Chapter 9 - Katsuya's POV

It was early in the morning when Katsuya awoke suddenly. He stared up at the ceiling wondering what that noise was. It almost sounded like low groaning. Blinking and wiping away the last traces of sleep from his eyes, he slowly sat up. "There it is again. A low groan coming from..." Katsuya looked around before realizing that the groaning was coming from right beside him. "Noa?" He asked softly and began to untangle his lover from the blankets wrapped around him. Kami only knows why he sleeps with so many blankets on, Katsuya thought to himself. Finally uncovering Noa completely Katsuya looked down at the boy. His face was flushed and when Katsuya touched the boy's forehead it felt unnaturally warm. "Too warm," Katsuya said to no one in particular. Katsuya reached for his knife as he noticed movement on the other side of the room but stopped himself when he realized it was just Seto.

Creeping quietly, so as to not wake Kaoru and Serenity, the palace guard knelt next to Katsuya. "He doesn't sound so good and he looks even worse," Seto said in a whispered voice and Katsuya could hear more then just a little worry in the other man's voice. "We should take him to the healers," he said and Katsuya nodded his agreement. The two older boys worked quickly and quietly to get dressed before Seto opened the door and ushered Katsuya, who was holding onto his white haired friend, through it. The three made it to the healer's room and the old man had Katsuya place the young boy onto a floor mat. Then the man, who introduced himself as Ryuzaki, ordered them out of his room. Not wanting to go back to bed the boys paced outside the closed door.

Serenity caught up with them later in the day and Seto asked her to stay with Katsuya, who by this point was starting to look ill himself, as he ran down the halls so as to not be late for his duty to the Emperor. Serenity sat with Katsuya's hand clasped with hers. A few people in the garment of medical scholars went into the room. Finally after what seemed to be days, way pass the time when Seto had rejoined them after his shift, Ryuzaki opened to door. His face was grim and the hope that had showed on Katsuya's face was quickly clouded over with anguish. "Is he?" Katsuya began to ask.

"He's alive and we are doing all we can to keep it that way but.." the old man trailed off. He sighed and ran a hand through his pepper colored hair. "Do you know of anyone who is interested in hurting Noa?" he asked softly. Serenity gasped and Katsuya looked like he was going to hurt someone himself.

"Why would you ask that?" Seto inquired, his emotions carefully hidden behind a mask of patience. His eyes narrowed as the healer began to search for an answer to that question. He started to reply before stopping again, perhaps rethinking what he was about to say.

"Why?" Katsuya cried out as he grabbed the man by the shoulders and slammed him into the wall. Seto jumped forward and pulled Katsuya off of Ryuzaki. He wrapped his arms around Katsuya's shoulder holding the other boy against him. He could feel Katsuya shaking in rage and Seto felt angry himself, but he knew it wasn't the healer's fault.

A bit shaken, the old man cleared his throat a couple of times before finally getting up the courage to speak. When he did reply to Seto's comment he directed his words at the young girl standing with them. "Well from what we can gather.." He swept his arm out in a motion to include the two men and one woman who had come out of the room behind him. "His symptoms.. that is the night terrors causing him to cry out, his fever, the glazed look in his eyes when they are forced open.. well they suggest and we conclude that young master Noa has been poisoned."

Chapter 10 – Seto's POV

Seto paced across the room. He asked for and was given permission to take the next two days off. Despite knowing how tight security already was due to guard shortage, the Empress also understood how important Noa had become to Seto during the short time since he had arrived. Seto continued to mumble to himself. Thinking and reassessing every waking moment for the past two weeks that he had been in Noa's company. Shaking his head, he gracefully slipped to the ground and leaned back against the wall. There was never a time, that he could remember, that Noa had gotten ill or not been his usual self. In fact he seemed to be even happier then before since the arrival of Katsuya. Seto's eyes wandered over to Noa's bed, where Katsuya sat holding the younger boy's hand.

Katsuya was shivering and softly talking to Noa. The boy's face was flushed and he kept mumbling in his sleep. Sometimes he would toss and turn but for the most part he laid there silently. Those were the times that scared Seto the most. Ryuzaki said that it was all up to Noa as to whether or not he lived. He tried to help, forcing disgusting liquids down the boy's throats and chanting and praying to Benten, the goddess of good fortune, and Binzuru-Sonja, the god of curing illnesses. The old man also performed Reiki healings on him but Ryuzaki wasn't hopeful.

Seto got to his feet. "I'm going outside. I need some fresh air," he said. Serenity stirred from where she was sleeping and got up. She stumbled a little, her feet having long ago fallen asleep, and hobbled after him. Seto wrapped an arm around her and half carried her outside. They curled up on one of the benches, completely covered by a tree. Serenity buried into his shoulder and began to cry softly. Seto held her close and ran a hand through her hair. He kissed the top of her hair. "It's going to be alright Serenity," he whispered over and over again like a deep mantra, hoping that if he said it enough it would come true. Seto closed his eyes, leaning his face up into the late afternoon sun. How can it be so bright and warm out here when Noa is in there fighting for his life, Seto silently mused to himself. His thoughts turned from Noa to his young brother who had died a few years back. Pulling Serenity closer Seto shivered despite the sun beaming down on him.

Chapter 11 – Katsuya's POV

Katsuya wiped the soft cloth across Noa's forehead again. His albino lover had been in this coma-like state for two weeks already. The younger boy was burning up like crazy yet he continued to shiver as if cold. Sighing tiredly, Katsuya pulled off his slippers and wrapped the covers around both of them. He pulled Noa into his arms and the boy nestled closer to him. One of Katsuya's hands smoothed down the boy's hair while the other gently scratched the boy's back. He planted a quick kiss on his lover's head before closing his eyes and tuning his senses into the other boy. He could hear Noa's breathing, shallow and ragged.

When the doctor came to check up on Noa earlier he said that the boy's lungs weren't sounding very well, a possible side effect to the poison running through his body. Luckily the boy just ingested the poison so it didn't enter into his blood stream, which the doctor told Katsuya would have killed him straight off. Katsuya had glanced at his boy before scoffing. "How was he lucky?" Katsuya had demanded of the old man. Ryuzaki had just shaken his head and walked out of the room. Katsuya felt slightly bad for yelling at him but he was so scared that, having finally found Noa again, he would lose him.

A soft murmur rose from Noa's lips and Katsuya opened his eyes. He kissed the boy softly. "I love you, Noa. Please don't leave me here alone," he whispered into the silent room. Noa nestled closer, as if Katsuya's words reached him, and Katsuya could swear that his name fell from the white haired boy's lips. A shadow danced across the wall and Katsuya turned to the door expecting Serenity or Seto or even Kaoru. Anyone but who was standing there. Mai walked in with a frown on her face. This was the first time she had visited her little brother since hearing he was sick. "How's he holding up?" she asked. Her voice was filled with haughtiness and disgust but no sadness at the sight of her brother.

"Not so well," Katsuya said returning his gaze to Noa's face.

"I think he'll die," she said before turning on her heel and walking out of the room. Katsuya glared after her while tears streamed down his face at the thought.

"No, Noa, please don't," he whispered and pulled his boy closer.

Chapter 12 – Serenity's POV

Three weeks later and Noa was doing a little better. He had yet to awaken but his fever had broken which gave Katsuya some hope. Serenity, herself, had asked that a futon be rolled out for her use so she could stay with Noa at night. Katsuya sometimes slept in Noa's new room as well, but more often then not Seto dragged him back to his room so he wouldn't stay up all night worrying. Neither the healers or the palace guards, Kaoru and Seto included, could figure out how poison could have possibly been slipped to Noa.

Serenity was laying across her bench, her hand covering her face and her hair tumbling to the ground laying in dirt. Her eyes were closed against the bright sun. Humming softly to herself she lazily turned her head when a shadow fell across her face. Mai and Misaki were passing through the garden. They were whispering angrily to each other. Frowning she closed her eyes and tried to tune into what they were saying. The two women, after glancing over at Serenity, hurried their pace and walked out of the garden towards town. The girl's frown deepened after they left. She hadn't been able to hear what they were saying but she most definitely didn't like the sound of their voices. She turned away from the court, rolling on her side she faced the tree. Sighing she closed her eyes again.

"Wait!" She called out to no one and sat up, almost falling off the stone bench. She stood up to keep from ungracefully flopping on the ground and pressed a hand to her head. "Think, think," she told herself. Finally remembering what was on the tip of her brain she rushed to find Seto.

Once she located him she pulled him away to the amused looks of Kaoru and the other two guards he had been talking to. "Um do you think.." She trailed off not wanting to actually voice her accusations.

"What is it, sweetheart?" he asked softly.

"Um well you don't think that.." She took a deep breath. "You don't think that Misaki and Mai would hurt ..." She trailed off again at Seto's angry look.

"Princess Misaki would never do anything like that," he said through gritted teeth.

Serenity pulled back as if he had slapped her. "Well pardon me I just thought. I mean. Well I did see them coming from the kitchens only a few days before Noa got sick." Seto's eyes narrowed and he spun away from her. Marching to rejoin his fellow guardsmen he didn't even cast a backwards glance at her. She bit her lip to keep from crying and ran from the room. Tears began to flow down her face anyway as she looked for a place to hide and let her emotions out. She wouldn't go to Noa's room. Seeing the boy, who had become so much like her little brother, in such a state would only make her sadder. Finally she settled on a back room off the kitchen. Once there she nestled between sacks of rice and bags of millet, and let the tears flood her vision.

Chapter 13- Seto's POV

He hadn't meant to snap at her that hard. He really hadn't. Seto ran a hand through his short hair and laid his head on the table. Kaoru had left moments before to do a follow up investigation of the cook and now he was alone in their small office. If Kaoru had heard what Serenity and Seto were talNoag about, he and the others had yet to say anything about Serenity's accusations. Seto frowned. Serenity couldn't seriously think that Misaki had anything to do with Noa being sick. There was no way.

Then Seto thought of the other person his lover had mentioned: Mai. Would she really be crazy enough to try and poison Noa right under the Emperor's nose? Seto remembered how hard it was to calm her down the night she and Katsuya had shown up. He recalled that after more then two hours of fighting him she had suddenly gotten quiet and left the room. "No," he said as if saying it aloud could convince him that it wasn't so. "Still," he said. " I'll have to check it out just to be certain." He gathered up his belongings and went in search of Kaoru. He didn't want to be the one she confessed to if Mai did do it. He didn't have enough strength to keep from killing her if that was the case and he'd much rather see justice done by the Emperor, whom had also come to accept his wife's new pet as a close confidante. With a grim smile set across his handsome face he looked for Kaoru before beginning his search for Serenity so that he could apologize to her. He didn't know what he was going to say but he was going to try and win her back.

Chapter 14 – Noa's POV

He opened his eyes slowly. The ceiling above him spun in circles and Noa quickly snapped them shut. He groaned and rolled over before once again trying to open his eyes. The room didn't spin as much this time and that reassured him. Finally, after laying there gazing at the wall for what felt like hours, he slowly stood up. Keeping his hand on the wall he took a few shaky steps towards the door. A wave of nausea passed through him and he had to stop and sit on the ground until it passed. Using this technique he made it all the way outside. His head felt fuzzy and his mouth felt like he hadn't drunken water in days. Once he was in a sunny spot he slipped to the ground again and leaned his back against the sakura tree. The wind swept around him bringing the smell of newly grown flowers and rice cooking.

"What's going on?" He asked a bird fluttering by. The bird turned his head towards the albino but kept flying. "Fine, don't answer me," he said and flung a leaf at the animal. "I wish I had wings," he muttered. "I kind of feel like I could fly." He smiled and laid back enjoying the warm sun on his face and the gentle grass at his back. His eyes began to close and he could feel himself falling back to sleep.

He awoke, what must have been a few hours late. The sun had slipped under the horizon and Katsuya was standing over him with a worried look upon his face. "What are you doing?" Katsuya asked before falling to the ground and helping Noa sit up. He pressed a quick kiss to Noa's lips. "How did you.. when.." Katsuya stuttered. The red-eyed boy cocked his head to the side.
"What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice cracking at the strain of talking loud enough for others to hear. For an answer Katsuya stood up, holding the boy bridal style and carrying him back to his room. Once there, Seto and Serenity were already waiting, Katsuya placed him gently back on the futon and sat down next to him. Seto offered Noa some water and then began to tell the younger boy what had happened to him. Noa listened with a look of amazement on his face. "But why would my sister want to do that?" he asked, sadness obvious on his face and despair in his voice.

None of the three could answer him and after a brief silence Seto spoke up. "We are fairly certain, but not positive, that it was Mai but.." He trailed off. Noa glanced up at him and nodded.

"She's missing isn't she?" he asked. Seto returned his nod and began to pace across the floor. Noa's gaze dropped to the futon and he pulled at a fraying edge on his bedspread.

"We have people searching for her but we don't think we will catch her. She had a pretty big head start" and the help of one of the royal family members Serenity added to herself. Noa nodded again. Seto gently grasped Serenity's hand and pulled her out of the room leaving Katsuya and Noa to talk.

"Well what now?" Noa asked the other boy when they were alone. Katsuya smiled and laid down, pulling his boy closer.

Epilogue

Serenity hugged Noa as Katsuya and Seto exchanged a hand shake. "I'm going to miss you," she said and turned to give Katsuya a hug too. The albino quickly assured Serenity that he would miss her too. She smiled and wrapped an arm around Seto's waist. Katsuya helped Noa up into the saddle before mounting a horse of his own. It had been a month since Noa's awakening. Princess Misaki was being carefully watched but there was no evidence that she had helped Mai do anything. As for Mai, she had yet to contact her parents and had remained invisible to the guards radar. Wherever she was Katsuya was positive she wouldn't hurt Noa again. He and Noa were finally on their way west, following the road to wherever it would take them. "Not too far" Serenity reminded him. Katsuya smiled. They would have to come back next season for Serenity's and Seto's wedding but until then it was just Katsuya and Noa going where ever Koshin, the god of travel, wanted them to go. Katsuya thought they would head to lower Japan before crossing over the sea into China after the wedding ceremony. Noa had made a pretty full recovery; he was thank the poison wasn't strong enough to kill him. He had even begun to turn back into the happy boy he was when Katsuya first laid eyes on him, though it was harder for him to catch his breath. Breaks were needed often so he could compose himself, but as long as they had each other, Noa didn't care.


All done. Thanks for sticking it through with me. ( Actually if I remember to update on time. This story should be done by a week from when I first posted the first chapter of the first two stories lol.) Thanks for reading and as always, tell me what you really think of the story. Don't lie to me lol.

Chazz-It-Up