♌Leox♒Aquarius - 7/31 神威がくぽx 1/30 巡音ルカ- Beside You

💜💗💜💗💜 Story 💗💜💗💜💗 When the morning bells of the Celestial Crown Court rang out, the very heart of the zodiac was already bathed in soft, solemn starlight. Today was the day when the twelve rulers of the zodiac gathered once again for council. At the center of the zodiac stood the vast circular hall known as the Celestial Crown Court. Its vaulted ceiling rose impossibly high, like an inverted reflection of the universe itself. Above the transparent dome, twelve rings of light corresponding to the twelve zodiac houses slowly revolved. The golden brilliance of Leo and the blue radiance of Aquarius reflected against one another, shining more brightly than the rest among the countless stars. At the center of the hall lay an enormous celestial chart symbolizing the balance of the zodiac. Twelve thrones surrounded it, each decorated with the elements and emblems of its respective ruler. They displayed the dignity of kings and queens while reminding everyone present of the purpose of this place— a court where twelve sovereigns gathered to decide the future together. In the past, every ruler had always taken their seat according to the traditional order of the zodiac. Leo and Aquarius had stood at opposite ends of the celestial circle, facing one another from afar. But this time, when the doors of the court opened, the attendants and star-priests almost simultaneously held their breath. The two thrones that had once stood opposite one another had been moved. Now, they stood side by side. On the left was the throne of the Lion King, decorated in black and gold, carved with roaring lions and blazing flames. On the right was the throne of Aquarius, adorned in silver and deep blue, surrounded by motifs of flowing celestial water and the sacred chalice. The arrangement itself spoke more clearly than any royal decree ever could. From this day forward, Kamui Gakupo, King of Leo, and Megurine Luka, Sovereign of Aquarius, would no longer be rulers who merely gazed at one another from opposite ends of the zodiac. They would sit beside each other. The King of Virgo was the first to enter the court. He was usually composed and precise in every movement, yet even he paused for the briefest moment when his eyes landed on the newly arranged thrones. Libra, Capricorn, Gemini, Aries, and the others soon followed. Their reactions varied. Some looked thoughtful. Some raised an eyebrow. Others even glanced toward the attendants, as though trying to confirm that this was not some elaborate joke. Then the announcement echoed across the hall. “His Majesty Kamui Gakupo, King of Leo—has arrived.” As the words faded, Gakupo stepped into the court dressed in black-and-gold royal attire. His long violet hair fell behind him, while the distinctive strands framing both sides of his face swayed gently with each step, reaching all the way to his waist. Faint golden patterns of starlight and flame shimmered along the edges of his cape. He looked like a king who had stepped directly out of the sun itself—proud, dazzling, and impossible to ignore. As always, his expression was calm. If anything, he appeared to be in an unusually good mood. His violet eyes swept across the hall. The instant he noticed the Aquarius throne placed beside his own, the corner of his lips lifted. Clearly, he approved. Not long afterward, another announcement rang through the court. “Her Majesty Megurine Luka, Sovereign of Aquarius—has arrived.” It was as though a gentle yet radiant stream of blue light had flowed into the chamber. Luka approached from the far end of the corridor, dressed in elegant white-and-pale-blue royal attire. Golden decorations traced her waist and shoulders, while sapphire ornaments reflected the surrounding starlight in soft halos. Her long pink hair fell behind her like a mixture of dawn and sunset. Her blue eyes remained calm and clear, carrying the graceful composure expected of the ruler of Aquarius. The moment she entered, nearly every gaze in the court turned toward her. Luka simply raised her eyes. She looked first toward the newly arranged thrones— and then toward Gakupo, who stood beside the throne of Leo. Their eyes met beneath the starlight. Gakupo said nothing. He simply extended his hand toward her. The gesture was open and natural, without even the slightest hesitation. As though this was where they had always belonged. Luka watched him for a moment. A faint, gentle smile appeared in her eyes. Then, in full view of all twelve zodiac rulers, she placed her hand softly into his. The entire Celestial Crown Court fell silent for a heartbeat. It was not some dramatic declaration. Nor was it an intentional display of affection. Yet precisely because of how natural the gesture seemed, it was somehow even more striking than words. Gakupo closed his hand around hers and deliberately slowed his pace as he guided her toward their seats. He first pulled out the seat before the Aquarius throne for her. Only after Luka had gracefully sat down did he take his own place upon the Lion King’s throne beside her. The two rulers sat side by side. Golden and blue light slowly flowed along the edges of their thrones, as though even the seats themselves had begun to resonate with their closeness. From a distance, it looked as if the fire of the sun and the tides of the stars had finally entered the same orbit. No longer did they need to gaze across the entire zodiac to find one another. The King of Aries was the first to laugh, breaking the strange silence. “It seems this council may be more entertaining than usual.” The King of Gemini leaned lazily against his throne, amusement obvious in his voice. “More than entertaining. I am beginning to wonder whether someone here will be able to focus on the meeting at all.” The King of Libra cleared his throat, attempting to restore some sense of formality, though even he could not quite hide the faint smile in his eyes. “The Celestial Crown Court is, after all, a place for official discussion. I would ask the two of you to exercise some restraint.” “Restraint in what?” Gakupo leaned comfortably against the back of his throne, sounding almost innocent. “I am merely sitting beside Luka.” The way he said her name was completely natural. Several rulers exchanged glances. Even the usually composed King of Capricorn raised an eyebrow ever so slightly. Luka lowered her gaze with a quiet laugh and adjusted the sleeve of her royal attire, as though trying to conceal the softness brought out by Gakupo’s straightforward words. But the smile in her eyes had already betrayed her. At last, the council officially began. The star-priests read aloud the subjects to be discussed that day: the restoration of the border star regions, the lingering effects of the Reverse Tide upon the northern celestial sea, the reconstruction of damaged star bridges, and the possibility of establishing a new collective defense system between the twelve zodiac kingdoms. It was a meeting that required absolute concentration. And once the discussion truly began, Gakupo and Luka both showed the decisiveness and seriousness expected of sovereigns. When the damaged northern star routes were mentioned, Luka was the first to explain the current situation within the Kingdom of Star-Tides. Her voice was steady and clear as she described the routes affected by the disaster, the temporary currents being used as alternatives, and the estimated time required for repairs. As she spoke, her blue eyes remained focused on the celestial map. Her fingertips traced several glowing paths through the air, and the three-dimensional star chart responded to her movements, shifting and flowing like a true river of stars within her hands. Gakupo listened quietly beside her. He did not interrupt. Not until Luka mentioned that one particular path toward the northern border remained unstable. “If you rely only on water currents to stabilize that route, it will take too long.” One of his hands rested upon the arm of his throne while the other lightly touched a point on the celestial map. “The Kingdom of Lionfire can station a unit of Starflame Knights here. Sunfire crystals can temporarily reinforce the pathway. Fire can seal the fractured edges of space long enough for the restoration work to proceed more quickly.” Several rulers immediately looked toward him. The proposal was not merely a display of Leo’s strength. It also revealed that Gakupo understood the situation within Luka’s kingdom well enough to directly participate in its restoration strategy. Luka turned slightly toward him. “You even considered that?” Gakupo met her gaze. His tone was casual, but the care in his violet eyes was impossible to hide. “Of course. When something concerns you, I tend to think about it a little more.” The moment the words left his mouth, that familiar, awkward silence returned to the court. Gemini almost laughed aloud. Aries immediately turned his face away, as though trying very hard not to react. Libra raised a hand to his forehead, clearly regretting ever having asked the two of them to show restraint. Luka paused. Then a warm glow gradually appeared in her blue eyes. She did not look away. “Then we will proceed according to your proposal, Gakupo.” She answered him with his name as well. Her voice remained calm— yet it sounded far more intimate than any formal title. Everyone present could see it clearly. This was not merely a political alliance between Leo and Aquarius. These were two rulers who had chosen, by their own will, to stand beside one another. The council continued. When the formal naming and maintenance of the Bridge of Twin Stars came under discussion, the King of Aries suddenly spoke. “Since that bridge connects Lionfire and Star-Tides, and since the name was chosen by both of you, perhaps the two rulers involved should tell us whether you have any thoughts about changing it.” Luka considered the question for a moment and was just about to speak when Gakupo answered first. “There is no need to change it.” “Oh?” The King of Virgo looked toward him. “You seem rather fond of the name ‘Bridge of Twin Stars.’” “Of course.” Gakupo smiled faintly. “It suits us.” “How exactly?” Gemini asked deliberately. Gakupo tapped two fingers lightly against the arm of his throne, then turned his head toward Luka. “Because no matter how others see us, she and I were always two stars destined to eventually find one another.” This time, even the ever-disciplined King of Virgo failed to respond immediately. Luka’s eyelashes trembled slightly. She already knew how direct Gakupo could be. And yet, every time he spoke this way, warmth still spread through her heart. She turned her head slightly and looked at the man seated beside her. The black-and-gold royal attire he wore seemed to hold a quiet, eternal flame beneath the starlight. And the light within his eyes remained fixed steadily upon her. In that moment, Luka suddenly felt that the Celestial Crown Court, once so vast and distant, had somehow become warmer simply because he was there. Halfway through the council, attendants brought celestial tea and small desserts prepared by the various kingdoms. The rulers used the short break to exchange opinions and quietly discuss the subjects raised earlier. In the midst of the relaxed but still dignified atmosphere, Gakupo leaned slightly closer to Luka and lowered his voice. “Tired?” Luka held a silver-blue teacup in both hands and gently shook her head. “Not really.” “Are you sure?” “Mm.” She glanced at him, her eyes carrying a faint smile. “Though sitting beside you does make these meetings feel a little easier than before.” Gakupo’s expression immediately brightened with undisguised satisfaction. “Then we will always sit like this.” Luka laughed softly. “Is that something you can simply decide?” “Of course.” His answer came without hesitation. “I am the King of Leo.” She could not help smiling. “Then who am I?” Gakupo looked at her. His voice became low and certain. “You are Megurine Luka.” “And?” The smile in his violet eyes deepened. “You are also the person who sits beside me.” Luka paused. Then her gaze softened with a light gentler than the waters of the stars. She said nothing more. She simply lowered her lashes and quietly kept those words within her heart. When the break ended, the council moved on to its final and most significant matter— the establishment of the Zodiac Covenant of Mutual Protection. It was a new agreement to be signed by all twelve zodiac kingdoms. Its terms included providing aid during disasters, jointly repairing damaged celestial routes, and gradually breaking down the overly rigid borders that had isolated the kingdoms from one another for centuries. Its purpose was to allow the zodiac realms to communicate and cooperate more freely and more quickly. The one who had first proposed the covenant was Megurine Luka. When she rose to explain her vision, the entire court fell silent. “We once believed that protecting the borders of our own kingdoms meant protecting our people.” Luka stood before the celestial map, her voice gentle yet unwavering. “But the Reverse Tide taught us that the stars are connected. No kingdom can truly exist independently of all the others.” She paused, looking across the assembled rulers. “The zodiac has never been twelve isolated kingdoms.” “It is one sky in which twelve realms move together.” Her gaze swept across the court. “If another disaster comes in the future—one that none of us can predict—I hope we will no longer waste time wondering whether we should extend a hand.” “I hope standing beside one another will become the natural thing to do.” The moment she finished speaking, Gakupo rose from his throne. He walked to Luka’s side and stood beside her beneath the same pillar of starlight. “I support it.” His voice echoed clearly throughout the hall. “Not only because the proposal is useful.” The Lion King placed his hand over the glowing mark of Leo. Golden flame immediately ignited beneath his palm. “But because she is right.” His voice remained low and steady. “Today, I stand here not merely as the King of Leo to approve this covenant.” Then he turned toward Luka. His gaze burned as brightly as the sun. “I also stand here as the one who has chosen to remain beside Megurine Luka.” “And I give every ruler here my word—the Kingdom of Lionfire will be the first to sign.” Almost at the same moment, Luka placed her own hand upon the glowing symbol of Aquarius. Blue celestial water began to flow. It intertwined with Gakupo’s golden flame in the air, creating an entirely new emblem of covenant. The sight was almost sacred in its beauty. Beneath the witness of the stars, Leo and Aquarius stood together once more. Not in opposition. Not gazing at one another from afar. But side by side. One by one, the remaining ten zodiac rulers stepped forward. Each left the mark of their constellation upon the covenant. When the final light settled into place, an enormous zodiac crest bloomed across the sky above the Celestial Crown Court. All twelve rings of light illuminated in sequence. Among them, the intertwined gold and blue radiance shone especially bright. A new era had begun. When the council finally ended, the rulers rose from their thrones and departed one after another. Some were still discussing the details of the covenant. Others had already begun planning future cooperation between their kingdoms. Yet more than anything else, the image that remained impossible to ignore was that of the two thrones standing beside each other— the golden throne of Leo and the blue throne of Aquarius. As Luka rose to leave, Gakupo was already holding out his hand. She glanced at him. Without saying a word, she smiled and placed her hand into his. Together they descended the stairs. Starlight spread across the floor beneath their steps. As they passed through the center of the hall, the King of Gemini gave a teasing whistle from a distance. “At this rate, should we just build the two of you one enormous shared throne next time?” Gakupo did not even slow down. “That is not a bad idea.” Luka immediately laughed and lightly touched the back of his hand with her fingertips. “Do not encourage him.” “I am serious.” Gakupo looked toward her, smiling. “You would not object, would you?” Luka raised her eyes and met those violet eyes that always held such unmistakable warmth for her. After a moment, she smiled as well. “…That depends on how well you behave.” The Lion King raised an eyebrow. His smile deepened. “Then I will make sure you are satisfied, Luka.” Their figures gradually disappeared beneath the light of the stars, one surrounded by gold, the other by blue, moving forward together. What remained within the Celestial Crown Court was not merely the fading glow of the zodiac. It was also a truth that everyone present had come to understand. From that day onward, whenever the twelve rulers of the zodiac gathered in council, Kamui Gakupo, King of Leo, and Megurine Luka, Sovereign of Aquarius, would no longer be merely two sovereigns ruling separate kingdoms. They were the partners who had chosen one another. And they were two rulers who could sit openly, proudly, and naturally side by side before all the stars. Years later, people would still remember the sight from that day. They remembered the first time the golden throne of Leo and the blue throne of Aquarius stood beside one another. They remembered the surprised yet ultimately accepting expressions of the other rulers. They remembered the two sovereigns standing together beneath the light of the zodiac, signing a covenant that would usher in a new era. And more than anything else, they remembered this: Across the vastness of the celestial sea, the most dazzling thing had never been the sun alone. Nor had it been the river of stars. It was the bond that had allowed two royal stars, once positioned at opposite ends of the heavens, to finally sit side by side.