[b][i]Ken Illustrious Ikari and Hajime Sakurazaki[/i][/b]

It was just as simple as going to Ken's apartment, introducing himself, and being let in after a security check for Hajime to meet his liege, and now the two were playing videogames together, casting aside all distinctions of rank, linage, and even status as Gifted and Non-Gifted to play a fighting game as equals.

For a brief moment before meeting him, Hajime had been fearful that he might not be able to accept Ken as his liege, that the other teen might be somehow unworthy of his trust and allegiance. But now, after an hour of enjoying himself with snacks and testing out various characters and strategies, Hajime was [i]hooked[/i] on the prospect of serving [i]his friend[/i] for life.

Ken had been lonely. Unable to connect to people due to his damned pride, valuing his position (claimed and actual) too much, and in the end, giving up on his pride in order to just [i]play[/i] with a commoner - Without even a Gift! - like him because he was [i]tired[/i] of driving out his human connections due to the subconcious belief that he was better than others. Or at least, that was what Hajime inferred from what Ken had said about Reverio and Chinami and his failed attempts at making further connections.

Hajime was no sage, he was a fighter first, philosopher later. But he could see that Ken had let his ego get the better of him, but had taken the big and bitter step (to him) of just stepping back and addressing a fellow kid as an equal. And he had been the first to receive such an honor. 

"Ken," he spoke once the 'playdate' ended. "Do you really want the throne? Wouldn't you rather live as a Rhean Citizen and let others do the hard work of fixing the world and keeping it fixed?"

His liege - No, his friend - nodded and said, "To be honest, I do. A Rhean citizen has a worry-free life compared to the Emperor of a developing country. And my life since claiming the throne has given me a lot of worries." Then his face hardened a little, "But Izumo's citizens do not have that luxury; they don't even regard themselves as citizens; they're farmers, peasants, tenants, peons... They have no formal stake in their own nation. I plan to give them that stake."

Ken then laid his head back and said, "But I want to be my true self first. And if that means talking with you like an - No, [i]as[/i] an equal - Then that's all there is to it. And I can declare you my equal - I'm the Legiitmate Emperor of Izumo; I have that power."

This caused Hajime to blurt out, "I... I loved the idea of you. I always thought you'd be handsome and charming and... And you are. Does being your equal mean you'd be mine, just as I am already yours?"

Ken turned off the game console and said, "I give myself to you, completely and utterly, just as you gave yourself to me, completely and utterly. Hajime Sakurazaki, you have my full permission to court me... [i]bethrothed[/i]."

And they kissed; that was all there was to it.