what matters to Clarines is family. And family has nothing to do with blood. What about all the adoptive children and their parents? Are they not really family? You and I, we share a greater bond than blood. I love you, just as much as I love your siblings. You're made up of my two favourite people in the whole world! Why would I want anyone else as my heir?"

He made a sad sound, and rested his chin on top of her head. "I'm sorry Sweetheart, we never meant for you to feel like this. We knew that people would talk, but I think we just assumed you'd know that was all it was. I'm sorry for not spotting anything sooner."

He sounded genuine too, as though this really was all his fault! Which, okay Akane had kind of said just that… but she'd calmed down a little now and didn't have the energy to be angry at the man who raised her.

"It's okay Papa, I didn't mean it either." She twisted around and gave him a peck on the cheek, "I'm sorry for making you feel bad, I know you're mine. No matter what those hags say." She relaxed into him a little more, enjoying the change in scenery as they came further into town; the fields and livestock giving way to vegetable gardens and pet dogs.

"I wish there was something I could do about that too…" Papa growled, "Sadly, if we say anything about it, we'll just increase the rumours. All we can do is keep quiet, and continue to show the world that you're my heir. But if you tell me who said these things, I promise I'll find a way to--"

"--No Papa! It's okay, you're right. Saying anything will just encourage them more. Better to keep it quiet and pretend like nothing happened. The best revenge will be to show that they cannot hurt us, and that our love is stronger than their spite."

Her papa let out a bark of laughter "Spoken like a true princess! See, I really couldn't have anyone better suited to take over from me."

"Better than Hoshi?" Akane smiled wryly

He pinched her side "Come on Akane! I would not be a Prince of Clarines if I couldn't spot a trap when there was one."

"Spoil Sport."

Akane wasn't entirely sure what they were meant to do once they got into town. It seemed that her Papa did have a plan though, and turned what was meant to be her first day on the run into a Daddy-Daughter-Day.

They picked up breakfast in the market, warm fruit pastries that were anything but healthy. Then they strolled through the marketstalls, admiring the different goods they had on sale. They tried on silly hats and over the top costume jewelry as her Papa told her about his one and only foray into theatre, where he'd disrupted a play in order to stop her mother from having her hair shown off without her consent.

The smiths weren't as skilled as the ones who served the castles directly, but she still had a good time testing out the knives. She hit the bullseye each time, drawing a small crowd to them. Luckily nobody recognised them, given that she rarely visited Wistal Castle, and whilst her papa had grown up there he'd not been a regular visitor for over a decade. Anyone who did recognise him from that time would know better than to out him in front of everyone!

She flipped an ornate dagger in her hand, carefully aiming it and landing it directly in the handle of the one already sticking out. A round of applause broke out amongst the crowd and she gave them a jovial bow.

"You've got a talented daughter there, Pal," said the owner, "I've not seen skill like that in a while, you must be proud."

Something warm glowed within Akane. They hadn't said they were father and daughter, but the owner had known it anyway! And he hadn't been the only one. The waiter of the café they'd gotten lunch in had even commented on how they had the same nose! It showed how ridiculous it all was, to claim someone's parentage by looks alone.

"She's my pride and joy." Papa beamed, pulling her closer to his side.

"She also damaged that blade." The shopkeeper held out a hand expectantly.

Her papa sighed and handed over the money "Then I guess she's getting a gift."

The blades weren't as good as the ones on her hip, but they meant the world to her. Even if she was under instructions to not tell anyone else about them for fear of repercussions: be they demands from her siblings for their own gifts, or punishment for her father for buying them in the first place.

They took it all as a sign that they should head back to the castle, this time relishing in a comfortable silence. Mitsuhide was waiting for them when they returned, yelling at them both in equal turn before sending them on their separate ways to prepare for the night's events.

"So, what did you and Papa get up to whilst you were gone?" Hoshi asked as she helped Akane sort out her hair for the ball. They already changed into their formal wear, the weight of it already pulling them down. This time around, Hoshi had opted for a ball gown, whilst Akane wore a suit. They both wore the white and blue of Clariness, but Akane's had black highlights whereas Hoshi had gold. They didn't look like the matching set twins were supposed to be, but then again, life was more interesting with some variation in it.

"Uncle Mitsuhide was going spare! Apparently Papa used to do that sort of thing all the time, but Mama and Dad covered for him fine. I guess that's an advantage to having three in a marriage! You can get more things covered. Come on though! Why'd you run off like that?"

When Akane's vague answers didn't satisfy, Hoshi stabbed her in the skull with a hair pin.

"Ow! What was that for?!"

"You know why! Now tell me what really happened or I'll do it again. It was something to do with those two hags, right?"

Akane twisted away from her sister, fearful of a reprise "I told you! It's water under the bridge. We've sorted it out, so just let it drop."

"Bull shit!" scoffed Hoshi, "Papa's great but you don't just go from storming out of dinner, to calling Dad a concubine -- yeah I heard about that! So did half the castle! -- to running away the day of a banquet to coming back eight hours later all happy and normal! Come on Akane, we're twins! We're meant to have an unshakeable bond formed within the womb or whatever." She waved the hairpin about in a vague yet worrying fashion.

Akane sunk back into her chair. "It's fine Hoshi, I promise. I mean -- it's not but -- I just. You're my twin, okay? You're right and it doesn't matter that we don't have the same biological father, because the colour of our hair doesn't matter. It's that we were raised in the same family at the same time, and that I was born eighteen minutes before you!"

Hoshi let out an angry huff "Eighteen minutes doesn't mean anything!"

"It does to the line of succession."

"Yeah, but that only matters for Uncle Izana, we're only in line if he dies, and all our cousins, and Papa! I don't want to think about that, thanks."

"What about Wirant? That's going down Papa's line."

"Oh you can have Wirant! That's just all paperwork and brains. You can do the important stuff, and I'll be your cool, beautiful bodyguard! Like Auntie Kiki was to Papa back when they were young."

"That sounds perfect," hummed Akane, letting her twin get back to pinning her hair in place and adding the green gemstones that matched the colour of their eyes.

"Damn right." Hoshi puffed, admiring her handiwork. There was a pause, and then she felt her sister hugging her from behind "Don't listen to the hags Aki, we're sisters forever, okay? I don't care what colour your hair is, or if you have slit pupils, we have the same fathers, and the same mother, and the same siblings."

Akane trapped her arms in place. "I know Hoshi, I know. But thanks for saying it all the same, it's good to hear."

There was a knock at the door, and their Mama called out to them to get them to hurry up. They shared in a knowing look, preparing themselves for a night of speeches and politics and dances first choreographed fifty years ago.

Unlike Akane and Hoshi, Taro and Kana were only required to attend the main banquet -- or rather: Taro was required and Kana refused to be left out. The family all sat together on the top table, and as predicted Dad was in the same black and green as the other Knights of the court. Though this time he did seem to be granted a space at the table alongside his husband and wife. Akane couldn't help but wonder if that had been a last minute decision, a thought made all the more prominent by the confusion on the waitors' faces when they brought up the first course.

After what felt like a decade, dinner finally ended and after another decade so did the speeches. Their parents left the table to put Taro and Kana to bed, Kana being carried off by their Dad and insisting around her yawns that she wasn't sleepy in the slightest and could stay up just as late as her sisters could! At the same time, Aunt Haki took Akira off to bed, their cousin far more willing to leave than their sister was. Other than the royal visitors, that left just them, The Dowager, and King Izana -- no, their grandmother and their uncle -- at the top table.

After a moment of conversation with various congregations, Izana stood up from his chair and came over to his nieces. They automatically stiffened, aware of how many eyes were on them right now.

Izana placed his hand carefully but very clearly on Akane's shoulder, as though wanting to make sure everyone in the room could see the motion. He leant in closer, his gaze intense. Akane could easily see why so many people were afraid of him, he really could be terrifying when he wanted to be! But she knew her uncle well enough to see the kindness in his eyes and the worry that lay beneath. He was surprisingly easy to read, once you learnt how.

Okay, maybe easy wasn't the right word. But there were at least text books available to teach you how! And she had fourteen years worth of practice in the matter.

"Akane," he said softly "I know that you value your time with your father, my brother, but please promise me you won't go galavanting off again any time soon. Your behaviour reflects badly on the rest of us, you know. You are a Wisteria, after all."

Akane felt her face flush red at the reprimand. Though there was also something sweet and caring in his words, if she really were just a bastard, if she wasn't his niece, he wouldn't care as much as he did. He wouldn't have her at his table, he wouldn't hold her to such a high standard, he wouldn't have named her heir when she was born. It gave her strength to know that he recognised their family in such a way.

She could feel a smug energy coming from her twin though, which set her on edge. Her suspicions were made all the worse when Izana moved over to Hoshi, his voice a little louder this time.

"Thank you for the information you gave us earlier, Hoshi. Your mother and I discussed it at length, and came to a suitable outcome that I think will be to your liking."

For just a millisecond his eyes flicked over to where Lady Millena and Lady Lidah were sitting and chatting with two handsome nobles from Tanbarun. He then placed his hands on his nieces' shoulders and gave them the gentlest of squeezes, before heading back down the table to resume his duties as King; seemingly confident that his duty as an uncle had been complete.

The twins shared a slightly confused look, before going back to observing Lidah and Millena. Everything seemed to be in order, but then they each took a drink from their glasses.

The effect wasn't immediate, but you could tell that something had gone amiss right away. The women's expressions seemed to warp in mirrored fashion. Their companions noted their concern, but the women tried to brush them off with a false smile.

All seemed fine for a moment, Lidah's hand shaking just a little on her glass until…

A sound so loud it could have been heard in the next town. A roaring, triumphant trumpet that drained all the blood from its player's face. The whole room couldn't help but turn to stare at Lidah, and her companions who were all covering their noses. Her cousin was the first to move towards her, but in doing so set off her own chorus that could in no way be blamed on her chair.

Then the Dowager laughed, and soon so was the whole room! Akane and Hoshi clung to each other as they doubled over with laughter. The two musicians began to swiftly make their way out of the room, their instruments tooting out an encore. When they got to the door they were stopped in their tracks by the arrival of Princess Shirayuki, being escorted on each arm by Sir Obi and Prince Zen.

The three gave them an expectant look as they waited for their greeting. The women looked panicked, and then gave the quickest curtseys ever seen, rising back up again with their own musical accompaniment.

Lidah let out a hurt wail, pulling off her shoes to allow her to make a quicker exit and leaving her cousin behind in the dust. The echos of them could be heard as they fled down the corridor, no doubt in search of the nearest bathroom.

Through the tears of her own laughter, Akane noticed an incredibly smug look on her mother's face. She whispered something to her husbands and they looked back at her with immense pride. Dad laughed, Papa kissed her on the cheek, and suddenly everything felt like it was meant to again.

With the lesson learned, to never mess with a herbalist on good terms with the kitchen staff. Revenge was a dish best served in public, after all.

~*~

Akane admired the family portrait on the throne room wall. It wasn't their first, Wirant had plenty hanging up documenting various occasions from births to anniversaries to just wanting to have something done by a favourite artisan! However this was the first to hang in Wistal.

The King had commissioned it specially, placing it in pride of place next to the one of his own. He claimed he would eventually like one of them all, but decided it best to wait a few more years so there was less repetition.

Out of all the portraits done so far though, this one was her favourite. It showed the whole family: her, her sisters, her brothers, her mother, and both her fathers.

Her mother sat in the middle with Kana on her lap. Hoshi and Akane stood next to her, with Taro just a little out in front. Behind her stood her dad, one hand resting on Hoshi's shoulder and the other on his wife's. Then stood her Papa next to Akane, his hands full with a ten month old Kain.

Akane's smile broadened a little bit. He'd been named after his grandfather, a suggestion made by King Izana himself. A way to keep his memory alive for the generations to come.

Kain did not take after his grandfather though, in fact, he didn't look much like any of the other portraits in the room. He had dark hair, just like Akane, with large amber eyes. His skin tone was a little darker than the rest of the family too, even as a baby. Well, most of the family. On the whole, he looked like a miniature of the man on the far left.

Yet there could be no denying that the one holding him was his father. There was so much pride and happiness in the Prince's face as he clung to his infant son. It was a moment captured in time, a feeling and a love that would hang on the wall for long after they had passed from this world.

History would remember them in each stroke of the brush. This was their family. This was who they were.

In centuries to come, there would be those who would try to make this out to be some sort of scandal. There would be some who would declare it the first evidence of an openly queer relationship in the Royal Family. Theories would fly around and debates would be had, but of one thing there could be absolutely no denying: this was a family portrait, where each member was connected through the love they shared.

Whilst fate would always play a hand in these things, at the end of the day, family was who you chose it to be. And these eight people had chosen each other.