"You want me to wear that?" Yuuri was aghast at he stared at the shimmery fabric.

Phichit threw an arm around his shoulder and laughed. "Don't look so horrified!"

"Are guys are aware that I am not actually a female, right?" Yuuri sputtered.

Yuuko waved a hand at Yuuri's very valid concern. "This costume was made to express more than one gender,"

"Are you certain?" Yuuri just wanted to clarify, but ended up ducking a hastily thrown cushion.

"I designed it to express your masculine gender first and your secondary gender after. You'll see it better when it is actually on your body, I assure you." Guang Hong crossed his arms determinedly.

Yuuri was going to get in that costume whether he wanted to or not. Yuuri hesitated. "It looks… formfitting…"

"No more than any of the other costumes that will be worn," Yuuko's assistant assured him.

"Thanks, Guang Hong, and the rest of you," he addressed the group as a whole. "But I already told you I wasn't attending. I came only to retrieve and reimburse before the ball tomorrow.

Yuuko glared. "Katsuki Yuuri you are not going to spoil this for us! I've been wanting to design something for you since I first met you now get in that costume."

Yuuri knew when his life was being threatened. He put on the costume. It was a beautiful royal blue. It looked immaculate. Not something that one would find on someone like Yuuri. It was so very… Regalian. Which made sense considering who designed it, but still. It did indeed represent more than one gender. It had a skirt that was lower in the back than it was in the front and to Yuuri's embarrassment, the folds of fabric over his buttocks was fluffed, layer, and formed so that he looked like he was purposefully raising it for people's notice. It did not make him feel attractive at all. Just… exposed. The design was still classy with its high backed evening coat with the rows of gold buttons in the front and the way the blue contrasted with the stark white of the leggings and mask. Yuuri smiled at his friends. They must have worked very hard on this for him.

"I don't know how you managed to pull this off with the crazy number of orders you've been getting." Yuuri smiled.

"We all pitched in on our off time!" Yuuko bounced with excitement, seeming to be a little more herself around Yuuri than she's been in days.

Yuuri thanked them profusely, unable to stop himself from the traditional bowing he was still quite accustomed to from his homeland. After he'd changed back, he pulled the cowl up and over his face to conceal it from onlookers. The rain was a good excuse for the cloak, and for that, Yuuri was grateful. He was still badly damaged form the previous night. He had managed to keep it under wraps around his friends, but he didn't feel like he could make it back down the winding rocky road where he had come on his trip into town. In the end, he decided to make a clear cut through the woods to get back to the manor instead.

The change of scenery was actually good for him. He breathed deeply as he walked, his uneven gait the only foreign noise in the peaceful serenity that he'd entered. The paper bags that held the costumes were tucked under one arm so I was free to swing the other one for balance. Yuuri noticed immediately when the birds stopped singing. He frowned, feeling hair prick on the back of his neck as he thought of the implications. His suspicions weren't far off the mark when a sharp cry of pain alerted him of their presence. Yuuri tucked himself into the bushed for cover. Yuuri had to cover his mouth with his own hands to keep form screaming when a bound man was suddenly thrown down onto the ground where he had been a moment ago. They must have rounded the small incline after he'd taken refuge in the bushes.

"You'll fetch a pretty penny, your royal highness," The voice leered. "With a face like yours, it doesn't matter if you're an omega or not."

"What do you think, James? Should we ransom him for an unholy amount of gold or sell his body over and over again?"

Bile rose in his throat at the words. Oh gods, there are two of them? Yuuri didn't count the man who lay still right in front of him. Was he even conscious? Yuuri couldn't tell since his back was facing him. Yuuri dropped down to his stomach silently and was greeted with the sight of two sets of heavy boots. But Yuuri counted three horses in the background. He supposed one of them could belong to the man with silver locks, but it was hard to tell. James suddenly kicked him hard in the midsection to roll him over. Yuuri found himself staring into the most beautiful set of eyes he'd ever seen. There was no fear in them, just determination. His teeth were gritted, eyes looking back towards his attacker. His skin was so white and smooth, a contrast to Yuuri's own tanned skin. Silver bangs lay on the ground beside the delicate face, and Yuuri knew that if the man were up right, they would cover half of his face.

He drew in a quick breath. The urge to scream nearly choked him with its ferocity as the scent invaded his system. It was not painful. It was… all-consuming and overwhelming. Yuuri felt if he didn't rub against the man right that second, he just might die. He was intoxicated by the smell. He was an alpha. A strong, powerful alpha. His dominance radiated off of him in waves and made Yuuri shiver. Yuuri hadn't realized he'd clenched his eyes shut before he snapped them back open, intent on getting exactly what his omega begged for. But he never got the chance to move. As soon as his eyes focused, he realized that the alpha was staring directly at him through the leaves. He was surprised. He was... excited.

Why is he excited? Yuuri wondered. Did the man enjoy being treated that way? No, he hadn't looked that way after he was kicked, so why-

The silver-haired man jerked his head as if to tell Yuuri to leave quickly. Yuuri had no intention of doing so whatsoever. The man smelled like dessert and damn if Yuuri wasn't going to take a bite before he died. He couldn't very well leave a man who was so helplessly in danger, now could he? With wrists and ankles bound he had little change of winning anything. And with the gag they'd tied, Yuuri doubted the man would be calling for help any time soon. So Yuuri backed away out of sight. The last look Yuuri saw on the man's face was one of relief before the light rise he'd been laying on prevented him from seeing anything else. Yuuri ran his hands through his hair to get it out of the way with a slight smirk on his face, feeling a bit nihilistic with his impending death. The man thought Yuuri was leaving. He most certainly wasn't. Yuuri watched the vague forms through the shrubbery, leaving the paper bags where they were.

"You've cause us enough trouble. You meddle in places you have no business meddling. If there's one thing that pisses me off more than anything else, it's losing money. And you make me lose a lot of money." Yuuri was certain it was James talking. "Time for you to start earning back what you stole. How about you start with Lyle and me," Yuuri could practically hear the disgusting smile in his voice.

Yuuri watched carefully as Lyle hauled the alpha up into the air and tossed him about four feet to the left of where Yuuri was, first hitting, then rolling towards the bushes. The silver-haired man let out a grunt as he hit the ground. Yuuri crawled quickly over to him, grateful that the rolling had caused his back to be towards Yuuri. His breathing was harsh and heavy, even though he tried to hide the movement, Yuuri knew that the man was in quite a bit of pain. Yuuri wasn't sure what he would do once he untied to poor man.

Run, probably, Yuuri inwardly sighed, since he knew himself to be a coward.

Reaching out trembling fingers, Yuuri began to loosen the coarse ropes around the alpha's wrists. He stiffened as he felt Yuuri's muddy icicles against him. But then his warm ones curled into Yuuri's and a visible shiver rattled his prone body. The younger boy gently pushed his fingers away so that he could focus on the knot, but the man was persistent. His fingers looped around Yuuri's as he worked, prohibiting him and making Yuuri want to growl in frustration. The knot finally came undone from his wrists, but he held his arms in that position as the two predators talked to each other about what they should do with him. Without the extra fingers to clamp down on his, Yuuri managed to untie the alpha's legs much faster. Last was the gag. Now there was nothing he could do for the alpha but call for help. He wondered briefly if he was really royalty. His clothing made him look the part. Yuuri didn't know of any townsfolk who would ever wear white in a forest, especially on a mucky day like the current one. Where were his guards or retainers? As soon as Yuuri slipped the ropes from the man's wrists entirely, he sprang up, facing the men who had attacked him.

"What the fuck!" Lyle yelled just before the alpha delivered a punch to the man's neck. He wheezed and fell to his knees, clutching at his throat. The silver-haired man wasted no him in kneeing Lyle's chin so hard that he went flying back into the bushes on the opposite side of the ten-foot clearing.

James drew a hunting knife, about to attack 'his royal highness' from behind. Yuuri knew that he wouldn't be able to turn around to block the blow soon enough. On instinct, he sprang out of the safety of his hiding place, abandoning all though of disappearing into the forest. He didn't think. He just grabbed the knife on the hilt at the blade. He cried out as the uneven edge tore into the palm of his right hand. It was dull, but it still burned. Yuuri cradled the injured hand to his chest. He didn't have enough time to react when he saw the fist come flying towards his face. He let his legs drop from under him to duck to blow, but not in time. The fist glanced off his left temple. Yuuri crumpled to the ground.

Then he was being straddled. "You'll fetch a pretty penny too, omega." His breath was nauseating.

Yuuri trashed, terrified. How had he known? How had he known?! Yuuri wore scent masking soaps and applied them regularly throughout the day! Then the man let out a yell as he was torn from his perch. Yuuri lay there, his breathing erratic. He didn't sit up. He was trembling. He had never been in a fight like that before. All his experience with violence had been on the receiving end. He had no idea how to survive a brawl other than to allow the attacker to beat him until they were no longer angry. Though he could hear the fight the two men were having, he didn't look. He felt too dazed. His head throbbed, but his whole body felt like it was going to combust from the stress of adding yet more injuries to himself. Yuuri was glad when the silver-haired royal dropped to his knees beside Yuuri, a worried yet slightly awed look on his face. Yuuri no longer wondered if he was a royal because it really didn't matter either way. The man could be a grave worker and Yuuri wouldn't care because he smelled delectable.

"Are you alright?" He demanded, cradling Yuuri's head in his lap. His voice rolled over Yuuri in pleasurable waves. The boy shivered. It was so attractive. And in that clearing, it suddenly felt as though their bodies had become magnets, pulling them together.

Yuuri attempted a nod. "I'm well," He tried to sit up, but his body was shaking from the effort and with his body in the shape that it was, it was no use. The man aided him in his quest, but it somehow ended with Yuuri cuddled in his lap, leaning against the older man, his back pressed to a muscular chest. Every single one of his curves was pressed to Yuuri. The boy quaked against him.

"Let me see your hand," The man requested quietly.

His hand was trembling as he raised it, only to be enfolded in the warm grasp of the alpha's large one. Yuuri tried to draw away, this new position settling even more of their curves against each other. Blood was running down his hand. If Yuuri kept his arm plastered to his, he could stain to older man's white sleeve. While Yuuri felt to urge to flee, his omega was purring and stretching languidly in delight. As if sensing the younger boy's desire, the royal would his arm's tightly around Yuuri's middle, pulling him further between his legs so he lay flush against his chest once more. The boy's breathing calmed.

"Sorry," Yuuri murmured, embarrassed. He wasn't sure why he was apologizing. He knew why he was embarrassed though. His entire, imperfect, boney body was plastered to his muscular sculpted one. At least the man couldn't see anything with the cloak and hood.

The man pressed the side of his face firmly onto Yuuri's head and rocked back and forth ever so slightly before he tore a sleeve at the seam to wrap around Yuuri's injured hand. He winced as it stung a little

"This will need stitches," He whispered gently.

Yuuri nodded. "I'll stitch it,"

The man jerked. "No, no, you need to be seen by a doctor."

Yuuri smiled, liking that the man was worried for him. Then he nearly jumped out of his skin as a soft, cold nose was brushed along the skin of his neck. The man had pulled the hood back enough to gain access to the patch of skin. He inhaled, then moaned. Yuuri couldn't help his own keen in response. His legs shifted restlessly, and an unfamiliar feeling traveled through his body. The only way Yuuri could explain it to himself was that it was the knowledge of needing to go somewhere and do something but in a physical sensation.

"A name," He growled. "What's your name?"

"My name?" Yuuri wasn't really listening. The man's hands were trailing barely touching finger tips over his sides and making him squirm and god if he could focus on anything else…

The throaty chuckle melted Yuuri at his core. He let out a moan and, without knowing why, he pushed down on his pant lacings, rocking up into the pressure. "How about this?" The man slowly pulled on one end of the bow at the tie of his trousers. "I'll give you mine, and you will give me yours."

"Yours?" Yuuri repeated lamely. His body was awash in need and squirming and sensation. He couldn't think about anything. He couldn't even feel any pain from his injuries. Where was he again?

"Viktor,"

The word reverberated in the air and Yuuri cried out, turning over and toppling the man down to the ground, shoving his cold nose into Viktor's throat and murmuring his name. "Viktor," He breathed, heaving in great drafts of the man's thick, delicious scent.

He didn't realize that his buttocks was in the air until Viktor hands ran down the length of his back, causing him to arch further into the touch, and then finally jerk when those hands rounded over his ass, gently cupping, feeling. He fell face forwards into the man and keened. He was breathing hard, for Yuuri, he couldn't stop moving or rocking or rubbing, but Viktor seemed to be the opposite. Like he was paralyzed with the cascade of sensations.

"A name!" He gasped out desperately.

But it was too late.

"YOUR HIGHNESS!" A frantic voice bellowed from not too far away.

Yuuri was snapped back to his senses so quickly he was left reeling. His body, however, was moving. He was running.