"I don't really understand what the problem is."

"Allow me to reiterate that you two are the princes of the kingdom."

"What does that have to do with Hao wearing a dress?"

"…Yoh, do you understand that a prince cannot masquerade as a princess? It's in… it's just not right."

"Well, I don't see anything wrong with it. He's not hurting anyone."

The Queen sighed, rubbing at her forehead with her fingertips. Everything about these two was so frustrating. Peeking in between her fingers, she took in the skinny boy before her, with his arms crossed over his chest and dark eyes looking up to her with distaste, past heavy bangs formed by his silver hairband. He was wearing the appropriate attire. The vest, shirt, tights held up by belt, tucked into thigh-held boots, thick gloves on his hands, even wearing the sword of his mentor's at his hip.

A soft groan filtered through the Queen's lips, knowing that her youngest son was expecting an answer. He wouldn't leave without getting one. Not on manners concerning his twin.

Removing her hands, Queen Keiko tried again with a less-than-patient gesture of them, "It's improper for a prince to dress as a princess, and vice versa. It's in poor taste. It has a bad reflection on our family, thus putting our kingdom as a whole in undesirable light." Something in her hoped, vainly, that Yoh would understand, but with his disagreeing shake of his head, it vanished behind a veil of irritation.

"I just don't see how a guy wearing a dress is going to be a problem for anyone." From the prince's side, meeting his mother at just-below eye level, he simply could no comprehend the concept. "It's just clothing. You wear dresses. People in the city wear dresses, and not every single one is a woman. What's the issue? I might as well wear a dress too-" Yoh waved a hand around with a frown, "-just to prove a point."

"Dear, I don't think-"

"Or we could just walk around naked all the time and save all the trouble-"

"YOH."

The prince hid a smile behind a glove, seeing the faint haze of pink on the Queen's pale face, the agitation now showing on her face. Perhaps he should have been a bit more respectful. But it was too late to take it back now. …not that he would.

Giving a long-suffering sigh, Queen Keiko ran a hand through her black hair and rubbed at her temples. It simply wasn't a day to talk to either son. "…we can discuss this at another time. The Tao are visiting from the borders to discuss business with your father and me. …" She turned her head, just enough, to give a half-hearted glare at the prince, who's smile fell at such a serious expression. "Go tell Hao to put on appropriate attire for dinner, at LEAST."

Yoh frowned, moving to make another argument. "But-"

"NOW!"

A startled squeak at the sudden ferocity that issued from her lips, he jumped in his spot and turned tail, quickly retreating through the hallways of the castle with the rebounding of "PRINCELY ATTIRE" following him close behind. By the time his feet had slowed, and his breath eased from pants, the hall was silent. But the warning that was seeped deep in the demand of his mother remained.

"…I just don't get it." A long sigh, much like his mother's, swept the air as the prince walked at a lackluster pace to his brother's room. …well, technically, it was their room. But certainly, it was Hao's domain rather than Yoh's. This proved true the moment Yoh pushed open the heavy oak door to enter, as a sudden sight of red engulfed his view and covered his head, in the form of.. a dress. Figured. He was trying to find a good one to wear. "Hao-"

"No. Not this shade."

Yoh tugged the red mass off his head, only to be drenched in another, this one of silk violet. "Hao, stop-"

"Not this one." Dark green velvet.

"Hao-!"

"Nope." Rose pink.

"HAO!"

The prince(ss) blinked, looking at himself in the mirror, a dark blue gown held to his slender chest. For a moment, he just stared, gazing at his own reflection, taking in the look of his widened eyes and pouting lips, set on a slender, tan face framed by sleek, black hair. …yes, he WAS lovely, wasn't he? Then a gaze to the side of the mirror, where his dear twin was fuming, picking up the dresses that had been tossed onto him and folding them over his arm with tender care.

A smile, relaxed by the appearance of the prince, the prince(ss) turned to face him, the under dress hugging to the slim figure in all the right ways. "Ah, otouto. Perfect timing." Turning on his foot, the gown held to his chest, Hao pursed his lips in deep thought. "I can't find the right dress to wear tonight." Setting the dresses out on the large bed fit for a King, smoothing out the crimson covers, Yoh raised an eyebrow. "You already knew?"

A flippant "I know everything" was returned, and it became business as usual. "Help me find a good color."

And… here was what Yoh didn't want to delve into. But… PRINCELY ATTIRE still echoed deep into his ears, rattling his skull. With a soft breath, the prince stood straight and walked closer to the prince(ss), vouching to lean against the post of the bed. "That's what I need to talk to you about, aniki. …tonight, could you please… just this once-"

"No."

A frown fell on Yoh's face. "Aniki, please. Do you know what'll happen if you don't wear something like a guy tonight?" At the mirror, having discarded the dress in favor of a dull, burnt umber one, Hao turned his nose up at the question. "Nothing. I wear so-called 'prince garb' when I command the battalions, don't I? When we go out on official business beyond the kingdom? I refuse to wear such things in my own castle."

"Technically-"

"Don't get into technicalities, Yoh, I've having enough issues as it is."

Crossing his arms, a soft, desperate sound came from the younger's mouth. "But you look good in everything, aniki. Why is this so important?" Really, why was it? A slow smirk spread over the older's face, and he spoke with a smug expression, eyes shifted to see the reaction he would get in his brother's reflection. "Because. Who comes with the Tao every time they visit, hmm? If I want to look good for Ren..~"

Oh, the sudden flush of red on Yoh's face was priceless! The sputter, the sudden… indignant babble that soon followed after, and how rigid he became, hands now in fists at his side. Hao couldn't help but grin. "Y-Y…You're dressing up to look good for REN?!" An angry shout lodged in the younger's throat, he threw his arms into the air, stomping a foot on the carpeted floor. "Why would you want to look good for REN?! What's so special about him?!"

He had to grit his teeth at the irritation, had to look away for fear he could blow up at the prince(ss). Hao's anger would be so much more than his own, and far more destructive. …but he just couldn't understand… Why Ren? So stotic and unchanging, prideful… Sure, maybe he looked decent. But why would Hao-

"Otouto, you're too cute~"

How the prince(ss) had managed to sneak up and wrap strong arms around him, he could never know. But all that mattered was the fact that lips were pressed against his, murmuring and teasing in a voice like silk, "You know I already have my suitor." He tried to remain stern, upset, but a hand entangling in his hair and the presence of a tongue dancing on his lower lip simply.. drained all the anger, all the concern, away. A soft breath, exasperation, and Yoh's arms wrapped around Hao, dragging him closer and allowing the older to do as he pleased, allowing him to explore what he could with a soft hum of pleasure.

For the moment, it was just the two of them. Lost and found and one just with this simple, fairly innocent act. By the time they had to return to reality for air, the prince was back fretting about his mother's warning. "So…" One hand, now free of the glove when he realized that holding to silk was much harder with it on than off, reached up to twirl into the dark hair, spinning it around his finger absently. "I can't get you to change your mind…?"

Hao smirked, sticking his well-used tongue out at the younger. "No."

Desperate now, Yoh bit his bruised lip, looking to the ground and glancing for anything he could use. "…not even… …What if I did a favor?" …hearing an interested hum from the older brought his gaze back up, looking at his brother's thoughtful expression. "…what kind of favor?"

Yoh's eyes lit up. Finally, he had found a loophole. "Any kind, any! Aniki's choice, so long as he wears guy stuff tonight." His smile began as wide, but… seeing how Hao produced a sly smirk brought the smile to a crashing halt.

"I'll take that favor, Yoh."

—

The banquet table was set, the Tao were seated, the King and Queen sitting before them at the long table, both looking apprehensive as neither twin showed up for dinner quite yet. The main course was on its way, the first course set before all at the table. They could not eat without the two.

"Where are they…?" Queen Keiko fiddled with her hands under the table, twisting her napkin in her slender hands. Her husband, King Mikihisa, shook his head with a soft sigh. "They'll be here momentarily, I'm sure. No doubt Hao has planned another grand entrance for our viewing pleasure." After all, last time, the prince(ss) had strode in the last time, before the Lady of Peace, spinning a staff cloaked in fire, making sure to sweep just under her chin before snuffing the flames out.

"He better not." The Queen chewed at her lip, noticing how… calm the Tao family was to wait. It made her uncomfortable. Turning to her husband, finally, she spoke, quickly, "You don't suppose they're hurt in some ma-"

"Announcing Prince Hao and Yoh!"

Oh, the relief on the Queen's poor face, her hand flying to her chest as she tried to calm herself. The King merely looked towards the opening doors with his face set in exasperation, ready to prepare himself for whatever speech he would have to give for Hao's behavior.

…neither were quite prepared for what they saw. There was Hao, walking forward with his brother's hand in his, standing in princely attire that was, no doubt, Yoh's. Fitting him perfectly, he strode forward with a smirk on his face, boots thumping on the stone floor, the cape Yoh wore for outings fastened around his neck, his sword strapped to his waist. Whereas Yoh worn it like an casual outfit, Hao wore it like a king.

…then there was the fact that Yoh, his face red and eyes downcast, was clad in a gown of soft orange, accented with black and red veils, his feet creating soft clicks as he walked forth in black heels, and hair held back but a dark rose.

The Queen's face went dark red with shame. The King seemed trapped between wanting to shout and wanting to burst into laughter. Most of the Tao family seemed.. genuinely shocked, the Emporer of the clan looking like he had just been doused in cold water, the Empress holding a hand to her mouth with widened eyes, the oldest sibling mimicking her mother , but doing so to hide a wide smile.

As for the youngest Tao, Ren, he merely hide a smirk, choosing to keep his eyes closed and head directed at the table.

He'd seen it all before.