Chapter 1

He was young, smart, and talented. A prince that any and all would envy from afar and respect up close. It wasn't that he was mean, nor did it really have anything to do with him. Prince Shou, the youngest of his family, was a peaceful, though powerful, young ruler to be.

It was his older brother, Tora, that was the problem. He was so protective, with steely eyes that would cause anyone to wince and tremble with fear. He was powerful as well, though in a more threatening way. He'd passed the rule onto his youngest brother when their father decided on his heir. He was just that protective over his youngest and only brother.

Who wouldn't be, with his illness... Shou was born with an unnamed and unknown disease. He'd fall devastatingly ill after a day or hour of being perfectly fine. Bed ridden and put through many tests to find a cure, nothing had succeeded yet, and doctors said that time was running out. Tora didn't believe them, though. Nothing would take his beloved brother away.

Nothing...

There was only one trusted servant allowed to get close to Shou. Hiroto peered into Shou's room, before opening the door silently. He didn't knock, just because he never liked to disturb Shou when he was sleeping. He quickly shuffled over to Shou's bed, setting the breakfast on the table beside it. He picked up the medicine first and watched as the prince began to wake up, slowly opening his pretty eyes.

Shou's eyes fluttered open, red from sickness and exhaustion, but still so very kind and gentle. When he saw Hiroto, he couldn't help but smile a little. The servant had become his closest friend, which his brother didn't like so much, but Tora respected his wishes. No sooner had the smile touched his lips than he pulled a trembling hand to his lips in a fit of coughs and chest pains.

"Here, take the medicine." Hiroto said, helping Shou sit up in bed so he could swallow the mixture that Hiroto had made up himself. The servant had worked diligently on finding a cure for Shou's illness whenever he was not occupied with taking care of the prince. A small smile settled on Hiroto's lips once Shou had swallowed down the medicine and his coughing decreased.

Shou coughed softly and wiped at his lips, sniffling a little and looking up at Hiroto. He smiled sweetly this time. "Thank you, Hiroto..." Now that he was sitting up, he looked around the room for the first time since he'd been bedridden. He still looked tired, but he wanted to go outside so badly...

"Is Tora still here?" he asked quietly, looking hopeful.

"He should be here soon. You know he'll be checking on you every five minutes." Hiroto answered, fluffing up the pillows behind Shou's blonde head. He tucked some of that hair behind the prince's ear, smiling some more. Shou was pretty and delicate, the complete opposite of Tora. Hiroto wasn't sure he liked Tora much, but he figured anyone who cared about their family so much must have some good traits.

Shou smiled very sweetly at Hiroto as the other took care of him. Hiroto was always so kind to him. Kind in a gentle way, unlike his brother, who was only ever gentle when Shou was very, very sick, not just very sick...

Just then, a knock sounded on the door.

Hearing the knock, Hiroto stepped back from Shou and went to answer the door, opening it for the visitor that he knew would be the other prince. He bowed his head respectfully for Tora, even though he was likely to be ignored.

And, sure enough, he was, as Tora brushed passed him to return to his brother's side. He wore a smile, his eyes bright and open for a change. "Shou! You'll never believe what's happened!" he exclaimed, hugging the younger man tightly, and Shou didn't like that so much, but he didn't say anything.

"What is it, Tora? Hiroto found something that helps my coughing," he put in before Tora could say anything. Tora was about to go off on the palace business, when he realized what the other had said.

"What?" He looked at Hiroto with wide eyes."You found a cure? The Cure?" he asked, moving to the slave. Shou gasped and tried to call after Tora, telling him it wasn't a cure, just for his coughing, but Tora wasn't listening.

Hiroto glanced up at Tora, shaking his head. "No, just some of the symptoms. I am still working on the cure for him, prince." He then carefully moved around Tora to return to Shou’s side to feed him breakfast. The little servant felt uncomfortable answering Tora's questions, he wasn't used to being addressed directly by him.

Tora sighed softly, settling himself back down a bit. He'd only hoped...

Shou smiled slightly, almost apologetically, at Hiroto. He shouldn't have said anything in the first place.

It didn't seem to bother Hiroto much though, as he poked Shou's cheek playfully to get him to open his mouth so he could feed the prince.

Shou giggled a little, his mouth opening and accepting the food Hiroto offered to him. Tora watched the two from afar, feeling jealousy and protectiveness overwhelm him. However, Shou was smiling, and that was what he cared about most. Wasn't it?

Hiroto smiled as he held the food to Shou's lips, letting him eat it. He made sure to be careful so he wouldn't spill anything on the fine bedding that Shou was bundled up in. "Is it good today, prince? I asked Nao to make it for you."

Shou nodded with a sweet smile, licking his lips in an innocent manner.
"It's delicious today. Can you send Nao my thanks? His meals get better every day," he admitted with a little laugh.

Hiroto nodded in response and stood up to collect the dishes and bring them back down to the kitchens once Shou was done with his meal.

Shou nestled back down with a soft, sleepy sigh, coughing very lightly, but warmer now. "You'll come back up, won't you, Hiroto?" Shou asked quietly when Tora went to open the door for the servant.

Hiroto turned, holding the tray of dishes in his arms. He smiled gently at the prince laying on the bed before nodding once more. "Of course I will, Shou." He replied, then turned to Tora and thanked him for opening the door. It was a nice gesture from the older prince. Perhaps he was winning the other's respect by trying to help Shou?

Tora's eyes hardened towards the servant as Hiroto walked to the door. So casual... Servants never call their 'masters' by first name. Tora moved to go out the door and 'talk' with Hiroto, until Shou called for him. It was the easiest way, Shou had discovered, to save Hiroto. After all, it was the least he could do for all his friend did for him.

Hiroto rushed down to the kitchens with the dishes, almost tripping a few times. When he got there, he quickly told Nao that he did a great job with the breakfast and then ran back to the stairs so he could visit with Shou some more. He liked the prince and it also kept him from being assigned little chores.

After Shou told Tora he was tired, the older one left. He walked down the hall to his chambers, closing the doors. When that happened, Shou smiled, though still pretending to sleep, just in case.

Hiroto snuck back into Shou's room and crept over to the bed before sitting on it and hugging Shou around the waist. "I'm back." He whispered, knowing Shou wasn't really asleep yet.

Shou's lips curled into a sweet smile, keeping his eyes closed and hugging Hiroto back. He was so glad he'd come back! "Thank you," he whispered back, smiling more and opening his eyes.

Hiroto laid his head down next to Shou's, smiling as well. "Prince Tora went back to his room?"
Shou nodded, sighing soft and happy. "Yes, he always listens to me... I know he means well, but I wish he treated you better..."

"He's just protective." Hiroto pointed out, sliding under the covers as well. He knew this made it a little bit easier for Shou to stay in bed all the time, when he had someone to stay with him. As long as no one caught them like this and got the wrong idea.

Shou sighed softly, giggling a little as he snuggled down a bit with Hiroto. "But he's overprotective now...He should be nicer to you..."
"I can't understand why..." Muttered Hiroto, with a little frown. "I am working on a cure for you. That should make him happy."

"No kidding... I wonder if he suspects something," he mumbled, curiously. He wasn't tired anymore. After all, it was his time to talk with Hiroto! He loved these moments.

Hiroto poked Shou's side, where he knew the other was ticklish. "Suspects what?"

"Ahh!" Shou squeaked a little, flinching from the touch with a cute little giggle. "I don't know, suspect us being friends or something."

"What's wrong with that?" Hiroto asked, before disappearing under the covers and tickling Shou more hidden beneath the bedspread. He loved making Shou laugh.

Shou erupted in a fit of giggles and laughs, squirming around in a pathetic, though cute, attempt to escape Hiroto's wrath. While laughing, he tried to say that he wasn't sure why it was a bad thing, but failed miserably at doing so.

Hiroto slid back out from under the covers and touched his nose with Shou's, smiling at the cute giggling. "Hey, Shou..."

Shou was still giggling a little, coming down from the fit Hiroto caused. He smiled, closing his eyes a moment as their noses touched. "Yes, Hiroto?"

"Maybe he suspects we're more than friends..." Hiroto whispered, grinning for a moment as he brushed their lips together.

Shou blushed lightly at the other's touch. "More then friends? Like, affectionately more then friends?" He inquired

"Mmhm...Maybe that bugs him." Hiroto muttered, gently touching their lips together again. He wasn't sure what had taken hold of him, but he just wanted to let Shou know somehow that he cared so much about him.

Shou blushed a little more, though he let his lips touch back to Hiroto's. "Are we?" He asked softly, feeling stupid if they were and he didn't know.

Hiroto shook his head and laid it on Shou's chest, sighing contentedly. "No, but we could be. If you want to..."

Shou blushed lightly. "But, Hiroto... I don't know how to be more then friends." He said softly, resting back into the pillow. This was so comfortable.

"Do you love me?" Hiroto asked, glancing up at the prince questioningly.

Shou blinked and looked down at Hiroto, confusion in his eyes. "Of coarse I do, you're my best friend," He said, taking it as if it was a brotherly affection of sorts.

Hiroto bit his lip, not sure that was the response he really wanted. He rolled off Shou, looking over at one of the walls.

Shou frowned, pushing himself up a bit and looking after Hiroto.

"Hiroto... Do you mean..." He paused a moment, watching the other. "Love more than friendship?" He asked softly, reaching out to touch the servant's shoulder lightly.

Hiroto nodded slightly, looking back at Shou and kissing him again, this time a little longer. "Don't you feel anything?"

Shou blushed lightly as he was kissed. When Hiroto pulled back to speak, Shou watched him with wondrous eyes. He definitely felt something, though he wasn't familiar with it, and nodded. "I-I think so..." he said, hesitantly. He didn't want to be wrong. "Do you?"

"Most definitely..." Replied Hiroto, smiling and kissing both Shou's cheeks before curling up against him again.

Shou blushed with a soft laugh and snuggled back up to Hiroto. He didn't know what he'd do without the other...

Just then, the door flew open and Tora ran in, calling out, "Shou, Shou! I forgot to tell you! We--" but he stopped almost instantly upon seeing his little brother and that servant, together... He didn't know what to say.

At the interruption, Hiroto quickly sprung away from Shou on instinct, ending up falling off the bed in a little tangled heap.

Shou stiffened, pushing himself up some and looking at Tora. He was pale. Tora's eyes were wide a moment, before they hardened on the two, though he said nothing.

Hiroto untangled himself from the bedding and bowed slightly to Tora before making a dash for the door. He hoped to hide before he could be executed by Tora.

Tora moved to grab Hiroto, though, managing to take hold of the servant's arm. "Where do you think you're going?" he asked, voice cold.

"Stop it!" Shou yelled, scrambling from his bed. He was up, and then he was down with a bang. His legs were still really weak for now. So, on the floor, he growled a little and started to crawl. "Tora, stop!"

"Shou!" Hiroto cried out, fighting his way free from Tora's grasp so he could run to Shou's side and help him back into bed. That's what mattered most anyway. His prince still was worth more than himself.

Shou looked up at Hiroto, worried. "Get out of here while I distract him..." Shou pleaded, trying to push the other away. He didn't want Hiroto to get in trouble. Tora strode for them, ice in his eyes.

"No." Hiroto protested, hugging Shou close. "I am nothing, Shou. Serving you is all I have. If I didn't have you, I'd rather not live."

Shou frowned and hugged Hiroto tightly, feeling tears in his eyes. "Stop it, Tora, don't take him away! Please!" He started to cry, his fever starting to heat him up again as he clung to Hiroto.
Tora reached down with merciless eyes and grabbed Hiroto by the arm.

Hiroto didn't resist much and let Shou go, not wanting to distress the prince more by letting him see him cry. "I'll come back! I promise!" He yelled before Tora could drag him out of the room.

Shou grabbed after Hiroto, missing. Tears fell from his eyes as he covered his face and sobbed. He sobbed and sobbed, holding himself. He was gone...

Tora dragged Hiroto down the hall. Servants jumped out of the way, watching as Hiroto was dragged to the back of the palace. Tora picked him and slammed him into the wall, his eyes fierce and his grip strong.

Hiroto winced instinctively and closed his eyes, awaiting the painful blows from Tora. He was afraid that the older prince would kill him, honestly.

Tora's eyes were hard, glaring at the other. He pulled back and slammed his fist into the other's stomach. Against the other's ear, he whispered coldly, "Don't touch him... Ever."

Tears streamed from Hiroto's eyes at the pain, not from Tora's abuse, but at the thought of never seeing Shou again. "Why?" He choked out between sobs.

Tora grabbed the other's chin roughly, pulling it upward so the servant was looking him in the eyes. "Because he's a prince, and you're a worthless slave... He's mine, servant, so keep your filthy hands off of him..."

Hiroto shook his head, crying more and trying to struggle away from Tora. "But he loves me and I love him!"

"I don't care." Tora said, pushing the smaller servant against the wall hard. "That's a ridiculous idea and I won't have it! He'll be king! He doesn't have time for useless creatures like you." He said coldly and grabbed Hiroto, starting to drag him off again with an iron grip.

Those words stung, but Hiroto refused to believe them. He let himself fall to the floor to make it more difficult for Tora to drag him. "Why can't you let him be happy?"

"Because he won't be happy with you," Tora growled as they walked to through the palace. Walking out a pair of doors, he all but hurled Hiroto out, over the steps.

"Leave! If I ever see the likes of you around here again, I'll kill you. You've been warned." He snarled and went back inside. Before closing the doors, he turned. "And, Slave? He could never love you." He spat and turned, letting the doors slam shut behind him.

"He's more likely to love me, than you!" Hiroto yelled, before kicking the heavy palace doors. It did nothing but make his toes hurt. He sat down in front and just curled up, crying.

Nao knocked lightly on Shou's door to check on him. Sometimes he liked to visit the young prince and Hiroto on his breaks.

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