I was frustrated- and I had a very good reason to be.

Mostly because my boss, Ren Kouen decided to greet Sinbad, the president of the seven seas federation with; "Go away dick biscut."

"Sir!" I exclaimed drawing my attention away from the six foot five fanalis helping Cassim with the rumble- not that it wasn't a totally one sided fight anyways. "Please try to be polite when addressing..." I sighed, "nevermind, if you managed to keep peace this long." Exhausted, I rubbed my eyes with a yawn.

The purple haired man laughed: it was a nice laugh, deep and hearty. "I see you've been working him to death- this is Sindria, Kouen, you should try to have some fun." He held out his hand towards me. "I'm Sinbad- I'm sure you know- you must be Alibaba."

"Um... Nice to meet you." I shook his hand- then Kouen stepped between us and hissed; "Go away- I'll piss on you."

"I see you still have that overwhelming maturity, Prince Kouen." A white haired man beside Sinbad snorted with a small smile.

"Prince?" I looked between the three, puzzled.

Koumei, deciding to explain spoke up, turning his eyes away when Cassim slammed his elbow into a ribcage. "We're the second royal family of the Dictator- Hakuryuu and Hakuei are the first, but their father and brothers died mysteriously."

I looked between the two brothers surprised. Was that why Kouen shows such distain for his father?

Kouen avoided my eyes turning to Sinbad as he started a quiet conversation with the man.

Another reason I was fustrated; Kouen has been avoiding me.

Well, I honestly can't be completley mad at him for that, since I confessed two more times when thursday he offered to watch some old WWA matches with me, and admitted that he had learned about wrestling I blurted out: "I love you" after I watched one of my favorite wrestlers do his iconic chokehold on his opponet. He looked gueniunly surprised so I bit my lip- then I somehow managed to nod assertively repeating; "I love you."

He was completly silent after that- almost like I reopened an old wound, and now he avoided being alone with me.

"Alibaba." Koumei pulled me from my thoughts shaking my shoulder gently.

I hummed questioningly.

"Your phone is ringing."

"Oh." I said with an air of idiocity. Opening the text message from Kouha that read; omg im sooooo booooooored, u done wtching sweaty men hit echther? i wana go shping!

Amazed at Kouha's ability to abreviate everything I texted back; you can play cinderella with Hakruyuu later- or any other day for that fact- it's almost over.

The seconds between his reply and the moment I hit the send button caused me to almost drop my GCAIMS as I started putting back into my pocket.

Yay! tell pigion lvr hes cming 2.

"Kouha wants to go shopping later; he aslo says you're coming." I relayed the message.

Koumei grimanced at that. "Could you do somehthing about that?"

"I'm not really a miracle worker." I snorted jokingily.

Koumei smirked at that, glancing over at Kouen who was pulling on Sinbad's long purple hair. "Has he been avoiding you?" He frowned.

I felt my chest constrict, as Iet out a weak laugh. "Has he? I haven't noticed." Lying to Koumei was poitless, but it would hurt more to openly admit that Kouen didn't return my feelings.

Koumei's expression twisted into fustration. "You should try to more direct, he may be a genius but he's an idiot."

I tilted my head at that. "Um...okay?"

Koumei sighed. "Just tell me what happened." By the end he looked even more irritable, grinding his teeth together, muttering something inchorensive underneath his breath. "Don't worry about it, I'll talk to him."

I twiddled my thumbs together feeling uncofortable letting Koumei deal with my problems.

As if reading my thoughts he assured; " Relax, this is actually something that Kouen needs to explain to you himself."

I smiled up at him, feeling a little relieved. "Thank you."

He returned the smile, glancing back at the ring when the bell rung, signaling the end of the match. "That was short."

"Well Masrur is helping him." Sinbad added, joining the conversation.

"Ah, he works for you doesn't he?" Koumei inquired.

I almost laughed when I notice the Fanalis, Masrur sneezed, remebering a saying that my mom had told me.

"Yes, he's a good friend of mine." Sinbad comfirmed.

"ALIBABAAAAAA!" I shrieked- wow that was so manly (idiot)- when Miriam rushed towards me her black dreadlocks behind her as she grabbed my arm and slung me over her shoulder. "Stop leaving your workshop a mess!" She shouted as she threw me to the ground, pulling my leg back; "Stop eating ice cream so much; you'll get fat; you wanna know what I found under your desk?" She growled.

I stupidly sobbed out; "I miss the ten year old who greeted me with hugs rather than bone breaking holds..."

She pulled harder at that-"Yeah well if my brothers weren't such bums I would have to treat them like children."

"Child services should to their jobs..." I muttered adjusting to the pain. She pulled harder at my comment. "Ow, ow ow OW!" I screamed flailing around in ger death grip.

"Hey, Alibaba!" Cassim slid through the ropes striding over to us. "Go easy on him Miriam, you know he's been doing his own thing."

Miram fumed. " You haven't been sticking to your regimen either!" She scolded.

Cassim scratched his cheek nervously. "umm... cut your brothers some slack." His voice became slighter higher pitched, and Miriam jumped on him, twisting his arm behind his back. "OW!OW!OW!"

"Um, Miriam..." I started but hadn't realized my mistake when she glared at me. "Um...nevermind."

Sorry Cassim, I like being alive, I silently comunicated with an apologetic glance as he whispered what a traitor I was. "Traitor!" He hissed, Miriam letting him go.

"Hey, Miriram, I see you're still training your brother into his grave." Sinbad joked.

"Yeah? What's it to you?" Cassim snapped. I had almost forgotten how cold he could be.

He laughed ignoring the spite in Cassim's voice, his eyes lit up as if he realized something. "Huh? Do you know Alibaba?"

"So what?" Cassim glowered at him, as if he was trying to demonstrate how much he loathed him with his eyes.

Miriam, sensing the tension stood in front of her brother, sending him a warning glare. "Yes, we're Alibaba's adopted siblings." She explained with a warm smile.

Masrur, exiting the ring himself, joined the conversation- though he remained observant and didn't say a word.

"I'm surprised, Cassim doesn't really like to talk to me." Sinbad turned to me with a smile. Why not? Was all I could think.

"I wouldn't want to talk to you either." Kouen grumbled.

"You guys are so mean." Sinbad whined.

"And you're an idiot." Both Cassim, and Kouen growled out at the same time, and tghey finally took notice of each other.

"Who are you?" Despite sounding rude, I was surpirsed to see Cassim atempting to be friendly.

"Ren Kouen, and this is my brother, Ren Koumei. I'm also Alibaba's employer." He explained, nochalantly tilting his head to the side- as if he was trying to access somehting, Cassim returning the catious stare.

"Hmn. I heard about you, you aren't trying to deflower my little brother in your spare time, are you?"

"Erk!" The strangled gasp that escaped my throat, made Cassim grin.

"Nope, you're still a hopeless virgin." He teased ruffling my hair a little.

"Why!? Just- Why!?" Exspaserated I waved my hands around frantically, blush creeping onto my cheeks.

"Just making sure.

"That's just an excuse for trying to make fun of me!"

"Yep!"

"You're not even going to deny it!?"

"Nope."

I"m still trying to figure out who's more of an asshole; Cassim, or life in general.

Koune prused his lips, deep in thought when he grinned, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. "What if I said I was?"

"I'd intorduce you to my favorite gun!" Cassim replied eagerly with an eeirie smile.

Now I'm conflicted on who has the most terrifying smile. "Idiot." Bashfully I push him away, trying to force the heat out of my cheeks.

"What did I tell you about shooting the small chance that Aliaba has human interaction with and actually decent person."

Kouen? A decent person? "I think you have bad judement." I muttered with a pout.

Masrur laughed at that, spurring confusion from the others.

"Sin." The white haired man in green robes approached the purple haired man once again. "You're late to your meeting." Was all he said.

"Hey, Ja'far!" Cassim greeted happily. "You should really give this idiot a good scolding- maybe then he'll actualy get things done quicker." He joked.

The freckled man smiled, almost tiredly. "Yes, he's quite the lazy idiot." He agreed, his hands foled togther underneath long sleeves. "But I can't argue, because he always does great when he finally does it."

Sinbad cheered hugging Ja'far tightly. "Finally! Somebody who's nice to me!"

"I still think you're an idiot."

Sinbad let go of him, looking dejected as he hung his head dramatically. "At least Alibaba's nice to me." He pouted wrapping his arms around me. I noticed his scent was so mixed I couldn't tell what it was.

"Uh..." I tried to wiggle out of his firm hold as I felt two intense glared directed at him.

"Get off of him, you're going to give him your germs." Kouen said, calmer than he looked.

"I'm stealing your assistant for a little- come on Ja'far, Masrur!" He exclaimed happily slinging me over his shoulder.

"Wait, what?" Still trying to grasp what was going on as an ominous atmosphere settled over Kouen and Cassim.

I'm horrified to think that they may be plotting to kill a certain purple haired man in the most excurciating way possible.

Now I almost feel bad for Sinbad.

Almost.

When Sinbad guided me through the large door of the palace- he had explained that he also lived here with eight of his subordinates- he and his friends called home a white haired man with dark skin and green eyes with a gold chain around his neck rushed up to Sinbad with a sob. "How could you not wake me up before the match! I missed all of it!"

"Stop making a fuss." A blue haired woman in similar, more revealing robes that Ja'far's- she smiled at me. "Can't you see that we have a guest?"

"Sharrkan, Yamraiha, this is Cassim's little brother- Alibaba." Sinbad waved his hands between us for introductions.

"Nice to meet you." I started, then Sharrkan rushed up to me with a hopeful expression.

"Favorite wrestler?"

"Huh?"

"Come on, who's your favorite?!" He asked eagerly.

"Um...I'm more off an MMA fan..."

Sharrkan laughed victoriously. "I understand! Not as into it as your brother! That's good. I'll teach you all that I know- then you'll be even greater!" He nodded in approval.

"Uh...okay."

"Don't force your fangirling onto him." Yamraiha chided. "Honestly I was hoping he wouldn't get worked up." She muttered.

"Where's are the others?" Sinbad asked after a little looking around.

"Uncle Sinbad, what's going on." A blue haired boy tiredly trotted down the stairs with a loud yawn. Aladdin's eyes widened. "Alibaba?"

"Aladdin?" My eyebrows shot up in surprise. -what was he doing here?

"You were suposed to come with Uncle Kouen tomorrow?" He asked, rubbbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Yeah...but why...?"

"I wanted to surprise you." He smiled. Turning to Sinbad. "This is the friend I told you about, Uncle Sinbad!"

Wait...

"He's the uncle that you told me about!?" I blurted out in bewilderment.

"Uh-huh." Aladdin nodded.

I always wondered why you were such a pervert...

Masrur chuckled, making me realize I had said it aloud when Sinbad, creastfallen, dramatically puts a hand over his heart. "I'm hurt that you think so lowly of me, Alibaba." Suddenly he grows serious." How did you and Aladdin meet?"

"Ugo introduced us, Alibaba was in trouble so he had to be my tutor."

Shyly I rubbed the back of my head. "Don't tell people that." I muttered; ashamed.

"What kind of trouble?"

(1)"I think Alibab said it was the three things to live by in the nineteen hundreds...I can't remeber them though."

I ignored the surprised glances I was getting, when the door behind us opened.

Kouha walzed in like he owned the place. "Hey, Sinbad, my brother is pretty pissed at you for kidnaping Alibaba." He waved his phone at me. "Did that stupid thing of yours die or something, I've been texting you for an hour." He exclaimed.

"Sorry." I muttered.

"Hi Kouha." Aladdin waved.

Kouha's eyes lit up walking over to Aladdin. "Hey, 'laddin what are you doing in Sindria?"

"I was visiting Uncle Sinbad so I could see Alibaba." He explained.

"Good thing I saw you today- we're totally going to revamp Koumei's wardrobe, want to come with?" He grinned mischeviously.

"Okay, I'll get dressed!" Aladdin skipped up the stairs happily, leaving with us as we returned to our hotel to drag Koumei out of his room.

Kouha opened the door with a spare key, Koumei rushing towards the bathroom in an attempt to escape as Kouen watched in his bed, amused, a blueprint spread out before him. "I refuse to go against my will." Koumei shouted from behind the locked door.

"Brother, please be mature about this." Hakruyuu tired to reason. "Even Kougyoku is coming with us."

"Does the term cruel and unusal punishment mean anything to you? I'm too tied- I don't want to go out." Koumei sighed as I imagined he was making himself comfortable.

"Come on- all you have to do is go into a few stores try on some clothes and we'll be done." I started my attempt.

"Too much work."

I rolled my eyes at that. "Or I can shoot your pigons with my paintball gun- your choice." I shrugged with a grin.

The door opened a crack. "You wouldn't."

"Probaly- but who knows what Kouha would do if he got hold of the keys to their cages..." I trailed off as he glared at me.

"Only a few?"

"Only a few."

"That's it?"

"That's it."

Koumei finally stepped out of the bathroom, seized by Koumei who tossed around the clothes in his bag until he found a decent outfit- then dissapearing into the bathroom with Hakruyuu. "Alibaba, could you go get Hakruyuu's bag from your room? I don't want him to escape just yet."

"I'll get it!" Aladdin proclaimed bounding out of the room and into the hallway.

And then there were two.

I glanced back at Kouen who was watching me intently. "Um... I heard you were mad." I started. Smooth Alibaba- way to not sound like an idiot.

"I was." He paused. "I still am."

An uncomfortable silence settled around the room. Well, this is awkward. Eventually Aladdin returned, knocking on the bathroom door while Kouha tried his hand at extreme makeovers on his brothers in for thirty minuets.

"It was so funny, Sharrkan tried to hit Masrur, but he tripped him and Sharrkan fell on his face!" Aladdin eclaimed waving his arms around enthusasticly.

"No way!" I laughed. "Are you sure that him and Yamraiha are dating?"

"Yep! Uncle Drakon said it himself!"

"Are you ready to be amazed!" Kouha shouted as he scrambled out of the bathroom.

"Really it was touture." Koumei groaned in a nice fitting blazer.

"Where did Koumei and Hakruyuu go?" Aladdin teased.

"Too bad Morgiana has to miss this. " I jeered, elbowing Hakruyuu.

"Alibaba!" He sputtered with a furious blush.

"Just ask her out already." I laughed.

Yong love was so adorable.

"Alibaba are you okay!"

"I think he's broken!"

I sulked to myself quietly thinking of how messed up my relationships were.


"Alibaba?" I turned at my name, spotting a tall teenager with long brown hair some parts braided, and was combed over to the side; he wore robes strikingly similar to Ja'far's.

"Huh?"

He frowned. "You don't remeber me- It's me, Olba!"

Recalling the small boy my eyes widened. "Oh my gosh you grew!" I blurted out.

"Alibaba?" Koumei, tiredly, glanced back at me, masses of shopping bags in his hands.

"Alibaba?" Toto, walked over to me, taking Olba's hand. "Toto hasn't seen Alibaba for a while." She smiled warmly. Then she scowled. "Toto still mad Alibaba embarassed her though."

I laughed nervously. "That was uncalled for, wasn't it." I waved at Koumei mouthing that I would meet up with them later, He nodded walking a littler faster than his zombie limp to catch back up with the others. Koumei had a long journey ahead of him.

"I havn't see you since the Troupe disbanded." Olba said, a little lower.

"I see, you've left too." He noted.

Olba blushed. "Actually we decided to stop- and come to Sindria- Aladdin introduced us to Sinbad and he was really nice- so we work for him now, but we're still endebited to you!" The last part he said with conviction, impressing me with his resolve.

"Toto also, otherwise she would have never met Olba." She smiled lovingly up at her lover.

They're such a cute couple.

"Alibaba!"

"Toto doesn't know what's wrong!"

"What's worng Alibaba!"

Thanks, oh so wonderful godess of love.

"Rubbing salt in the wound." I sobbed pulling on my hair.

"Shall Toto get the needle?"

"NO!"

When I asked Toto and Olba to come meet with my friends at the food court, the reluculantly accepted- since Olba was unsure if Aladdin was okay with him around and was releived to find that Aladdin greeted him with a welcoming smile, and introducing everyone.

"It was horrible after you left." Koumei cired. "Kouha dragged me into twice the number of stores that we had been in and made me try on every single item in the men's section." He groaned.

"Look what I got you Alibaba~" Kouha pulled the dress out of the bag eagerly, as Kougyoku beamed proudly.

"And we got the most adorable pair of boots to go with it!" She boasted. "And a flower crown!" She held the display of roses high above her head.

"You've gotten really good at that." I laughed recalling how she struggled as little at first.

She grinned placing the crown on his head. "Yep! Even better than Kouha!"

Olba laughed, looking at the crown with a solemn smile. "You guys still make those?"

"Yeah, nostalgic isn't it." I sighed, rubbing the petals gently.

"Toto remebers when Alibaba was forced to wear a dress." She smiled. "Alibaba looked much like mother."

Hakruyuu pouted. "They forced me to try it on so they could get your size." A furious red shade diffused over his ears and cheeks. "And I bought something for Morgiana.

Poor Hakruyuu. Lucky Morgiana. They really would make a cute couple.

"Ah! It happned again!"

"Hang on Alibaba!"

"Toto doesn't understand!"

"Stop breaking down damn it!"

Eventually we all said goodbye, taking a sleeping Aladdin to Sinbad's palace and carrying Kouha on my back, both me Hakruyuu and Koumei struggling to haul of the bag back to our rooms when Kouha kicked me out of the room I shared with Hakruyuu- telling me stubbornly; "Go sleep with Kouen- I want to make sure Koumei bathes properly."

Shyly I knock on the door, meeting Kouen's surprised, and questioning glance as he stepped aside letting me in. "Kouha kicked me out of my room for the sake of Koumei's hygine, so he told me to sleep here." I explained.

Kouen grunted in repsonse, sliding back into his bed as he reopened a book. I awkwardly looked around the room just wondering where to sit. "Is something wrong?'

Think of something. "I just realized I have nothing to change into."

Kouen stood pulling a large gray shirt from his suitcase, tossing it to me. "Take a shower too."

Awkwardly with his oversized shirt, I walked into the bathroom taking of my clothes I obediently did just as Kouen told me, aftwerwards drying myself with a towl figuring I could go one night without underwear. I paused once I adjusted the frabric that was centimeters away from hanging off my shouders. It smelt nice. I put the fabric to my nose inhaling deeply. It smelled like him, sweet, like plum blossms...charred wood and candles.

The sound of the door opening was what made me stiffen as I stood there awkwardly with my face in his shirt, and Kouen standing frozen in the doorway. A smirk eventually spread onto his lips. " I'm right here, you know."

I walked past him, playing dumb with a huff. "I have not the faintest idea of what you're talking about." Walking towards Koumei's bed. Strangly enough it reeked of chemicals. On second thought...

"Alibaba." Kounen blurted out when I curled up next to him.

"It smelled like bleach over there." I sighed, relishing the warmth his body offered. He really did smell nice. "Do you love me?"

Silence.

"It's okay. I understand." I snuggled closer to him.

Silence. Eventually Kouen asked; "Why are you crying."

Automatically I touched my cheek to find my finger wet. "I duno, it hurts." I don't think I can breathe properly anymore. "It really hurts." Quiet sobs rack my whole body. "I don't know... why..."

I feel so pathetic.

Strong arms wrap aound my chest, pulling me closer he laied me across his lap so he was cradling me. "Nine years ago... I was enaged to a woman..she was beautiful, smart, and kind. Eveyone loved her." He laughed, almost bitterly. "My father didn't want me to marry her, because she was an illegimate child, like myself- but I loved her so much that we had a quick falling out."

"You don't have to..." I started, feeeling like I was prying into a part of his past that he wanted to keep to himself.

"You deserve this." He shot back, coldly. Sighing he relaxed, a much more gentle expression on his face as he stroked my cheek with his thumb. "She got into a car accident and died. That's when I started sleeping around and drinking. Eventually I pulled myself together and that when the company got started." He lowered his head. "At first I didn only want to sleep with you, but you got along so well with Kouha, Koumei, Hakuei, Hakruyuu and even Kougyoku I started to notice how you worked so hard everyday despite how boring papers and phone calls are all day... how you blush when you're embrassed..." He started kissing my cheeks, kissing away the tears that had been streaming down my cheeks.

"Kouen" I whispered.

"...the way you twist that rope around your neck when your bored..." Another kiss, "how soft your skin is...how pink your lips are..." He kissed my lips slowly, almsot as if he as trying to savor the taste, "...how you look at me when you want me to kiss you..." another kiss on my lips- though this one was more urgent than the last," the way you say 'I love you'..." His breathing had grown ragged, and with a blush I realized how bad my own sounded. "This all made me scared." He admitted. "I was really scared I'd lose you like I lost her. " He whispered into my ear his breath tickling the skin. "But I do love you. I love you so much I want to lock you away and keep you to myself forever." His lips met mine again.

Once we parted I hesitated before I decided to explain myself. "I was scared too." I admitted. " I used to mess up a lot, before I met Aladdin and Morgiana. I did really bad things I knew I shouldn't have, but I kept of lying and stealing." My voice shook as I continued. "The scar on my neck; I followed Cassim out one time and he met his dad- who was a good for nothing- at the time I lived in Reim with my mom and Miriam...she never knew I stole anything...well Cassim's dad started beating him, and Cassim pulled out a knife... but I..." My hands trembled as I glanced down at them, remebering my blood stained hands that day. "I...killed him...and Cassim accidently cut me..."

Kouen didn't have a jugdemnental expression, as if he was telling me it was okay and to go on.

"It was horrible after that. My mom somehow knew... but she never said anything...she still had looked at me the same way... but I didn't deserve... I started stealing more, and me and Cassim started a theives guild...I met my friend Olba, and Toto when she came to stop me...my mom died after that- and after a while Rashid found me when I was cleaning up my act. Looking back I think Miriam knew too." I smiled sadly down at the sheet. "How disgusted she must have been to find out her brother had such filthy hands."

After a long moment of silence Kouen gently took my hands bringing them to his lips as he kissed them. "Shame. I like these hands." He licked my middle finger teasingly.

"Kouen." I gasped.

Scooting closer he cupped my cheek with one hand pecking me softly on the nose. "I like this part of Alibaba too." He kissed my lips. "And this part." His tounge traced over my scar. "And this part too. I think I like every part of Alibaba."

"Stop, that's embrassing." I shivered at the sensation.

"Right, I said I would only do as you ask." He smiled, in such a terrifying way I found heartbeat pounding a little harder in my chest. "What do you ask of me?" He purred.

Is it really okay to do this? "Love me." I begeged, suddenly breathless.

Flipping me onto my back he climbed on top of me, grinning down at me. Without another world I let myself relax in his care...his love.