#ygou

So here she was, playing a part she didn't feel suited for, going to an exclusive event on a beach, to be surrounded by people she didn't feel suited to talk to, but who would be bowing and sucking up to her just because she had been given a title.

Today, they were going to an event honoring lives that had been lost in a terrible passenger ship that had run aground at the beach when Seto's grandfather had been the emperor. A ceremony, a wreath on the dock, and dinner at the finest restaurant just down the beach. It was supposed to be a quick thing, but Reika knew with how politicians loved to talk, they were going to be here all night - and their schedules had been cleared in anticipation for it.

Ugh, what she wouldn't give to be able to dive into the water and swim away to a new life.

"Imperial Highness's, we're here," Isono said as the car slowed to a stop and flashbulbs began to pop beyond the glass.

"Thank you Isono." Seto's reply, as always, was curt, like he had better things to be doing than riding in a car with a woman that wasn't his choice to marry.

And he did. She did too.

Seto stepped out of the car first, then turned to take her hand gently as she followed. Flashbulbs popped in her eyes, making her vision blocky for a moment as the Crown Prince and Princess made their way to the podium on the small stage for Seto's speech.

A dozen retired sailors and survivors of the disaster stood straight up, the sailors at attention as they approached, and only relaxed when Seto nodded. Reika took a seat among the group, behind the podium. The sea was at her back, the waves calm as they lapped against the docks and shoreline.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, as we mark the fiftieth anniversary of the sinking of the Kiso, a tragic day in my grandfather's long reign…"

Reika blinked, smiled, and looked sad as he continued his speech. It wasn't hard to play the game now, and he's practiced the speech a dozen times with her in the room. She knew how to react without having to think about it.

It wasn't hard to be sad and contemplative at all. The Kiso's sinking so close to shore had been a stark reminder of why ships needed the safety regulations they did.

The ocean lapped at the wall behind her, and she took a moment to breathe. This beach had been a favorite of her grandfather's, and he'd insisted on bringing her here every time she spent the night at his game shop with her cousin, Yugi.

"Yugi, I'm going to build a bigger sand castle than you!"

"Nuh-uh! I've been practicing at home! I'm going to beat you!"

The memories were so vivid.

Warm sand tickling her toes as they ran for the ocean, squealing at the first chilly brush of surf against their ankles. Grandpa's hearty laughter as he held the camera and took photos to show their parents later. Sand scraping under her nails as she forced it into place in a crude attempt to build sand dwellings and crude figures that were supposed to be Duel Monsters.

Grandpa hadn't cared, and had taken photos of them to show Pegasus anyway.

Pegasus still liked to remind her of them.

She wished she could run out there now, the wind running through wild strands, coarse sand getting into every corner of her shoes and clothes, and the ocean cooling her from the punishing heat of the sun above them. To have a late night bonfire with her friends and family, celebrating her birthday and watching the Star Festival fireworks light up the sky.

To be free.

Reika took a deep breath and folded her hands in her lap. Her mind was being pulled in a thousand different directions between the sun, the sound of the waves, and the knowledge that dozens of eyes were on her, scrutinizing her every move as the new Crown Princess, not born from a politically powerful family.

People were looking at her to fail.

" - as my wife and I place the wreath on the dock, I encourage you all to think about those who lost their lives that day, and say a prayer in their honor," Seto said.

Reika rose to her feet, eyes lowered on remembrance, and her heels clicked softly against the stage, until she and Seto reached the carpet separating the stage, beach, and dock. She moved carefully on the wooden dock, stepping carefully to avoid the heel of her shoes getting stuck in a crack.

The wreath and stand were easy to carry, and they did so silently, and set it down at the end of the dock. Perfectly blue water stretched out before them, the sun reflecting off it like a mirror. A perfect, summer day, and she just wanted to jump into the water and swim for miles, until Japan's shores were no longer in sight. She let a small sigh, before gasping when a bit of water lapped up through one of the dock's holes, catching her ankle.

"Oh - Crown Princess!" she heard one of the nameless politicians gasp, as if it were blood, not water, that clung to her skin. "Are you alright?"

"I am perfectly fine. It felt good, actually. It's very hot today, you know."

Nervous laughter and murmurs of agreements were echoed from the crowd gathered.

"Come," Seto said, his voice cutting through the crowd. "Let's all head inside and cool down." Some of the older sailors, dressed in full uniform, looked like they were going to start swaying any moment. "Reika and I would like a moment to ourselves, if you don't mind, governor."

The governor - the one who had panicked over her getting splashed with water - nodded and bowed to them, heading off to talk to the gathered reporters as Reika and Seto - and their guards, because privacy was a rarity nowadays.

"Had you ever been to this beach before?" Seto asked.

"Yes. It was grandpa's favorite place to bring us to when Yugi and I were kids," she said simply. "I have a lot of fond memories here. The same way the people on the Kiso just wanted to make good memories with their loved ones."

Seto's face was stoic and hard to read. "We will… make an effort to visit more often. Perhaps it's time for a proper memorial for the Kiso disaster to be erected here." They both knew Gozaburo hadn't cared about the value of human life, and wouldn't bother to do it himself. With Gozaburo (reluctantly) giving Seto more power, she knew he had the opportunity to.give the victims of the sinking the memorial they deserved.

And her an excuse to visit one of her favorite places in the country.

"Thank you. I think that is a beautiful idea."

"I'll get started on it when we get home."

Home. The gilded cage known as the Shōkaku apartment on the palace's grounds. They had moved into it after they'd married, and despite no longer sharing a home with Gozaburo all day, it was still stifling, like he was waiting for them to hurry up and conceive.

The mere idea of that had a shudder running down her back despite the heat of the day.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes, of course. Just looking forward to having something cold after being in this heat."

Seto nodded a little. "I agree. It's rather… oppressive out here. Come on, let's hurry to the restaurant."

"I've never been here before." It was adults only, so grandpa hadn't been able to bring her as a child. "How's the food?"

He gave her a small smirk. "I assure you, you'll enjoy it."

There was something odd about the look in his eye, and she very nearly rolled hers. Despite a mutual hatred for Gozabur, Seto could be more like him than he wanted to admit.

But when he was right, he was right. The food was delicious, and mingling with the governor, sailors, and survivors had been smooth sailing.

They got home late, and her feet were aching from being in heels all day. She kicked them off with a small sigh of relief before sliding her slippers on and taking the heels into her bedroom (no matter what Gozaburo believed, they did not share a bed… most nights) so she could change into something more comfortable.

She was halfway through braiding her hair, dressed in comfortable cotton pajamas, when there was a knock at the door.

"Reika. I have something for you."

She rolled her eyes into the mirror at Seto's voice. "What is it?" she called back.

"Just come out here. I have something for you."

Her teeth very nearly ground together as she finished her braid and opened the door. "What?"

Seto had changed too, into an expensive looking silk pajama set, his hair beginning to stick up at odd angles from the lack of product left in it, and he smelled (nicely, she would admit) of aftershave. "Follow me downstairs."

And she did so, because the sooner she got this over with, the better.

On the kitchen counter were two carry out bowls, filled with what she already knew was mango soft serve.

"Hashimoto's ice cream. How did you know?" she asked with a frown as she looked at him.

"I did my research. Sugoroku would get you some after you visited that beach, right?"

She nodded, mystified that he would research something that minuscule about her. "I - well, thank you," she said softly, taking a seat on one of the stools and opening the lid of one of the cups.

With only the crickets outside for noise, husband and wife sat at the kitchen counter, and ate their ice cream in a comfortable silence.