Chapter 5
The next day Saga made his delivery of the special gifts for Shou. He had the servants put them in a little package on Shou's bed. Which was strangely empty today.
Shou slept soundly in Hiroto's room, snuggled up close to his lover in contentment.
Hiroto was already up and bouncing about though, bringing up breakfast in bed for Shou. "Shou!"
"Mmm?" Shou sounded softly, finding he was clinging to a pillow.
"I got your breakfast here and there's a package waiting in your room." Hiroto said, setting the tray on Shou's lap.
Shou forced himself into sitting up and yawned softly. "Oh, the package is here already? Wow..."
"I resisted the urge to look at them." Hiroto said with a little smile.
Shou smiled and leaned up, kissing his lover softly upon the lips. "Thank you, Hiroto..."
Hiroto smiled back before nervously shifting foot to foot. "Should I bring the package over for you?"
Shou shook his head with a giggle. "One of them is for tonight, silly. You can't see it until then," he said, picking up some of his meal and holding it to his lover's lips.
Hiroto ate from Shou's hand kissing his fingertips. "Tonight, huh?"
SHou smiled and nodded with a soft blush. "Tonight... And don't ask Nao about it, because he won't tell you, either."
"Ok, ok. I will wait." Hiroto said, pouting slightly. He was a little impatient, but he would do it for Shou.
Shou smiled, pushing himself up some and leaning over to kiss his lover softly. "Thank you."
Hiroto kissed back and stepped away after a moment. "I'll get you something to wear then."
Shou blushed lightly. "Pick out something you'll like."
"I like you in anything." Hiroto replied. "Especially my sheets." He grinned at that and skipped out of the room, sure that a blush would be staining Shou's cheeks.
And it most certainly did. Shou finished his breakfast while he waited for Hiroto to return with a fresh change of clothes.
After a few minutes, Hiroto returned with a new outfit for Shou, setting it on the bed. He took away the tray when he saw that Shou was done with that as well.
Shou slid form the covers and into the gown. It was light in color and really fit his form well.
Hiroto admired the way it looked on Shou, smiling to himself. "Good choice, I think. What should we do today, my beautiful king?"
Shou walked over to Hiroto and hugged him loosely, his arms around the other's shoulders. "I kind of want to go outside the castle again... Do you think we could go to a market?"
Hiroto nodded, anything for Shou. "Of course. I'll sneak you out again."
Shou giggled with a smile. "Market places are real then?"
Hiroto laughed at the odd question, nodding. Shou really hadn't gotten out much before. "Sure, come on." He urged, grabbing Shou's hand and leading him out of the room. He totally forgot about trying to disguise Shou.
Shou ran out with the other, laughing a little as he tried to keep up with his lover.
Hiroto stopped after a while and let Shou catch up before they began walking to the market place, which was always busy with everyone buying and selling.
Once Shou saw how many people were there, he stuck up and close to his Hiroto, a little scared. He'd only ever seen so many people from a distance, really.
Hiroto made sure to hold onto Shou so they wouldn't be separated in the chaos of the marketplace. "Anything in particular that you wanted to see?"
Shou shook his head. "Anything is good. Do they have any jewelry?" he asked. People were walking around them, their eyes hard set on the pair. Shou stood out pretty substantially.
Hiroto nodded and led Shou through the crowd towards a little stand where jewelry was displayed, the jewels sparkling in the sun.
Shou's eyes widened some as he moved to look at the jewels and chains. They were so beautiful...
Hiroto moved over with Shou, inspecting the various jewels on display.
Shou asked about the pricing and the woman selling the items refused to tell him, telling Shou to take it.
It was then that Hiroto realized that they could probably recognize Shou. Though he didn't want to ruin the king's fun time. He lifted a necklace he liked in particular and put it around Shou's neck, hooking it in the back. "I like this one on you."
Shou smiled and looked up at Hiroto. "Then I like it too." the woman nodded and agreed and sent them off, wishing his Highness a good day.
"Not everyone will be that nice, so be careful out here." Hiroto whispered into Shou's ear as the moved along among the stands.
Shou frowned slightly, looking back at his lover, staying close beside him. "Why would people be mean?"
"Some people don't like the king's authority." Hiroto replied, putting it simply.
Shou frowned slightly. "But I haven't done anything using my authorities as of yet."
"I think that's the point, they want their circumstances to be changed so that everyone can live as well as you." Hiroto said, shrugging. "But things don't work like that."
Shou nodded, sticking close to his lover. There were people watching them from the shadows, their eyes mean.
"Perhaps we should go back." Hiroto suggested, gently pulling Shou back towards the palace.
Shou nodded, holding onto Hiroto's hand tightly as he followed his lover back. He could feel the eyes of those people and it felt as though they were being followed.
Hiroto moved a bit faster and held onto Shou's hand tighter. He should've listened to Tora's warning. Perhaps it was pretty stupid to take Shou outside the castle walls.
Shou winced slightly, his hand hurting as he tried to keep up with the other. He was scared... before long, he realized they were running, and there were, in fact, people chasing them.
"Go ahead, I can see the castle in sight. I'll distract our pursuers." Hiroto whispered, letting go of Shou's hand and turning around.
Shou frowned, holding up slightly and looking back at his lover. "No, Hiroto! Come on! We can out run them!" he tried, moving backwards some. He saw how big the men were, feeling more fear run down his spine.
"Go!" Hiroto yelled, not budging from his spot. He didn't care that he was small, he was fast and he could run circles around these guys. He just needed Shou to move.
Shou bit his lip before he split off, running hard for the palace. The group moved to chase after the king, some of them moving their way around Hiroto to distract him while three other went after the king.
Hiroto didn't pay attention to them though, slipping through their hands to bring down the ones chasing the king. He picked up rocks and threw them, hitting them right on their foreheads.
Two of the men fell as the other ran. The group was following after Hiroto. Shou, in his white robes, stopped short of the walls, realizing they were locked. He banged on them a moment before glancing around him. He then split off down the street until he came to a very familiar store. "Saga! Saga!" Shou cried.
Saga opened the store's door and looked out, spotting Shou. "What's wrong?" He asked, before looking around and spotting the mob surrounding Hiroto in the distance.
Shou was crying, trails of tears down his cheeks. "Th-those people were following us, and I can't get into the palace, and Hiroto's going to get hurt," he said, quickly, fear written all over his pale, pretty self. He wasn't looking very well...
"I'll take care of it." Saga said, taking Shou's arm and pulling him into the shop. "You stay here and keep the door locked."
Shou nodded, sniffling as he let Saga out and then locked the door behind him. Rest against the door, he held himself tightly, crying. His chest hurt... He started to cough then, and Shou hugged his legs close.
Hiroto was fighting off the men as best as he could when Saga arrived and shooed them off with rather threatening remarks and a knife he'd borrowed from a near by butcher. Once they were alone, Saga brought Hiroto back to the shop to see Shou.
Shou had crawled into a small corner of the room, being some garments that were acting almost as curtains. He cried into his knees with rather violent hacks and coughs following.
Upon entering the shop, Hiroto heard Shou and ran over to him. "Shou! Are you all right?"
Shou looked up upon hearing Hiroto and moved pretty quick to hug the other tightly. He didn't say anything, but he was trembling. He'd moved so fast that the red stains on his gown went unseen, from his sickness striking bak at him hard and fast.
Hiroto held onto Shou tightly, whispering his apologies over and over. Saga left to have the gates to the castle opened for them and to let Hiroto and Shou have a moment together.
Shou sobbed some against the other's shoulder, occasionally shaking with coughs before he finally calmed down a little more. He thanked God his lover was okay...
"Are you ok?" Hiroto asked, pulling away a bit to look at Shou. The king didn't look so good. It was all his fault for taking him out like he was.
Shou nodded, however, wiping at his eyes. "Y-yes... I'm fine..." he cried softly, trembling still.
"Come on, we'll disguise you here and then take you back home." Hiroto said softly, kissing Shou's forehead.
Shou nodded, sniffling and bringing his shakey hands to his lips. He coughed hard and long into his hands, before pulling back, tears in his eyes. His palms were covered in blood... He quickly wiped them on his white gown, since he didn't want them anymore...
Hiroto felt tears come to his own eyes as he saw this. He was killing Shou, wasn't he? It was his fault that Shou was getting worse. He sighed and picked up some old scraps of fabric to wrap around Shou to hide his clothes and head.
Shou sniffled some, helping to wrap himself up. Once he was all wrapped, his slid his arms around Hiroto, hugging him tightly.
"I'm so glad you're okay...." he said softly, honestly.
Hiroto cuddled Shou close before bringing Shou to the back door of the shop. "Come on, let's go this way. I think we both need to rest after this."
Shou nodded. He needed his medicine... "You'll stay with me?"
"Of course." Hiroto replied, bringing Shou to the castles gates, which they were now able to get past. "I'll just get you some more of your medicine and you lay down, ok?"
Shou nodded. He was still pretty shaken, clinging tightly to his lover's side. He decided he didn't like going out to the market place after all...
Hiroto took Shou to his room and changed him out of his dirty clothes before having him lay down. He then traveled across the hall to get the medicine from his bedroom.
Shou laid down as he was instructed, holding himself tightly as he sat in his impressively large bed, alone.
Hiroto returned and handed Shou the medicine, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I want you to take a nap after this and if you feel better then it might be ok for you to leave your bed."
Shou took the medicine, coughing softly at the icky taste. "Aren't you... going to nap with me?"
"I'm too worried to sleep." Hiroto admitted, smoothing his fingers through Shou's hair. "I'll be near by though, so if you need me I will be there."
Shou looked sad and nodded, looking away. "I'm sorry..." he said softly, feeling as though the other's worry was his own fault. He settled down and curled up into a little ball, tucked away almost completely under the covers.
"You have nothing to be sorry for. It's my fault." Hiroto insisted, gently patting the little lump under the covers. "I love you, Shou."
Shou looked up at the other with soft, sweet eyes. "I'm the one that insisted you take me out..." he pleaded softly, sliding one of his hands up to place lightly over Hiroto's. "I love you, too, Hiroto... So very much...."
Hiroto sighed and slid under the covers with Shou, wrapping his arms around his love. "I want to keep you safely within the castle walls now. I don't want to risk you getting hurt."
Shou moved into the warmth of Hiroto's arms. He rest his head against the other's shoulder, resting his eyes and nodding slightly. "I don't want to go outside them anyway..."
Hiroto closed his own eyes and held Shou a little tighter as he waited for the king to fall asleep in his arms.
Shou finally drifted off, though he hadn't taken long at all. His hands rest against Hiroto's chest as his body went lax with sleep.
Hiroto gently moved so Shou slid out of his arms and he paced the room for a while. He knew he had to face Tora at some point, so he figured he'd visit him now. He quietly left the room and walked across the hall to the prince's room.
Tora was inside and could be heard conversing with someone. The other person, whoever it was, sounded very worried, and then, suddenly, another started to yell. Tora could be heard calming them down and apologizing again and again. The group soon moved to the door. Tora opened it and out stormed a tall, burly man, grumpy as could be, followed by the woman who'd given Shou the necklace. She turned, though, not seeing Tora, and apologized, sending her very best to king and expressing that she was just so very worried.
Tora sighed and leaned against he doorframe, arms crossed. "Hiroto... I warned you." he said with a sigh.
Hiroto hung his head, nodding slightly. "I know, I didn't think about it until we were already out there. I'm sorry."
Tora sighed, running a hand through his hair. "It doesn't matter, you should've thought about it... Are you both okay, at least? The couple who just left saw the fighting," he said, moving and keeping the door open for Hiroto to follow him. As much as he didn't want to do this... He had to make sure it didn't happen again... What if something had happened?
Hiroto followed him in a bit reluctantly. He hoped Tora didn't decide to throw him out again. "We're fine...I had Shou lay down and rest."
Tora nodded, running a hand through his hair. "You have options, Hiroto, since no one's been hurt. None of them are anything you'll like, and none of them can reach the ears of Shou. Got me?"
"What are they?" Hiroto asked nervously.
"One, lashings in some rather valuable places. Two, I send you away. Three, you give yourself to me for a few hours," he stated with a sigh. Those were always the three options, and he really stated them without much care. He figured the other would go for lashings, since they only covered the back, ass, and maybe a few along his private areas.
Well, he certainly wouldn't choose to go away. That was an automatic no. "Will the lashings leave marks?" Hiroto asked after a moment. Because he couldn't very well hide that from Shou.
"Yes. It tends to, being a whip and everything," he said with a small shrug, glancing over at the weapon. He'd forgotten that Hiroto was never at the whips end...
"And it hurts... a lot..." he muttered, wearily. He'd always been the one who got punished...
Hiroto bit his lip, wincing at the thought. "And giving myself to you for a few hours means..."
Tora nodded to his side, where his own rather massive bed was, the only answer he gave. He watched the other, curiously. Would he really go with that choice?
Hiroto swallowed and shook his head. He wouldn't cheat on Shou like that to keep himself from pain.
Tora watched him closely. "Pick one, Hiroto. I haven't got all day..." Out of all honesty, Tora didn't sound interested in the least about this entire ordeal... it was almost as if he was doing this because he had to enforce what he'd said previously.
"I'll go with the lashings..." Hiroto finally muttered, turning his eyes to the floor.
Tora leaned back against his chair backing. "Why?" he inquired, genuinely, out of pure curiosity.
Hiroto frowned some, looking over at Tora for a moment. "Because I'd rather suffer the pain then betray Shou or leave him."
Tora thought a moment, figuring out a way to twist this... "But... You'll take him out into the city, dressed like the king he is and endanger his life?" he inquired, kicking off his chair some and walking slowly around his room.
"He's probably better off without me..." Hiroto muttered, feeling tears flow to his eyes. Tora was right, he endangered Shou needlessly.
Tora walked up to the other, bending down lightly to smack the smaller one's cheek. It was a firm strike, though nothing incredibly harsh or mean. "He definitely would not be better off without you, Hiroto. He needs you, got it? Protect him... it's not like you have a lifetime to spend with him..." He muttered, moving to the door and opening it. "Don't take him outside anymore... He's too gentle for the real world."
Hiroto stared at Tora for a moment, not sure what had changed Tora's mind. He silently walked to the door and out into the hall again. "I promise I'll protect him better from now on..."
"Good," he said with a sigh as the door closed. Tora leaned back agaisnt his door, running a hand down his face. He couldn't help but admit it anymore... He definitely wanted Hiroto... And, badly.
Hiroto wandered back to Shou's room after a minute, quietly opening the door to check on the king. He was relieved that he got off the hook, but he knew it was probably only because Tora had started to feel something for him.
Shou was snuggled up in the covers, hugging his pillow tightly agaisnt himself, his parcels still on the foot of his bed.
Hiroto moved inside and stopped beside Shou's bed, gently brushing his hair away from his face. He sighed, feeling guilty for a part of his heart was starting to like Tora too.
Shou's soft lips curved ever so slightly, softly, as the others' finger lightly brushed his face. He nuzzled the hand ever so slightly.
"Shou..." Hiroto whispered, leaning in and kissing Shou's cheek. "Wake up, love.."
"Hmm...?" Shou sounded softly, his eyes slowly opening to see the love of his life. He smiled sweet and soft. "Hello..."
"How was your nap?" Hiroto asked, slipping beside Shou and cuddling his lover close. "You look better."
Shou smiled, his arms sliding around his lover. "It was good... It would have been better if you were here," he said with a little giggle.
"I'm here now." Hiroto said with a little laugh. "Do I get to see your surprise yet?"
Shou laughed and shook his head slightly. "Not quite, you have to go change for a nice dinner," he said, smiling up at the other. Just then, Nao came in and said that Hiroto needed to get out so he could set up their food.
Hiroto pouted but went back to his own room to change into his best clothes, wanting to look good for his lover.
In his own room, Shou changed, with some help from Nao, before assisting a little in setting up their meal. Nao then went to get Hiroto.
When Nao came to fetch Hiroto, he was all ready. He walked back to Shou's room and knocked lightly on the door before entering.
The room was dimmed dark, with candles lighting up the large room. Shou sat on the ground beside a small, extravagantly set table in a gown that wasn't one he would ever wear out of that room. It left his shoulders bare, as well as his back and his midriff, buttoned down the front with gold buttons. The bottom half was pants that dipped very low, and had slits up both thighs, showing off his legs. He blushed a little as he smiled at Hiroto.
The sight made Hiroto's mouth drop open as he openly stared at the sight before him. He blushed some when he realized how stupid he must've looked and he moved over, kneeling in front of Shou. "You look amazing, my king."
Shou blushed some, keeling down himself and looking up at Hiroto with a sweet, inoccent smile.
"We stand on the same ground, Hiroto... You bow to no-one..."
"Believe me, Shou. You are of much higher worth than I." Hiroto said, gently reaching out to touch Shou's flat stomach before sliding his hands over the buttons on Shou's shirt.
Shou blushed faintly as Hiroto's hand explored is fairly exposed form. "Not in my eyes," he said in the sweetest of voices.
Hiroto smiled and pulled Shou into his arms, holding him close. "I love you."
Shou smiled, his arms sliding up around Hiroto. "I love you, too, Hiroto," he replied, nuzzling the other.
"So, you know you're distracting me from dinner in that." Hiroto whispered, kissing Shou's shoulder.
Shou blushed brightly. "O-oh! Should I put on a robe. O-or something?" he asked in utter uncertainly, He was starting to feel really foolish. He hadn't meant to be a problem...
"No, maybe we should just take it off." Hiroto said with a faint smirk, leaning down and pulling Shou's buttons open with his teeth.
Shou blushed with a little gasp as the other started to undo his shirt with his mouth. He had to admit, that was a kind of cool trick...
As soon as the shirt fell open, Hiroto pushed it aside and attacked Shou's chest with light kisses, grazing his lips over the other's nipples.
Shou's breath caught slightly, his fingers running through the others' soft hair as his chest was assaulted. His heart fluttered at the feel of his lips.
Hiroto smiled against Shou's chest and he slid his hand down into Shou's. "Let's eat now, hm? Then I will strip the rest of you."
Shou blushed and nodded, the shirt exposing him, though still on his shoulders. Hiroto made his stomach and heart flutter so easily...
Hiroto gently pulled Shou up and brought him over to the table to eat the food Nao had set out for them.
Shou smiled and moved over with his lover, sitting down in one seat. He smiled over at his lover.
"So you planned this all?" Hiroto asked as he dished some food onto both their plates.
Shou nodded. "I wanted to do something special for you... So you'd know how special you are to me. Saga helped," he admitted with a little laugh. "A lot."
"Thank you." Hiroto said, feeling his heart warm with the other's words. He felt more relaxed now that he knew Shou was ok for now.
Shou nodded, watching Hiroto. "I hope you like dinner."
"Of course. I like the work Saga did too." He said, nodding towards Shou's outfit. "It fits you perfectly."
Shou blushed with a soft smile. "Well, it's only for you."
Hiroto laughed some, nodding. "I didn't think you'd go walking around in that." He then began eating more of his food, trying not to appear to eager to get back to stripping Shou down.
Shou ate in an usually slow manner, munching away. He didn't eat much, though, so by the time he was done, so was Hiroto. "That was so good."
Hiroto nodded and stood up from his place, stretching some before he headed over to the bed.
Shou cleaned up the table a little, like he always did. He respected his workers, different then Tora's view on them. He then walked after Hiroto, following him to the bed.
Hiroto pulled Shou close, sliding his arms around his lover's waist and sighing deeply.
Shou smiled softly and nuzzled the other, his arms sliding back around him.
"You're such a wonderful person, Shou. I wish you had more time to show the world that." Hiroto whispered, kissing Shou's cheek.
Shou nuzzled the other softly, sweetly. "You're the only person I need to show anything, Hiroto..." he said softly.
Hiroto nodded slightly, though that really wasn't the answer he wanted. "I don't know what I'll do without you..."
Shou rest his head against the other's shoulder, closing his eyes. "Do you know what I'd like you to do?" he asked softly.
"What?" Hiroto asked, rubbing Shou's back a bit as he listened.
"To be with Tora..." he said softly, his voice faint. He could tell there was something between the two... He didn't want to, but he knew...
Hiroto stared at Shou for a while before nodding and holding Shou a little tighter. "Does that mean you forgive him?"
"I don't have much choice..." he said softly, trying not let his voice waver. He was glad, honestly, that he would be gone before long... If he was to live a real, full life, there was no telling what would happen... Tora might steal Hiroto from him... or Hiroto's feelings would change... it was all stuff he didn't want to see... He didn't want to know.
"Shou..." Hiroto turned his head slightly for a kiss, just a tender brush of lips. "I'm sorry. I think I ruined our moment, didn't I?"
Shou smiled slightly, sadly. "It's okay... Things needed to be said..." he said softly.
But the guilt only mounted on Hiroto because of how nicely Shou dealt with everything. He nodded and laid down in the bed, sliding his hand down to hold Shou's.
Shou laid down beside the other, lacing his fingers with Hiroto's. He gazed up at the other with loving eyes.
The love in the other's eyes always surprised him. Why did Shou love him so much? He rolled on top of Shou and resumed his kissing of his lover, rubbing his hands over the smooth chest.
Shou's soft lips moved back against the others, kissing him in return. His body arched up into the others' touch, seeking more.
Hiroto took time to savor the kiss, memorizing the feel of the other's lips. Appreciating it as much as their first...He wanted to remember every kiss clearly in his mind and store it in his heart.
Shou's lips moved back against Hiroto's his tongue sliding out for only a second to touch and taste Hiroto's soft lips against his own.
The smaller man's tongue followed for a second, dipping into Shou's mouth. His fingers trailed lower to top of the pants that Saga had created for Shou.
Shou's tongue moved some to slide along Hiroto's in return. His hips moved up ever so slightly against the touch, encouraging and allowing Hiroto to continue.
Hiroto parted from the kiss and worked his way down, gently kissing and licking Shou's skin until he reached the place his fingers had lingered before. He slowly slid Shou's pants down, revealing more of his skin.
Shou shivered with a soft catch of his breath as the other slowly slid his pants down, bit by bit. He looked down and watched the other a moment.
Hiroto looked up, catching Shou's eyes. He smiled and licked a path along Shou's hip to his thigh. He pushed the other's thighs apart so he could move between them.
Shou blushed as he watched the other. He was kind of interested as to what Hiroto was doing anyway, and he shyly parted his legs so that Hiroto could fit between them.
Hiroto licked along the length of Shou's arousal, before pressing a kiss to the tip. Everything was done slowly and carefully, there was no need to rush their moments together.
"Oh!" Shou gasped softly as a shiver ran down his spine, growing hard already at the pure feeling.
Hiroto took Shou into his mouth inch by inch, sucking lightly around the hard member. His eyes stayed focused on Shou's face to see the pleasure written there.
Shou's moaned softly, as his eyes fluttered shut. Hiroto's hot mouth felt so amazing...
Once he'd taken in all he could, he swallowed around Shou and sucked hard, the head of the other's cock touching the back of his throat.
"Hiroto... ahn!" Shou breathed out in pure pleasure, his hips moving ever so slightly, though he tried so hard not to do that.
Hiroto pulled back some, letting the arousal slide partially from his mouth before he swallowed it down again, creating a little pattern of moving his mouth over the hard shaft.
Shou's head fell back with more soft, sweet moans and gasps for air. His hips started to move ever so slightly with his lover's rhythmic sucking, feeling that pressure wash over him as his climax approached.
Hiroto allowed the movements of Shou's hips, swiping his tongue over the sensitive underside of Shou's length. His mouth moved down to just the head when he felt his lover close to release, ready to swallow down his seed.
"Hiroto!" Shou moaned out in pure pleasure, his hips rolling up as his hot seed spilled form his tip, orgasmic ecstacy running through his body.
Hiroto swallowed down all he could, licking his lips afterward. It tasted so good. He dotted kisses over Shou's trembling thighs and up to his lips.
Shou panted softly, his eyes glazed over when he opened them for only a moment before kissing Hiroto back as best he could. Ooh, it felt so amazing...
Hiroto pulled back after a moment and covered them with the blanket, snuggling against Shou's side.
Shou trembled slightly, resting his head against Hiroto's sigh with a soft sweet sound. He couldn't believe how amazing that had felt...
"I love you, Shou." Hiroto whispered as if his actions didn't convey it enough.
Shou's lips were touched by a soft, sweet smile and he nuzzled the other. "I love you, too, Hiroto... So very much...."
Hiroto gave Shou one last sweet kiss before laying his head on his lover's shoulder and letting sleep take over.
Shou ran his fingers lightly through Hiroto's hair as he watching the other sleep for a bit. He felt a tear of sadness run down his cheek, thinking about how little time he had with his lover...
He soon drifted off himself.
