AN: And time for the repercussions of that night.

MASQUED INTENTIONS

IV

The next morning was not pleasant for Lord Kimihiro. Not only had prolonged exposure to the spirit possessing Lord Taiman left him feeling rather unwell there was the physical damage as well. He was covered in bruises from all the manhandling and the wrist that Taiman had apparently been kneeling on was swollen to near twice its size, rendering the hand unusable.

It made getting out of bed and struggling into a robe a daunting prospect. He almost decided to call off the day and simply go back to sleep. But the longer he lay there the more the inactivity nagged him. He finally pushed back the covers on the pretext that, should anybody visit, he would at least be dressed and tolerably presentable.

He ignored the part of his mind that told him that the only one who was likely to visit was Doumeki. He was not looking forward, at all, to the prince's next visit.

All in all, Kimihiro was a bit put out by the time he made his way to the dining room for breakfast. He hadn't cut his hair last night and with one hand, all he could do was twist it so it didn't get in the way. Even now it was unravelling, the strands snagging on everything - from door knobs to the ornate carvings on the banister uprights when he descended the stairs. He didn't know how Yuuko dealt with it all the time.

Nor did the lack of one hand improve his mood as he struggled through breakfast. He had to settle with using only a fork and to his dismay his table manners deteriorated with the lack of one hand. And if there was anything Kimihiro hated more than spirits, it was being messy. So when Hikideshi laid the morning papers next to the mess he'd made of breakfast, he wasn't predisposed to take the front cover news favourably.

A piece of toast fell unnoticed back onto the plate as he caught a glimpse of the illustration above the fold. It was nothing compared to the photos in Yuuko's world but the artist was skilled enough that Kimihiro could recognize Prince Doumeki as one of the central figures. And the other person held dramatically in his arms, long skirts falling back enough to show a pair of black riding boots, bore absolutely no resemblance to him. At all.

Kimihiro shoved the paper aside and pursued the others in the pile. There was only more of the same. The Prince's dramatic exit from Lord Taiman's masque ball was front page news. Speculation on the origins of the mysterious Lady Peacock were rife, running from the ludicrous to the dangerously plausible. The only thing that wasn't suggested was the truth. The idea hadn't occurred to anyone, it seemed, that the lady had been a man.

For some reason Kimihiro experienced a surge of irritation at the thought.

The feeling increased as he actually began to read through the articles. Most were centred on the exact nature of the connection between the prince and his companion. They ranged long lost relative to secret elopement. Eyewitness accounts as to how the handsome prince had been so solicitous to the lady and how she clung at him so fiercely in return had him grinding his teeth.

The rest of the day was spent in rather fruitless attempts to squash his growing anger at the absent man. It didn't help that the he couldn't lie to himself about the fact that he had been clinging to the man for most of the night. It had been a matter of survival at the time, true, but he hadn't considered until now how it must have appeared.

And there was no way that he had 'blossomed' under the prince's attentions. No way in hell.

It was late evening that a familiar black carriage rolled up the drive.

Kimihiro wasn't the least surprized to find that it was his dashing prince.

xXx

Doumeki watched as Kimihiro poured the tea. It was awkward with one hand but the lord refused his offer of assistance with a glare. Doumeki left him to it but didn't fail to note the way his hand trembled on the teapot. The man was still pale from his ordeal and the prince doubted that he would leave the mansion again anytime soon.

It was a pity. He had no intention of letting the other man stay locked up in his mansion for the rest of his life. The incident the night before had set his plans back somewhat but Doumeki still had hopes that he might coax him out to the Southern Ward in the future. The wards were nearly as strong as those of the mansion and he would be just as safe there. Even if the prince had to stay at his side the entire time.

Doumeki had no intention of putting Kimihiro in such a situation again.

"It wasn't your fault."

Doumeki regarded his host with widened eyes as the soft words penetrated. Kimihiro hadn't spoken much since his arrival and he had expected his words to be voiced in anger rather than the soft tone they held now.

Kimihiro wouldn't meet his gaze. "I've faced this all my life. I knew that you hadn't told me everything. I should have taken more precautions."

Doumeki wasn't willing to relinquish the blame. "I won't let it happen again."

"Good." Kimihiro purposely misunderstood his words. "Because I'm not wearing a dress for you ever again." He pushed the untouched plate of pastries across the table between them. "Eat something or I'm going to think you're getting sick."

Doumeki studied the other man who was avoiding his gaze and picked up a pastry. "I did as you suggested. Alistaire put Lord Taiman under confinement and I contacted the Warder." His eyes didn't miss the tension written in the set of Kimihiro's shoulders. "I stayed while he carried out the purification ceremony."

Kimihiro visibly relaxed. "It would have been dispersed then." His eyes suddenly rose to meet Doumeki's. "And Lord Taiman?"

Doumeki didn't answer at first. "You once told me that for person to be possessed, they would have to have a certain affinity with a spirit." He didn't miss the way Kimihiro flinched and drew his injured wrist to his chest.

"Yes." The lord's voice was quiet and his eyes stayed on his teacup where it sat on the table. "A person has to not only invite one in, so to speak but possess the right inheritance. If a spirit tried to inhabit a Warden like yourself then it would likely perish." His hand moved in a slight flicking gesture to illustrate. "Where in my case, it would be likely that I would be the one to do so."

Doumeki surveyed his pastry before taking an almost savage bite out of it. "So Lord Taiman would have been predisposed to the acts that the spirit possessing him carried out."

Kimihiro took his teacup up in his hand again. "It is more than likely. A spirit cannot successfully reside in a body that forcefully resists its actions."

Doumeki watched as the other man took a sip of his tea. "Lord Taiman is protected by his status. But I also have my own influence." He picked up another pastry. "He has been effectively retired from the social circuit. A posting to the country. I have already made arrangements for the local Warden to watch him."

Kimihiro nodded.

Doumeki frowned. This wasn't like the Kimihiro he knew. He was too calm. Too passive. It reminded him of the man he'd first met. All politeness and restraint. With barely a show of emotion.

Doumeki set his half-eaten pastry on the saucer next to his cup and helped himself to another. Aware of Kimihiro's eyes on him, he put it back on the serving plate and picked up another. "So it turned out that having the Lady Peacock present was a good idea."

Kimihiro simply stared at him for a few moments. Then suddenly the familiar light lit his eyes and barely constrained anger filled his voice. "It was a stupid idea."

Doumeki helped himself to another pastry. "Taiman was the first one to approach you. I'd say my plan was a complete success." One more jab to make sure he wouldn't relapse.

Kimihiro glared at him across the table. He reached into the pocket of his robe and slowly pulled out his hand. A small box was set down between them with a distinct clunk.

Doumeki regarded it with bemusement. "What's this?"

"A box." Kimihiro growled. "Yuuko told me to give it to you so don't get any ideas."

"I wouldn't dream of it." Doumeki picked up the box and set it at his side.

Kimihiro waited to see whether he would open it but when it became apparent he wouldn't, he pushed his chair back with a huff. "I'm going to get some sleep. See yourself out."

Doumeki watched him go with a small smile as he reached out for another pastry.

His smile widened as the lord's exit was somewhat ruined by the need to pause and untangle his long hair from the door knob.

This was how he preferred Kimihiro. Lively with anger and in a robe rather than a dress.

xXx

Kimihiro sat by the window and told himself that it was to check on the wards rather than to see Doumeki once more before he left.

It was only a few minutes after he had settled himself that the prince appeared on the gravel drive. Even from his vantage, Kimihiro could see that he hadn't yet opened Yuuko's package. Not for the first time he wondered what it contained.

Doumeki must have sensed his eyes on him for he paused as he was entering the carriage, his eyes lifting to the window. Gold eyes met blue for an instant and then the prince was disappearing into the carriage, the door swinging shut behind him.

Kimihiro watched as the prince departed, taking with him the only company he would likely enjoy for days.

It wasn't until the carriage had disappeared down the drive that Kimihiro realized that he hadn't asked about the other man. The young man dressed as a poet at the ball. The man possessed by the spirit that had sought to engulf him.

He sat staring out the window for a long time, golden pocket watch clutched tightly in one hand. Watching the spirits dispersed by Doumeki's passage congregate once more on the borders of the wards.

They knew he'd left the mansion once and they were waiting for their next chance.

xXx

Doumeki opened the package in the safety of the carriage as he made his way back to the Southern Ward. There were two small picture frames inside. He lifted them both from the box and set them on his lap, letting his gaze simply rest on them, taking in all the details.

It was Kimihiro. Two pictures of Kimihiro in fact. He suspected they were the result of some magic - they were too clear to be either a painting or a drawing. It was as if someone had captured a moment of Kimihiro's life and it was now stored behind the glass of the frames.

Both showed Kimihiro in the blue dress but the content was very different.

The first was a familiar sight. Kimihiro was standing in the full costume of the peacock dress, hair, gloves and all. But he didn't look at happy at the situation. There was a familiar sheen of suppressed anger in his eyes. One hand was clutched in the skirts of the dress and the other was just beginning to rise. Doumeki felt a smile cross his lips. He could easily imagine the sharp-edged words that were about to leave the half-opened mouth.

The second picture was very different. While the wooden floors, strange cloth panelled walls and the light of the windows said that it was in the same location and at roughly the same time, the content was different. Kimihiro still wore the blue dress but this time he was unaware of the person who had taken the picture. He was crouched down, skirts bunched up in an unladylike manner as he addressed a small girl. It took a moment for Doumeki to realize that the girl's hair was a pale shade of pink, he was so caught up by the expression on Kimihiro's face.

It was as if he was seeing a side of Kimihiro that had never been glimpsed. His mouth was curved in a gentle smile and his eyes had softened into a brilliant blue. There was no anger in his expression, no pretence of station or polite manner. It was simple heart-felt warmth and joy. And it was the most beautiful thing Doumeki had ever seen.

Doumeki continued to stare at the picture for a moment longer before he turned to look at the box. A piece of fine purple paper rested in the tissue that had cushioned the frames. Still holding the pictures in his lap, Doumeki reached over and lifted it from the bed of tissue. It was folded in half and he opened it to read the contents.

Prince Doumeki

Kimihiro has told me much about you and the adventures that you have shared. I look forward to seeing you when the time comes.

I have more pictures available.

For a price.

Yuuko Ishikawa.

A small sketch of a butterfly followed the signature.

Doumeki carefully placed the letter back into the box. He looked back down at the two pictures on his lap. Just a glimpse at the first made him smile again. A smile that gentled when he looked at the second picture.

Doumeki lifted the second frame to examine the scene more closely.

When the time came, he was determined to have the right payment.

xXx

I couldn't resist letting Yuuko play a part in this last chapter. After all, we had to find out why she was taking so many photos :)

xXx

I'm afraid that's the last you'll hear from Lord Kimihiro and Prince Doumeki for a while. I'm currently working on more but I'm off abroad in just over a week and won't be back until early November. I'll be posting other fic before I leave, though. Including Delicious Blood, featuring vampire-bait Watanuki.