I remember.

We'd been in good spirits when we returned to Eclipton that one time. Sure it'd be hard not to miss the country estate but this castle had its own charm. Rugged and sturdy but there were certainly worse places to be in the world.

And it was particularly beautiful that day. The flowers had just begun to bloom with the start of spring. The sky was especially blue that morning and you could hear the faint chirping of birds.

"Just--" I raised a finger to get her to stop talking if only for a moment. I couldn't understand what she was saying. Or maybe I didn't want to understand, "What are you telling me?" I asked plainly.

"You have been manipulated ever since you stepped foot in King Richard's court" she replied. "I had tried to warn you but I'll admit I could never have known to what extent"

I groaned as I slowly but very painfully regained my consciousness. I had the most intense headache I'd ever had and my world spun violently.

Not that I could see it. My vision was dark as a result of the cloth that covered my eyes. I wanted to scream but even my mouth was restrained. It was a terrible realization that I was cut off from the world. I felt that much more helpless when I tugged at my arms but they were secured firmly behind my back.

*** Author's note: This is like my normal stories. This deals with child abuse, neglect, abandonment. There is also other triggering themes in this story.

Chapter 1: The Day Everything Changed

Jake walked home from school like it was any other day, his headphones blaring some angsty song about rebellion and survival. It fit the mood he was in—school sucked, home wasn’t much better, but at least it was something. A roof over his head. Food on the table. A bed to crash on.

I had woken up and found myself in a compromising position. The universe had given me a headstart, an opportunity to save myself from the compromised state I found myself in.

I had been sprawled all over him, my left arm draped the whole way across his torso and my head resting on his chest. I'd had the opportunity to withdraw and fling myself back to my side of the bed but what did I do with that chance? I stayed because God it felt nice.

The murmur and clatter around the arena began slowly but crescendoed as people started to panic over what they had just witnessed.

Sedition, and in the presence of the Prince no less.

Groups formed and people began talking to each other, some stood as if preparing to leave.

I was no less in shock over what had just happened. A man had run on stage, interrupting the performance, and screaming the words "Dethrone the tyrant king".

Set against the vibrant and atmospheric backdrop of Japan, The Tale of My Beautiful Onii-san follows 18-year-old Haruki as he arrives in Kyoto, eager to reconnect with his cousin Yuki after years apart. But nothing could prepare him for the shocking transformation he finds. Drawn into Yuki’s mysterious world, Haruki embarks on a journey of self-discovery, family secrets, and hidden truths. In this suspenseful and heartfelt tale, he learns that family bonds in Japan can be as intricate—and as unbreakable—as the secrets they keep.