Chapter 3
The next morning, Hiroto bounced over to Shou's room to greet his lover cheerily. He slid into bed with the delicate blonde, kissing his neck. "Shou, my love..."
Shou turned over slightly, blinking the sleep from his eyes and tears... His eyes were red and puffy and there were faint stains on his cheeks.
Hiroto frowned, placing kisses over each of Shou's puffy eyes. "Have you been crying, Shou?" He asked, snuggling against the other's side. It was so comfortable.
Shou nodded with a soft sniffle. "I saw you kiss Tora last night..." he said softly, his voice hoarse.
"Shou..." Hiroto said, quietly. He touched the king's cheek gently, getting Shou to look at him. "It meant nothing. You know I was just playing along with your plan. I promise."
Shou looked up at the other with pleading eyes. "A-Alright..." he said softly, wiping at one of his eyes. He didn't know what he'd do if Hiroto did end up getting involved with Tora...
"Cheer up, I plan on sleeping in your room tonight." Hiroto promised, laying a kiss on Shou's forehead. "I miss holding you."
Shou smiled softly and nodded, leaning up to very lightly kiss Hiroto. "I missed your warmth...."
Hiroto smiled as well, returning the kiss. "I brought your medicine..."
Shou nodded, sighing softly. "I hope that someday I won't have to take medicine..." he said softly, though he knew that would be the day he died...
"I have an idea." Hiroto said, placing the medicine in his mouth before leaning over and kissing Shou, delivering the medicine into Shou's mouth with his tongue.
Shou blushed lightly at this new way, deciding he liked it very much. He swallowed the medicine that Hiroto gave to him, kissing him back a little and cleaning up his lips and tongue.
"Better?" Hiroto asked once he pulled away from the kiss.
Shou nodded slightly with a small smile. "Much..."
"Then you will join me for breakfast?" Hiroto asked, nuzzling Shou playfully.
Shou nodded with a little laugh. "Yeah..." he said with a smile.
Hiroto rolled off the bed and went to get some new clothes for Shou, placing them at the foot of the bed. "I'll be waiting out in the hall, love."
Shou smiled and nodded. He changed into the clothes set out for him , running a brush through his hair and then left his room to join his lover.
Hiroto didn't risk taking Shou's hand as they walked down to the dining hall, not wanting to raise any suspicions of what they really were to anyone who might tell Tora.
Shou held himself loosely as they walked, trying not to get too terribly close to the other, though he wanted more then anything to do just that. When they got into the dining room, Shou sadly moved to his 'king' seat and sat, the giddiness gone from his eyes once again.
Hiroto sat as close to Shou as he deemed reasonable, giving the king a little smile as he looked down at his empty plate which would soon be full of Nao's wonderful cooking. He felt a little like he was letting Shou down.
The meals were brought out and dished out, Shou getting significantly less that his lover. He ate it, however, without complaint. He never complained... He glanced up at Hiroto as he ate.
Hiroto stayed silent, feeling a little uncomfortable. He poked at his food, taking small bites now and then.
Shou felt uncomfortable himself, however, nibbling on pieces from time to time. "So... H-How'd you like your tour yesterday?" he asked, hoping to break the ice. He wasn't supposed to talk to anyone, especially while eating and especially someone who wasn't his brother... But he was tired of those rules.
"It was fine..." Hiroto mumbled between bites of food. "I saw the indoor gardens and the roof top...and Tora's room." He wasn't sure if he should've included the last part, since it kinda sounded bad after Shou had seen the little kiss on the cheek. But really, it was all innocent and he was being honest with Shou.
Shou watched his food wearily, no longer really hungry. "Why the roof?" he asked, honestly curious. Was there something up there?
"It's pretty up there at night." Hiroto replied. "You can see all the houses and the stars. You'd like it."
Shou smiled softly, sweetly. "Maybe we should go up there sometime then... It sounds pretty."
"Tonight maybe?" Hiroto suggested. He owed Shou some time since he'd spent a lot of time with Tora the night before.
Shou smiled sweetly and nodded. "Tonight sounds like a wonderful idea."
Hiroto smiled some as he pushed his plate away. "For now I'm going to collect some things for working on your medicine. I'll come to your room later tonight."
Shou nodded, still poking at his food a bit before pushing it away. He hadn't been eating very much... His appetite had been shrinking more and more as of late...
Hiroto wished to kiss Shou before he left, but he couldn't so he just left the room and headed to the indoor gardens to see if there were any plants of use there.
Shou got up, feeling light headed, and returned to his room.
In the gardens, Tora was sitting around, reading a book when Hiroto entered.
Hiroto inspected the plants, not noticing Tora around yet as he walked through the different sections. He pulled out his notebook to jot down a few things and look at his notes on plants.
Tora heard some rustling and glanced up. He smiled to himself. "Hiro!"
Hiroto jumped and dropped his notebook in surprise, not expecting anyone to be there. "Oh, prince Tora..."
Tora laughed a little, moving over and picking the other's book up and handing it to him. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."
"Thank you." Hiroto said softly, taking the book from Tora. "What brings you here so early?"
"Thinking," he said with a smile. "This is my second thinking place, since it's too cold out for me right now. And yourself?"
"Looking at the plants." Hiroto replied, brushing off his notebook some.
"Oh? For your medicines?" he inquired, completely out of interest.
Hiroto nodded, picking up a flower and comparing it to the picture he drew in his notebook. "I hope you don't mind."
Tora smiled, shaking his head. "No, I don't mind at all," he confessed, looking at the flower and the picture.
Hiroto pulled out a pouch and stuck the flower inside once he decided it was the right one. "Shou seems to be lonely."
Tora glanced up at the other with a small frown. "All the more reason for him to find a wife..."
Hiroto clutched his notebook tightly, frowning to himself. "A wife?"
"A king needs a queen. That's what the isolation is for... A wife is the only person who does anything with him, really."
"That's hardly balanced." Hiroto argued. "What about having friends?"
"He can have them after he's married. There's a whole book about it, and that's what Shou has to go by." Tora said, rather nonchalantly.
Hiroto sighed, feeling that the whole thing was rather stupid. But what could he do? Tora's mind didn't seem to be changing. "What about you?" He asked after a moment.
"What about me?" he asked, watching the other curiously.
"Do you have to get a wife?" Hiroto asked, wondering if Tora would apply the same rules to himself.
"I'm not the king, so I don't have to. But, maybe, someday," he said with a shrug.
"You sound so boring." Hiroto commented as he continued on looking at the plants. "You prevent Shou from having friends, but I think it's really because no one is friends with you." He knew it was bold to say this, but he couldn't hold it back.
Tora frowned, looking over at the other. "I'm friends with the people of this city. That's more then enough for everyone. If Shou would quit sulking and smile more, maybe he'd make friends with them as well."
Hiroto huffed softly to himself. He figured Tora would say that a wife would make Shou smile. He was really irritated with the prince at the moment. "You make little sense, prince. I doubt I will ever understand you."
Tora smiled slightly. "Do you want to understand me?"
Hiroto opened his mouth and stared at Tora for a moment before replying. "Maybe..." He admitted softly.
Tora smiled, sitting down. "I care about my little brother, a lot. He doesn't care for me in the least. When I told this to our father before he passed, he told me to stick to tradition and be strict about it. Because I care about Shou, I'm going to stick to the books and maybe something good will come out of it. As terrible as it sounds, maybe it will help him out of his misery and pain with his illness, which is what I want more then anything. If a cure is found, then perhaps I could loosen up, but not while he's in this kind of pain."
Hiroto knelt down in front of Tora, touching his cheek. "Do you know what I think, Tora?" He spoke the other's name without thinking. It just felt natural in the moment. "If you really love him, you will let him enjoy life the way he wishes and let him be happy. If you've gone this long going by the books and he hasn't improved any...has it even occurred to you that you could slowly be killing him?"
Tora watched the other, nodding slightly. "I already know he's dying, Hiro. The doctors gave him maybe another month, if he's lucky... But, what more is there to life for a prince then being a king? It's what we've both been raised to do."
The reality of the situation hit Hiroto just then and he pulled his hand away from Tora and bit his lip, trying not to cry. A month? They had been separated for years and now all they had was a month?
Tora frowned, looking at the other. "Are you alright, Hiro? You don't look so good..."
Hiroto shook his head and the damn broke loose as he flung himself into Tora's arms and cried, lightly hitting Tora's chest in his complete frustration.
"Whoa!" Tora sounded softly as Hiroto was suddenly clinging to him. Hew winced slightly at the other's hits, gently resting his hands on the other's shoulder. He didn't understand what Hiroto was crying over. It was a known fact that Shou wasn't going to live very long...
"I should hate you for tearing us apart..." Hiroto whispered, between small sobs. "I know he does."
Tora frowned, looking down at the other. "What do you mean, Hiro? You're not making sense..." he said, trying to coax the other into looking at him.
Hiroto shook his head, looking at Tora in disbelief. "How can you not figure it out? I was the servant you kicked out years ago for confusing Shou."
Tora's eyes grew then as he looked down at Hiroto. No way! He couldn't believe it! Now that he thought about it, they did kind of look the same...
"You... How... Why?!" Tora asked, though words had honestly just about left him.
"I love him. That's why I've done everything I have...but now I only have a month left with him. Or less if you decide to kick me out again." Hiroto looked down, sighing to himself as he wiped away a few stray tears.
Tora released the other, running a hand through his hair. "What will you do when he does pass? You were good with medicines, isn't there still some hope?" Tora tried, a little to confused and messed up to really be angry or anything. He'd seriously thought Hiroto had wanted to be with him, not Shou...
"You'll still let me try?" Hiroto asked, looking at Tora hopefully. He really would do his best if he were given the opportunity.
Tora sighed in frustration, running a hand through his hair. "What can I do? Had you said you were that Hiroto three days ago, I would have sent you away! Now, I can't. I don't have it in me. You and Shou win, so yes! Find him a cure or something and you can stay, God knows he wants you here. Damnit!" he cursed, turning and trying to obviously sort things out in his head.
Hiroto smiled a bit and hugged Tora. "Thank you, Tora. I promise I will try to get Shou to forgive you too."
Tora looked so sad in all actuality, though, distancing himself from Hiroto a bit. "Yeah, sure, good luck..." he muttered, running a hand through his hair as he picked up his book an headed for the door. He shook his head slightly, letting it hang a bit. How could he have been so stupid?
Hiroto gathered his things and starting building up a list of things he would need to make the cure. He had more confidence now that it would work. He then got up and hurried to Shou's room to surprise him with the news.
As Tora walked to the room, he had to wonder why Shou didn't tell the other earlier... Shou had known about his time limit...
Shou was sitting at the window in his room. He was in silken, flowing robes what rest all around him in the purest of whites, watching the stay go by with sad, lonely eyes. He wanted someone to talk with so badly... He wondered if his lover would really back that night... And keep him company...
"Shou!" Hiroto exclaimed as he ran into the room. He saw his pretty lover seated by the window and he ran over hugging him tightly. "I love you." He declared first, showering the king with kisses.
Shou blinked gasping softly as he was showered with kisses and affection. He couldn't help the small giggle that escaped. "What's gotten into you?" he asked in good nature, looking up at his lover with loving eyes.
Hiroto looked into Shou's eyes and felt moved to kiss him seriously on the lips, pouring out all his emotion into it. Once they parted, he gave the answer. "I told Tora the truth and he's allowing me to stay. I want to make you better, Shou."
A soft moan faded into the kiss as Hiroto kissed him fully, kissing him back in the brief moment. He looked up at the other with those pretty, loving eyes.
"He... he's letting you stay? And he knows? You seem so much more motivated then before," he said softly with a little laugh.
"I don't know how long I will have you..." Hiroto muttered, pulling Shou closer and holding him tight. "I'll order a few things and hopefully they will be delivered soon."
Shou saddened some, nuzzling the other. "Tora told you...?" he asked softly, sadly. He hadn't wanted Hiroto to know...
"Why didn't you tell me?" Hiroto asked, pressing a kiss to Shou's forehead.
Shou sighed softly, nuzzling the other. "Because... I knew if you knew, you'd spend more time trying to find a cure then being with me..." he said softly, sadly.
Hiroto frowned and hugged Shou closer. "Would you prefer it if I spent time with you instead of searching for a cure?"
Shou looked up at the other, making sure Hiroto would look him in the eyes. "I'd rather die spending my last moments with you then spend it praying you'll find a cure..."
He didn't want to lose Shou, but he wanted to respect his wishes too. "I'll stay with you every moment." Hiroto promised, looking back into Shou's eyes.
Shou smiled softly and leaned up, kissing the other softly. Hiroto could still work on his medicines, he just wanted his lover nearby, more then anything. "I love you, Hiroto..."
"I love you too." Hiroto replied, smoothing his fingers through Shou's hair. "I hope I can spend every night next to you."
Shou smiled softly, nuzzling the other. "There's nothing stopping you now."
That was a glorious thought. Hiroto smiled and pulled Shou over to the bed, capturing his lips in a kiss.
Shou gasped very softly, but melted into the kiss. He slid his arms around the other's shoulders, kissing him back as best he could.
Hiroto snuggled close to Shou, pressing something gently into Shou's palm. "I wanted to save it for tonight..."
Shou looked up at the other a moment, unsure, before he looked down at what lay in his hand.
Hiroto chewed on his lip nervously as he waited for Shou's reaction to his gift.
His eyes were wide as Shou looked at the beautiful ring. He looked up at Hiroto as his hands shook, his pretty eyes wide with awe. "H-Hiroto... it's beautiful!"
Hiroto smiled widely and took it, sliding the delicate ring onto Shou's finger. "I want you to wear it as long as you love me."
Shou smiled and wrapped his arms around Hiroto tightly. "I'll never take it off... Ever!"
Hiroto smiled and hugged back, kissing Shou's cheek. "Good. I worked hard for it because I wanted you to have something special from me."
A few tears slid from Shou's eyes as he clung to the other tightly. "You're all I need, Hiroto... I love you so much..."
Hiroto kissed those tears away, rubbing Shou's back soothingly. "Do you want to go somewhere special with me?"
Shou nodded, smiling some with a little laugh. "Anywhere and everywhere."
Hiroto took Shou's hand and pulled him along out of bed to the door. "I know you'll like it."
Shou followed along after the other, his silken robed gliding behind him as they moved down the halls.
Hiroto took Shou up to the roof, taking the stairs slowly so that Shou would be able to keep up with him.
Shou went up after the other, carefully, curious as to where they were going. It was a little chilly outside, but Shou didn't care. his eyes were wide in awe. It was beautiful.
Hiroto held Shou's hand through it all, watching his face as the king took in the sights for the first time.
Shou's eyes scanned his kingdom in utter awe. He moved forward so as to get a better look, his jaw dropping some in awe. "It's... it's..."
"It's amazing, isn't it?" Hiroto asked, stepping up behind Shou and sliding his arms around him.
Shou rest back against his lover some, pretty eyes wide and dazzling. "It's more then amazing... It's so beautiful..."
"I knew you'd like it." Hiroto whispered, kissing Shou's neck. "Look up at the sky too."
Shou did, his head resting back against Hiroto's shoulder as his eyes shot up to the heavens and the stars that were just starting to peak out. His breath caught slightly.
"This is my favorite place." Hiroto said, looking up as well. "And you look so pretty under the stars, Shou."
Shou blushed lightly, turning his head to look at Hiroto. "But the stars haven't even fully come out yet."
"They will when I'm done with you." Hiroto teased, turning Shou around and kissing him.
Shou blushed a bit more, laughing just a bit before his lips met Hiroto's. Shou moaned ever so softly as he kissed the other back.
Hiroto's fingers found their way into Shou's hair as he gently kissed him, pulling him closer to keep him warm.
Shou slid his arms up around Hiroto's shoulders, kidding him deeply while his hands played with the others' hair.
Hiroto nibbled a bit on Shou's lips, gently sliding his hands under the other's robe.
Shou's breath caught slightly, pleasantly, as Hiroto brushed against the skin beneath his robes.
Hiroto gently circled his fingers around Shou's nipples, his kisses slowly moving down the other's neck.
Shou's head fell slightly to the side as he nuzzled the other a bit. His chest arched in against the other's touch just slightly, causing the king to softly whisper the other's name, "Hiroto..."
Hiroto smiled, biting gently at Shou's neck. His hands moved further down to Shou's lower stomach, caressing the skin there with another gentle touch. Like Shou was a glass doll, needing the most tender care.
Shou bit his lip with a very small moan at the other's teeth, his stomach sucking in some as the others' touch rolled over the stretch of skin. He could feel all these things causing him to get hard again...
Hiroto moved his lips down, licking and sucking at Shou's skin as he reached one of the other's nipples. His touch moved down to Shou's thighs, teasingly moving closer to his need but not close enough.
Shou blushed slightly as he felt Hiroto's touch move closer to his throbbing desire. "Ahhnn..." he breathed softly as the other's tongue slid over his hard nipple.
Hiroto moved down to his knees next, kissing one of the pale thighs while his hand took hold of Shou's hardening length.
"Hiroto!" Shou breathed out with a light squeak of surprise. His hands slid lightly into the other's hair, blushing madly.
Hiroto smiled, kissing the head of Shou's cock. "Yes?"
He looked down at the other, his cheeks bright. He hadn't even realized he's squeaked anything.
"You're so cute." Hiroto commented, before he took Shou's arousal deep into his mouth, wanting to hear the adorable sounds from Shou again.
"Ahhn!" Shou moaned as the other engulfed his manhood. The heat that surrounded him now crawled all through his body and his hands clenched loosely in the others' hair.
Hiroto dragged his tongue along the underside as he pulled his head back, glancing up at this lover through his bangs.
Shou blushed, his eyes opening slowly as he looked down at Hiroto, lightly flushed in the dusk-light.
Hiroto removed his mouth, giving one last lick to Shou's tip before pulling the other down to his level. "So beautiful.." He whispered, touching his lips to Shou's.
Shou shivered, kissing Hiroto's lips back as his hand slid slowly down his lover's cheek and neck.
Hiroto gently pulled Shou down on top of him, deepening the kiss some as he wove his fingers through the silky blonde hair.
Shou gasped softly as his hands moved to try and hold him up on top of the other a little better, kissing Hiroto back just as deeply. He loved being like this with the man of his dreams... His hard need throbbed painfully, but he paid it little mind.
Hiroto parted from the kiss to lick a few fingers, getting them thoroughly wet before sliding them behind Shou, poking at his entrance. "Do you trust me?"
Shou looked down at his lover and nodded, blushing lightly. "Y-yes...With my life," he admitted, running his fingers along the other's cheek lightly.
Hiroto smiled at the response, kissing Shou lovingly as the first finger was inserted.
Shou winced slightly, his body quivering some at the strange feeling of his lover's digit in his tight, virgin hole.
"Are you ok?" Hiroto questioned, nuzzling Shou's neck when he sensed the other's discomfort.
"Y-yeah... Don't stop..." Shou said softly, blushing some at saying such things.
Hiroto was careful as he added the second finger, beginning to stretch Shou some more and search for his spot.
Shou squirmed just slightly, his tight hole squeezing now and again around the other's fingers, until something shot though him, causing him to jerk and moan rather loudly.
The response was enough to let Hiroto know he'd done something right. He moved his fingers in the same way again before pulling them out.
Shou moaned the others' name, face flushed lightly with pleasure as he looked down at Hiroto, his hands on the other's chest and supporting him, a leg on either side of the other.
"I think you're ready." Hiroto commented, slipping Shou's robe down a little as he decorated the other's shoulders with small bites and kisses.
Shou blushed some, shivering lightly in the chill dusk air. He swallowed some as he tried to help in positioning himself over the other. He hoped it didn't hurt too badly...
Hiroto pulled a small bottle of oil from his pocket, setting it beside them. He then quickly undid his pants to free his hardened arousal. That was soon covered with the oil, so it would be easier for him to move within Shou. Once fully prepared, he pulled Shou's hips down and entered him in one swift movement.
"Ahhn...!" Shou cried out, though he bit his lip to stop from crying out too loud. It felt so strange and a little painful, having Hiroto's hard manhood inside him, but he couldn't say he disliked it...
"Shh..." Hiroto kissed Shou to quiet him, gently rubbing his back as he let his lover get settled into the position. He was holding back as much as he could, despite the mind blowing pleasure of just being inside Shou.
Shou kissed the other back as best he could, squeezing some around Hiroto until he got used to the feeling.
Hiroto finally groaned, not able to stop from thrusting his hips up slightly. It was just too good.
"Mmm..." Shou moaned softly, squeezing around his hard length again and again. Ooh, it was starting feel so good... Especially when the other moved...
Hiroto's head fell forward to rest against Shou's shoulder. He held onto Shou's hips, carefully guiding his movements. "Nn, Shou..."
Shou slid one of his arms around his lover's shoulder as he whispered the other's name softly, again and again. It was starting to feel so much more amazing by the second.
With a few more thrusts, Hiroto angled his hips just right, trying to rock into Shou as fast as he could. He whispered confessions of love, closing his eyes at the pleasure.
Shou's delicate body writhed atop the other with pure pleasure as the other hit that spot so deep inside him again and again. He moaned the other's name again and again, the pleasure of it all so unimaginable. His hard length rocked between them as he pushed himself against the other's thrusts.
Hiroto grabbed the trapped cock, squeezing his small hand around it as he rolled himself onto of Shou to be able to thrust in faster.
With Shou's back against the floor, he slid both his arms around the other, his lips making their way along the Hiroto's in passionate kisses.
Hiroto gasped against Shou's lips, growing closer with each second as his movements became more frantic.
Shou moaned the other's name with soft confessions as he himself became so close, precum dripping from his tip.
Hiroto rubbed his thumb over the tip of Shou's arousal, spreading the precum over the length as his hand quickly stroked him.
Shou moaned as he couldn't hold it back any longer and came hard, hot and fast into his lover's hand. "Hiroto!"
Hiroto groaned in response to the tightening passage around him, jerking his hips once more before releasing within his lover.
Shou's nails dug just slightly into his lover's shoulder as he rode out his amazing climax. The sensation of Hiroto's hot fluids filling him was overwhelming.
Hiroto slumped down against Shou, panting but smiling as he snuggled the other.
Shou panted softly, his hand relaxing against the others' back and neck as he closed his eyes and caught his breath softly.
"Worn out?" Hiroto questioned, touching Shou's cheek tenderly as he pulled out of his beautiful king.
"Ahhn... Yes..." he breathed with a soft smile, gazing up at his lover. "I love you..."
"I love you too." Hiroto responded fondly. He dressed once again and held out his hand to Shou to help him up.
Shou accepted the hand, getting up on weary legs and tightening his robes some. He could feel Hiroto's cum sliding lazily down his thigh and blushed a little more at the feeling.
"I'll clean you up when we get back to your room." Hiroto said, kissing Shou's cheek before pulling his lover along with him back into the palace.
Shou smiled sheepishly and nuzzled his lover as he walked carefully back down the stairs. He had to admit, it was beautiful up there...
Once they were back downstairs, Hiroto gently cleaned Shou between his legs with some warm water and then slid into bed beside him. "Good night, Shou."
Shou was already falling asleep, though. He smiled softly and nuzzled Hiroto with a very soft, " Good night..."
Hiroto nuzzled back and quickly fell asleep against Shou's side, at peace and not afraid of anyone finding out their secret now.