“I mean, it had to happen sooner of later.” Larry pointed out. “I suppose so. We’ve been pretty lucky up until now, when you look at it that way.” Tim replied. “Still, this explains why it took so long to find you this time. I’ve been looking for a girl the whole time.” “Yeah, me too. When I still hadn’t found you by the time I turned twenty-five, I started worrying it was like when I was Hikaru and you were Misuzu.” Larry winced. “Oof. Don’t remind me. Even back in the Meiji era, the twenty year age gap was pretty hard to justify.” “Would probably have been easier if I had been the older one.” “That is true, even if I wish it wasn’t.” “Well, things are better these days. That kind of thing isn’t as gendered as it used to be.” “You say that, but some male celebrities…” “I think the conversation is getting away from us, love.” “True enough.” Silence fell between the two men as they considered the original topic. In the end, Larry spoke up once again. “So, homosexuality, huh? You know, I don’t think I ever really considered it before.” “I mean, why would you? Up until now, the love of your life has always been of the opposite sex.” “Lives.” “Whatever, you know what I mean.” Larry hummed thoughtfully. “You know, in a way, we’re really lucky. There’s been plenty of times and places we’ve lived in where this kind of relationship could have gotten us jailed, or even executed. It’s pretty lucky this kind of situation didn’t happen until here and now.” “I mean, you did get executed that one time.” “Yes, well, you were a princess, and I was a stable boy. I’m not saying I agree with what your betrothed did, but I do understand it. What happened to Prince Walter after I died, anyway?” “Fell down some stairs and broke his neck.” “Sweetie! I thought we agreed no revenge!” “I didn’t do it, Love. I promise.” “Oh. Well, good…” “It was his cousin who pushed him.” “Prince Ludwig?” “King Ludwig, eventually.” “But he was fifteenth in line!” “Not for long.” “Ugh. I hate royal courts.” “You and me both.” Silence fell once more, but it didn’t last long, because Tim broke it rather quickly. “Fine. Let’s just get it out of the way. I’m on the receiving end.” “Well of course you are, Sweetie. You’ve always been so fond of an…” “Wait, that’s not the thing you were beating around the bush about? Then why have you been acting so awkward ever since we recognized each other?” “Well, I mean… It’s new, right? Whatever else we’ve been, we’ve always been opposite sexes before. I just wasn’t sure if you wanted to… I mean… Look, I really want to, but if you don’t want to then we could just be roommates or something until our next…” Tim shut him up by pulling him into a rather forcible kiss, followed by a chiding flick on the forehead after they separated. “Don’t be stupid, love. I promised to love you in every life, and something as minor as this sure as hell won’t stop me. I mean, come on. I loved you when we were cousins. I loved you when we were step-siblings. I loved you when we were on opposite sides of a blood feud. I even loved you when your entire family were tax collectors. Something like this is nothing!” Larry hugged him close. He had never embraced this body before, and yet the warm familiarity of the action resonated through centuries of experience. “I love you, sweetie.” “And I you. In this life and every life.”