Its raining. Its always raining now a days. Perhaps...it is a symbol of my prince's sorrow and struggle. After all his hard work...all of his waiting...he ends up with nothing. I turned my head and watch our home burn to the ground. We were attacked by rebel forces and everyone escaped...no..not everyone. They only person that kept Kougaiji going, his one true source of happiness...his mother was gone. She was still sealed in stone and burned up in the fire.

I had to pull my prince away and to safety. Of course he struggled, cursing and kicking. Kougaiji was so determined to die beside his beloved mother. I'm his bodyguard and protecting him is my one and only duty. I wouldn't let the prince do something so stupid to throw his life away.

Yaone was tending to Lirin, who was burnt pretty badly while we made our escape. I glanced at them then my eyes turn to the red headed prince. He was on his knees still in shock. I could tell this was going to break him. The once bright flame is now dim and barely glowing.

Kougaiji lost his mother...

I know that feeling all to well. Though, I know it must be different because I was the one who killed my mother. Still..the sadness is the same.

Slowly I walk over to the redhead and kneel down beside him. "Kou" I say softly.

There is a moment of silence before Kougaiji speaks up. "Doku......."

I look down at him.

"She..she is gone" he whispers as the realization of his mother's death sinks into his mind.

"Yeah" I simply say. What else could I say? What can I do to ease my prince's suffering mind? What can I..do?

I snap out of my thoughts when I heard soft sobs coming from the red head. He is crying...I feel my chest began to hurt as I hear him cry. It is heartbreaking. I sit down beside him in the rain and mud. The rain is stinging my skin and eyes but at the moment I don't give a shit. I wrapped my arms around the prince and pull him tightly into my embrace.

He becomes silent and motionless unsure what is going on. My hands stroke up his back in a soothing manner. Kougaiji lets out another sob and begins to weep again. I could tell he was still bottling up his sadness.

"Kou..." I whisper in his ear. "Just...just..let it out. Don't hold back your emotions" I say. The prince is still for a moment. I stroke his head softly.

He nuzzles my chest softly and looks up at me with his violet eyes so full of sadness,confusion,anger,hate...and ever...fear. This is Kougaiji at his weakest. He seem so small and fragile...so broken.

I hold him tighter pushing his head softly against my shoulder. His nails dig into my jacket behind my back as he clung to me. He seems so innocent and child like. A side of him I never seen before.

He became still again and I look down. The prince as asleep. Everything that has happened must have been too much for Kou. I pick him up and carried him bridal style. Now we all needed to find a place.

"There is a village near by. We can stay there for awhile" Yaone says. She looks down at looks at the sleeping prince and looks back up at me.

"Lets go before we all get sick " I say pulling the prince a bit closer. Yaone nodded and walked beside Lirin. I followed behind the two.

An hour passed and we finally reached a village. Kou is still out cold. My eyes scan around the scenery and laying on the inn. The rain began to pound harder as we hurried to doors. Lirin pushed the door open.

Yaone walks over to the in keeper and begins to talk with him. I stand by the door watching the two talk. Soon the black hair woman walked over. "He says he only has two rooms so I told him we can share."

I nodded and Yaone leads Lirin up stairs to their room. I walked up the stairs and enter the second vacant room. I walked in and noticed that it only had one king size bed. So I guess I'll take the floor. No big deal.

Walking over to the bed I lay the prince on it. I remove his jacket and set it on a chair near by. I also remove his head band. The next thing I remove is shoes and socks. The only thing that was really dry was his pants. Those will stay on.

I pull a blanket over the sleeping red head. I moved away and turned my back to the prince. I removed my jacket that was soaking wet. I laid it on the floor. I remove my under shirt and ring it out.

"Doku..."

I hear my name being called. I turn and saw Kougaiji watching me. "Kou?" I asked walking over. "Go back to sleep." I say moving some hair out of his face.

"Who...do I live for now? Why did you have to pull me out of the fire?" he asks me. My eyes widen a bit at the question then close as I begin to think for a good answer. After a few moments I look at the red head and reached down wiping a few more tears.

"I pulled you out because ...I didn't want to see you die...and your mother wouldn't want you to die beside her. I think she wanted you to survive" I say hoping that was the right answer.

"I failed her..as a son" he mumbles.

"How can you say that? You fought countless battles doing everything you could so your mother could be freed. Her death doesn't mean you failed. "

The red head doesn't speak. He stares at me trying to process what I just said. "As who you can live for...that is easy. You have Yaone and Lirin, your people and me"

The prince blinks a few times and closes his eyes. I see tears roll down his cheeks. He smiled weakly and let out a soft chuckle. "You would be lost with out me ordering you around. " he says.

Did he just make a joke? I blinked and laughed. "You never ordered me around. Its not an order if you ask"

"Shut up" Kougaiji said looking away blushing over so slightly. I stop laughing and just smiled at the prince.

"Go back to sleep, skinny. You need it" I say. "I'm gonna sleep on the floor"

"Why? The bed is big enough for us both. The floor is dirty. Don't sleep on it."

" Are you inviting me to sleep with you?" I asked being perverted. Hey, Gojyo had to learn from someone.

I chuckled as Kougaiji's face turned bright red. I kick off my shoes and socks. I crawled into the bed and laid down beside the prince who was facing away from me. Is he embarrassed? That is so damn cute.

Kougaiji turned and laid on his side facing me. "Thanks" he says.

I blink a few times. "What for ? "

"Pulling me out of the fire and comforting me" he says.

"Anytime" I say with a smile. "I think you need more comfort"

"No, you just want to hold me" he says with a smirk.

"So" I said.

"Pervert"

"You like it"

"Shut up" Kougaiji says as he moves closer and rests his head against my chest. I wrap my arms around his body. I find my self blushing a bit when my hands rested on his bare back. I heard steady breathing. I look down seeing the prince was asleep again. I just smile and leaned down kissing the top of his head. A few moments pass and I find my self falling asleep as well.