Chapter 4: Secrets and A Prince's Heartache

Soma looked at the woman before him and sighed. He knew that Yoko meant well but she was grinning as if she knew something…

"Yoko what the hell is the matter with you?" Yoko looked at her friend and grinned.

"What I don't know anything…What makes you think that I…."

"Oh come on Yoko, I wasn't born yesterday. Cough it up."

"No way I can't tell." Soma looked at her and smiled evilly. Yoko gulped and began to sweat a bit. She knew that when he had that grin that something was up.

"We'll see." Soma said lightly. She's determined to keep a secret from me. Doesn't she know of my power? No secret is kept long from me…

"Soma I can't tell you. I'm sworn to secrecy…"

"By who?" Soma looked at her and smirked as the witch began to squirm. She knew that he was going to find out if she didn't think of something quick!

"That…that…Julius wears thongs and g-strings!" She shouted. "And has a vibrator named Bob!"

"What?!" Soma screeched. "Oh my God my eyes…the images….." The half breed screamed, causing the two elders to come in and hear the old man whimper about old perverted guys.

"What is he talking about?" Julius asked and Yoko blushed.

"I told Soma that you have g-strings and thongs." She said. "And have a vibrator named Bob."

"Oh have mercy," Arikado said. "He does not…" He began and Julius was blushing deep red.

"Oh…bite me." Soma moaned as he looked at the blushing man. "He does! I don't believe this!!" He looked at the other two and saw that they were blushing as well.

"Julius, who's your boyfriend?" Yoko asked as the other man was playing with his hair.

"I've been always fond of the military types." He said with a sigh. Soma was ready to fall on his ass!

"HAMMER??" Soma squealed. "The same Hammer who was head over heels for Yoko?"

"Oh my god, who would have guessed?" Yoko asked with a laugh. "Soma sometimes things are not always as they seem."

"So I heard," Soma said with a blush. "It's amazing what surprises you come to find out." He turned to Julius and grinned. "So Jules…that was what I heard last night!" Julius gulped as he looked at the trio.

"You heard us?" He asked. Soma nodded while the other two said nothing. "Oh my god, Soma I am so sorry…"

"For what?" The reincarnate said. "I enjoyed hearing it."

"Soma!" Arikado ordered. "That is enough." Soma turned to him and his face fell.

"At least I can dream." He said with a sob. "You can't take that away from me." With that he was gone, off to his room and Julius and Yoko looked at him. Arikado looked at the departing figure of the white haired boy and for the first time ever, he was at a loss. He knew that he had feelings for the child and thought that he had lost all hope on falling in love again. In fact, he had been afraid to. He remembered that he had his Sonya. They were as different as night and day. He was immortal, she wasn't. She was a hunter and he was the hunted. Somehow they have managed to fall in love but it ended bittersweet. After she defeated Dracula with his help, he left to rest and she had their son and although she was happy to have had him, she had never been the same without him. When she died, he was distraught and he had kept his eyes on Trevor. He watched the boy grow and become quite the hunter, like his mother. He had helped his son and once again left. He had never seen Trevor marry or seen his grandchildren. His heart was breaking and he was scared to give his heart again.

When Soma arrived, he had felt something he had thought was gone forever. He felt 'whole' again. He watched over Soma and knew that the boy was special. He was a happy child and when he laughed, it brought Arikado peace. He didn't want the child to grow up or to be harmed. But that was nothing more than a selfish wish. No one could stop time. Soma grew and grew and in 2035, he met Soma and had to put up a cold front. He had to act indifferent, for if he didn't, Soma would have never wanted to succeed in arriving at the throne room and understand his darker self. He wanted to comfort the boy, to tell him that it would get better and that they would be there to help him. Soma touched his heart more than Sonya had. Soma had a inner fire that no one would extinguish. No matter what the odds were against him, Soma always came out on top. Arikado had never been so proud. But now, when he saw the boy's tears, he wanted to kick himself. Soma was trying to tell him something and like a fool, Arikado pushed him away. With a sigh and a aching heart, he went to the front door, grabbed the keys to his Lexus from the side table and closed the door behind him. What have I done?