Warnings: Serious AU
Pairings: SeijixTouma (SagexRowen)

Disclaimers: The characters belong to somebody else. All changes in tense are mine.

This fic is dedicated to Kyoki! This is yours, hon, like it or not. I'll try and hand Seiji and Touma to you on a lubricated silver platter, but we'll have to wait and see. ^-^
 

‘thoughts’

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Chapter 4

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Warmth. It pulsated around him and drew him towards consciousness. Touma opened his eyes and turned his head to the side as a beam of light threatened to worsen his already monumental headache. He groaned and threw his arm across his eyes.

“So you’re awake. How are you feeling?”

Touma jumped and the owner of the soft voice was quickly at his side, gently easing him back against the pillows. Touma trained his eyes on the voice.

Seiji smiled and brushed Touma’s bangs from his face.

“I didn’t mean to startle you, friend. How are you?”

Touma looked around and cleared his throat.

“Where am I? Who are you?”

“You are safe, and you may call me Seiji. Now, it’s your turn to answer me. What do I call you and *how do you feel*?”

‘Ohmygod…This is the Korin prince!’

“Well?”

Touma studied Seiji’s face. ‘Those must have been his men who attacked me! But if he doesn’t know who I am, then…’

“Uh, Rowen. I’m f-fine.” ‘Better safe than sorry.’

Seiji smiled and held out his hand.

‘His hands are warm. He’s so lovely.’

Touma shook the unwelcome thoughts from his mind and pulled his hand from Seiji’s, with a little reluctance on both halves.

A voice outside the tent- which is where he was, Touma noticed- drew Seiji’s attention. He smiled once more at Touma and satisfied that he was easing back into rest, got up and left the tent.

‘I’m smiling too much…my face hurts.’

Seiji looked at his guard. “Well, what is it?”

“We went back to the bodies. The others were Tenkuu Palace guards, just as we suspected. We scouted the area and found a royal litter…” Seiji inclined his head, urging him to continue. “There was no one in the litter. We found blood, torn clothes, and a note.” He presented a small scroll to Seiji.

Seiji looked at the scroll thoughtfully and nodded to his guard absentmindedly. “Thank you.” He nodded and left, and Seiji opened the scroll, leaning against a tree as he read. He scanned the roughly written text then reread it more closely. [1]

“Oh no…” He looked down once more. ”Pack up! We have to go directly to the capital.”

His attendant ran over to him. “What’s the matter, my lord?”

“We have to get there as soon as possible.” Seiji walked toward his tent. “Princess Tah is being held prisoner.”
 

He opened the tent flap and stopped short as he saw Rowen sleeping.

'Perhaps he knows something. He might have been part of the entourage. I don't want to say too much, but if he was traveling with the princess he has a right to know. He might not even remember what happened. I don't think he's a spy, at least...'

Rowen rolled over and opened his eyes. Seiji smiled once more and started to gather his things.

'Maybe I should wait for him to ask about Princess Tah. He doesn't look too good.'

“Is something wrong?”

“No. You're very perceptive, though. No, nothing.” Seiji slipped out of his quiet contemplation and started to put his things back in his bag. “We’re getting ready to leave. We have matters to attend to. I don’t feel good about leaving you, considering your condition, but I don’t want to force you to come-“

“No!” Touma cringed as Seiji looked at him curiously. “I mean, I don’t want to be let out here alone. Those men…” Seiji rushed to his side, his belongings forgotten.

“You remember who attacked you, then? Who were they? Why did they attack you? What did they want?”

Touma leaned back in the onslaught of questions. Seiji noticed his discomfort and eased off with an embarrassed cough.

“Do you know who they were?” Touma thought carefully, weighing, then shook his head no. “No…” Seiji repeated absently. “Do you know why they attacked you? No, that’s a stupid question. Why do men start wars…” Seiji sighed.

Touma could tell something was indeed very wrong. He softly laid his hand on Seiji’s hand which rested in his lap. Seiji looked at it for a moment then covered it with his other hand.

“What’s wrong?” Touma asked quietly, looking Seiji in the eyes. ‘Such marvelous eyes…I’ve never seen eyes that color…’

"Just a matter of state. We have to head toward the capital." Touma's eyes widened.

"You mean the capital of Korin?" Seiji shook his head. "Then this problem...It's Tenkuu's?"

"We're heading out. You are more than welcome to come with us, but we won't be stopping often. And you'll have to share a horse with one of my men." Seiji paused. "...Or me." He stood up and resumed his packing. "We should reach the capital in two days, at most. One if we ride hard."

Touma nodded, recognizing that he wouldn't get any answers.

'For now. But if there's a problem with my land, you *will* tell me. Knowingly or not.'
 

**********
 

"So, tell me about yourself, Rowen." Touma jerked, Seiji's voice behind him startling him. He shifted in the saddle, leaning a little more forward. His proximity to the other prince was uncomfortable, but in a disturbingly pleasant way.

"Well...I was born and raised in the capital. I...do a lot of traveling, meet a lot of people."

'Hah!' Touma thought. 'I haven't told a lie yet! This'll be no problem.'

"So what do you do exactly?"

'Uh oh.'

"Uh, it's complicated. I don't want to talk about me anymore. Tell me a little more about the who bravely rescued me." Seiji smiled inwardly.

"Like you, I was born and raised in the capital of Korin. I travel, I meet new, *boring* people. I like to hunt and hike. I fight, was taught by my grandfather. I use a broadsword, mostly. I like sushi and long walks on the beach."

Touma twisted in the saddle gawking at Seiji before laughing.

"I'll try and remember all that." Seiji laughed as well and unconsciously held Touma closer. Touma's laughter died down to giggles and he leaned back into the embrace. Seiji breathed in the pleasant scent of Touma’s hair and rested his chin on the top of his head, provoking more giggles from Touma.
 

**********
 

After setting up camp, Seiji and Touma sat by a large fire eating their dinner. It was meager, but Touma was so hungry he barely kept himself in check, downing his food quickly. Seiji looked up from his own half-eaten bowl as Touma finished his.

"Rowen, I'm so sorry. I never thought to ask if you were wanted to eat before we left." Seiji put his bowl down and spooned more rice and chicken into Touma's bowl, handing it to him guiltily.

"It's alright." Touma nodded earnestly. It hurt every time Seiji said something meaningful, using his alias. He took the bowl and started to eat more slowly. "You were in a hurry." Seiji nodded and continued to eat as well. "So...why are we in such a hurry?"

Seiji paused, digging a trench in his rice with his chopstick.

"It's...complicated." He looked up and smiled ruefully at Touma. "I'd rather not talk about it, really." Touma nodded, his feelings a little hurt. Seiji picked up on it and placed his bowl down.

"I was originally going to the capital to marry a princess. Your princess. I...didn't really want to marry her. I still don't. I know she feels the same. How could she not? We've never even met. And now…now I don’t think we ever will…At least, not if we don’t get to the capital.” Seiji sighed and rubbed his face tiredly. Touma sat listening intently, playing with his food.  “It doesn’t look like we’ll get married anyway, not that many would complain.  She might love someone else…I might love someone else.” He stared at Touma. Touma coughed and blushed, playing with his food with renewed vigor.

"I never thanked you. For saving me." Seiji glanced up and nodded absently.

“I didn’t do much. But you’re welcome. It’s nice to have someone here I can actually talk to.” Touma smiled.

“Don’t have many friends?” Seiji shook his head. “Me neither.” They sat in companionably silence, picking at their food.
 

**********
 

‘It’s his own damn fault. He brought this on himself.’ Touma nodded in agreement with his thoughts as he turned the bucket over, dumping cold water on Seiji. Seiji woke up spluttering and gasping. He turned accusing eyes to Touma who, having hidden the bucket behind his back, feigned innocence. Touma was studying the top of the tent, looking for the cloud that caused the sudden downpour, it seemed.

“Huh. Well that was a hell of a weird thing...” Seiji jumped up and tackled Touma to the floor, sitting on his chest.

“What the hell was that about, Rowen!? I saved you!” He grabbed Touma’s shoulders and started throttling him, Touma’s ear-to-ear grin never faltering. “I clothed you! I fed you! How could you do this to me!?”

“Uh, sir?” Seiji jumped up, wincing as Touma’s head thunked against the floor.

“Y-yes?”

“Your morning meal is ready.” Seiji nodded and the attendant backed out cautiously, making a break for it once he was out of the tent. Touma looked up at Seiji and burst out laughing. Cajoled into his own fit of laughter, Seiji helped Touma up, who rubbed his head.

“Sorry. No, wait. You deserved that. Was that any way to wake a prince??” Touma shrugged.

“You said you didn’t have friends therefore implying you didn’t have fun.” Touma shrugged again and Seiji looked incredulous. “I thought that was pretty fun.” He started laughing again, holding his aching sides. Seiji shook his head, though unable to hide his smile, and turned away.

“No respect…” He gathered up some dry clothes. “You know, if we hadn’t built up such a great rapport, I’d have had you beheaded for that.” Seiji eyed him levelly, but Touma wasn’t fooled. ‘Hm…I must be losing my touch.’

“Nah!” Touma waved his hand dismissively. “You just keep me around so you’ll have someone good looking hanging around.”

“Yeah.” Seiji smiled, causing Touma’s grin to falter, and he turned and left the tent. ‘Nope, I still got it!’

He made his way down to the river to wash up.
 

**********
 

Touma stared at the spot where Seiji had just stood.
 

‘He thinks I’m good looking.’ A smug little part of his brain pointed out.

‘I’ve never acted this way before.’

‘We’ll, I’ve never had a friend before.’

‘He thinks I’m good looking.’ Touma smiled a little, then walked out of the tent, heading for the river.

Once he reached the bank, he ducked behind a bush to prevent being spotted. He knew Seiji would be here, but didn’t quite know why he came. He’d bathed earlier in the day, so he had no reason to be there. Ashamed at himself, he turned to go, but Seiji breaking through the surface of the water stilled him and stole his breath.

‘Oohh…so *this* is why I came…’

Seiji flipped his gold hair out of his eyes, rubbing his face vigorously. After his eyes were cleared of water, he started to scrub his arms. Touma admired his sleek musculature. He hadn’t really been ably to check out his physique with his clothes on. Speaking of clothes, Touma was noticing a tightness in the borrowed pants he was in.

Seiji walked over to the opposite shore, dropping off his washrag, then turning around to leap back into the water. Touma would have gotten a nosebleed were it not for the fact that all his blood was otherwise occupied. Seiji looked up and waved.

“Rowen? Come in, the waters cold!” He chuckled and splashed his way back in, chuckling. Touma, mortified at being caught but relaxing from Seiji’s obliviousness, stood up.

‘You’re not the only thing standing up…’ Embarrassed all over again, he ducked down, using taking his boots off as an excuse to cover himself.  ‘I hope that water really *is* cold!’ He undressed and waited until Seiji ducked back under the surface of the water before running and jumping in, just having enough time to make himself seem composed before Seiji came up for air.

Seiji smiled and ducked back under.

‘Oh no!’ Touma froze, his hands covering his still rampant hard-on while Seiji came up again, much closer this time.

“What are you doing? C’mon, move around. It’s not so bad once you get used to it.” Touma just nodded, not moving any part of his body. A little concerned about his odd behavior, Seiji gripped Touma’s upper arms and looked down into his eyes. “Are you alright? You look a little pale.”

Touma blushed, looking down. Seiji followed his gaze and both pairs of eyes darted to meet each other, the arousal apparent to both now.  Seiji saw fear on his face and opened his mouth to speak. His body pushed him forward without his consent and he found himself kissing his petrified friend. After a few moments of nearly platonic lip-lock, Touma wrenched away. He backed up, wide eyed.

“I-I…I’m s-sorry! I’m so sorry…” He continued his apologies as he turned his back and stumbled to the shore, disappearing after grabbing his clothes. Seiji touched his lips.

‘His lips were so soft…’ Seiji took a moment to blush, reminiscing about the pleasant view as the other ran off. ‘Ran off…’ Seiji chastised himself for his callous selfishness, running to get his own clothes.

‘I can’t believe I kissed him! No wonder he ran off!’ Seiji finished dressing and ran to the other side, intent on doing some apologizing of his own. ‘I’ve just lost the only friend I’ve ever had…’
 

**********
 

‘I can’t believe he kissed me.’ Touma stopped walking long enough to pull his boots on. ‘No, scratch that. I can’t believe he kissed me and I ran away! No, that’s not right either…What am I supposed to feel?’ Touma continued walking.

He’d gone to spy on a naked prince. He got found out. He kissed the prince. He ran.

Nope. No clues there.

He felt something for the blonde, Touma could not deny that. ‘Neither can my body.’ He thought glumly. He found it hard to believe the prince shared the sentiment, however. He was going to marry Tah. His *sister* for crying out loud.

‘But he doesn’t know who I really am!’ Another problem.

‘But he said he didn’t love her. He said he loved someone else.’

Touma stopped. He remembered exactly what was said and a tingling warmth traveled down his body, pooling in his groin. ‘Aren’t you through yet!?’ He thought angrily at the offending appendage.

‘It doesn’t matter. I ran off. He probably thinks I don’t want him.’ Touma sighed. ‘I’ve just lost the only friend I ever had…’
 

**********
 

AN:
[1] Tried to bring Seiji a little more into character. You know, no smiling, leaning against stuff…
 

Touma: *Finally*, it starts to get interesting!!