"And finally, I have decided that my son does not possess the qualities that every good ruler needs. Therefore, I am removing the title of heir from him and bestowing it instead on whomever Suichi marries. I'm sure Suichi is delighted to hear this, as he has expressed the fact that he does not want to be king many times."

On the contrary, Suichi could feel blood trickling out from under his blunt fingernails as they gouged the railing of the balcony upon which he stood behind his father. He was trembling in rage and humiliation. A beast that had been lying dormant in Suichi's chest finally awoke. It raised its monstrous head and its furious roar drowned out all other sound. The beast sprang at the kings unprotected back, restrained only by the weak constraints of Suichi's ribcage. With smoking nostrils and flaming eyes it flung itself against its prison twice in rapid succession, backed off, and charged, matching the raging pace of Suichi's heartbeat. Not wanting to clue his father in on just how much he hated him at that second, Suichi pulled his face back under control and managed to follow him calmly back inside.

"Your Majesty, Yoko Kurama and Kuronue have arrived," a messenger muttered. Suichi scowled again, listening to the smoky snarl that rumbled through his ears. Now was so not the best time for greeting potential kings.

Much of his fury died, however, as he entered his father's study and met the topaz eyes of the silver fox demon. The rest of it disappeared as the boy's eyes flickered to the violet pair of the bat demon standing beside him. I see why father sees possibilities with these two… unless one of them turns out to be some cruel and uncontrollable jerk, than as of right now I have no reason to reject either of them… Suichi surprised himself by being able to smile sincerely at both of them, even though shame still gnawed fiercely on what was left of his dilapidated pride. The beast retreated for the time being, backing into its lair, still alert.

Suichi's mind wandered during his father's question-and-answer round with the pair. He picked up from the little he did pay attention to that both of them had enough natural spunk that the king was completely unable to intimidate them. And both seemed to instinctually know just how insolent they could be without angering the king. In Suichi's book, both traits were worth more than all the rich parents in the world.

----

Yoko answered the king's obnoxious questions with all the cheer he could muster, while quietly raging at him. He could already hear his own father's gleeful voice telling him that he'd better as hell marry the damn prince so that Yoko would be king, and he, the father of the king. His own problems aside, he watched Suichi carefully for the return of any sign of the fury Yoko had watched distort his beautiful face as the king had disinherited him. Even though Suichi's eyes eventually glazed over from boredom, the rage did not return.

Finally, the king was finished with his interrogation and Yoko saw Suichi return to Earth with a shocking amount of force. He exchanged a nervous look with Kuronue as the king asked Suichi whether or not he could consider marrying either of them.

Maybe it was the sound of his father's voice, or maybe it was the word "marry," but something reminded Suichi that he was supposed to be angry. The boy's jaw clenched and it was a moment before he spoke. When he did his voice was low and tight.

"I think I could survive if I married either of them," he said in a brave attempt to stay light.

"Then I'll leave you boys alone." The king swept out of the room.

Immediately Suichi sank backwards into the luxurious armchair behind him and massaged his closed eyelids with one hand. Yoko glanced at Kuronue, who was caught off guard by the prince's sudden change in demeanor, and hesitantly took a step towards the boy.

Suichi looked up. "I'm sorry, I know I'm being rude but you really did pick a bad day to visit…"

"You must be so pissed," Yoko responded before he could stop himself. He kicked himself mentally and opened his mouth to apologize, but Suichi laughed.

"That just about sums it up," he agreed. Yoko watched the smile that had lit up his face fade. "It's true that I never relished the idea of being king…and I had a feeling that something like that was going to happen…I just didn't expect him to do it in public." Suichi looked up over Yoko's shoulder at Kuronue, who was still lurking a few feet back. "I don't bite, you know," he said, smiling again.

Kuronue smirked. "I know. I'm trying to figure out the best way to make Yoko look stupid without seeming too obvious about it…"

Suichi laughed again, the sound rushing through Yoko's body like pleasantly warm water. The fox glared at Kuronue, more annoyed than anything.

It was Kuronue's turn to become serious. "You OK, Your Highness?"

Suichi shook his head. "It's Suichi. I hate being formal." He didn't answer Kuronue's question directly. "I'm so fed up with him lately…I don't know why he hates me so much, why he can't just accept that I'm not like him. He's so impatient to just marry me off and let someone else deal with me, and that hurts."

Something flickered in Kuronue's lavender eyes, but he didn't venture to explain. Yoko watched Suichi's eyes travel from his own eyes to Kuronue's, catching that strange glimmer a heartbeat before it vanished. I wonder what's going through his head right now… The fox fought his natural curiosity for a long time before he won.

"Suichi…I can tell now's not the best time. I can see your patience is wearing thin, and I honestly don't blame you. Should we leave?"

The redhead looked guilty as he nodded. "I'm sorry…I feel horrible for being so rude but I don't think I've never been so angry in my life! Just…give me a day or two, please."

Kuronue asked the question that had been bothering Yoko. "Er…where are we sleeping while we're here?"

Suichi rose from his chair in a graceful, fluid motion that belied the tension in his entire body. "There should be someone outside waiting to show you to your rooms."

----

They're both so nice…so sincere…I feel like I can trust them. But…I'm not so sure I want to marry anyone just yet, especially because it would mean I wouldn't be able to see Karasu…Suichi looked from one to the other, topaz to amethyst, and back again, fearing the decision he would eventually have to make. He caught the fading embers of the something that had gleamed in Kuronue's eyes, but found he didn't have the energy to feel curious about it. The beast was still crouching in his chest, waiting for another excuse—anything—to spring forward and resume its pounding against the boy's ribs. Now that it was awake, Suichi knew it wouldn't sleep for a long time; it would curl up and wait, but never would it fall into such hibernation again.

The creature curled up as he spoke, as he apologized to Yoko's understanding eyes. As it did, exhaustion swooped down on him like a hungry falcon. All the prince wanted to do was sleep away the day's anger. Maybe when he woke up he would have the energy to care again.

By the time Suichi left that night, the beast had been overwhelmed by misery such as he hadn't felt since his mother had died. Worse than that, he felt he was everything his father had ever called him: worthless, weak, inept…More than anything he wanted to be deprived of his freedom, tied up and helpless, just for the excuse it would give him for hating himself so much. He wanted to be beaten and physically humiliated until the more palpable pain balanced out the uncontrollable ache in his chest.

----

Karasu waited for Suichi in the entrance hall, trying to ignore the worry that was eating away at him. He carefully maintained his grave expression even as the boy slunk into the room. The worry ceased its irksome nibbling, only to sink its fangs painfully back into him as Suichi caught his eyes.

I had been expecting rage and unmitigated fury…instead he looks like a whipped dog! Karasu laid his hand on Suichi's shoulder and guided him gently to his room, waiting until the door was closed and locked before letting the prince collapse against him with a sob. Had it been anyone but Suichi, the display of vulnerability would have had Karasu fighting to ignore his sadistic impulses.

"I don't know whether this will be comforting or not, Suichi," he whispered, "but I guarantee you that you're not the only one who's upset." He paused as Suichi snorted his disbelief. "Trust me; all I've heard all day is people growling under their breath about how you've done nothing to deserve that, or how angry they were that someone could do that to their own child—" Karasu winced as Suichi cried out in annoyance.

"I don't want their pity! Haven't I been humiliated enough without the shame of being pitied on top of it!?" The raven embraced him silently, reluctant to upset the boy even further. Suichi's fingers suddenly grasped the back of his shirt as the redhead raised his tearstained eyes to Karasu's face. "Please…Karasu…more than anything I need you tonight…why are we just standing here?"

The raven shook his head. "I can't and won't proceed when you're so upset, Suichi. Hurting someone sobbing in misery is something even I can't do."

"Please…!"

Karasu caught his emerald eyes and registered the desperation lurking within them. He sighed, for once really not wanting to hurt the boy, but unable to say no to his client. "Fine, but only once you stop crying."