Title: White Romance
Summary: Married off to a man he doesn't love and sick of everything in his life being decided for him, Kai runs away only to begin a journey that will change his life forever.
Pairings: Miguel/Kai
Side Pairings: Tala/Claude, Hiro/King, Bryan/Garland, Johnny/Mystel, Spencer/Brooklyn, Rick/Michael, Enrique/Oliver,
Warnings:Yaoi, fluff, OOC, AU, ...
Disclaimer: Don't own!

Reviews: Many thanks to BlackStar, BurningWhiteTwilight, chrono-contract, DarkBombayAngel, andysanime, Bunnyakafay, Pickle Reviver and yaoifanatique for reviewing last chapter. Thanks foryour support everyone! X3

Hey everyone. Destiny Kitty and I would like to thank you for your patience. This chapter was of course co-written with the awesome Destiny Kitty (you should really all go thank her, if it weren't for her I'd still be struggling with this chapter! X3)

And Kitty thank you so much for your amazing help with the chapters! X3

Chapter 14: Wedding Rescue Part I

The day before Kai's wedding to Prince Tyson was one of tension and excited preparation. The castle and its surroundings buzzed with activity as people from the surrounding countries and other lands arrived for the royal wedding. Many nobles were staying at the castle, while commoners travelled to join the festivities and perhaps catch a glimpse of the famously beautiful duchess and soon-to-be princess. Castle cooks and their helpers were preparing a humongous feast while the bakers laboured over an enormous cake. Chambermaids swept every corner of the castle, washed stone floors and aired the carpets and curtains in the main hall. Footmen escorted guests to their rooms and ferried tea and food to avidly gossiping clusters of young nobles.

As their father was busy attending guests and preparations, crown prince Hiro insisted on taking his younger brother for a long horseback ride. He wanted to use the time to speak with Tyson about his duties and responsibilities as a husband and prince, hoping to impress upon the boy that there was more to adult life than food and sex. Tyson however was uninterested in his brother's words of wisdom, and spent most of the day complaining that their picnic lunch had been insufficient for his needs as a growing young man and that he would rather be hunting, since they were already riding their horses.

Kai spent the day of his nuptial preparations locked in his chamber, supervised by several guards and his grandfather's second-in-command, Boris. A few trusted older maids of Voltaire's household were admitted for a final fitting of the royal crimson gown that had been made for Kai's wedding attire, and to subject the silent bride-to-be to hair and skin treatments meant to make his beauty glow. To their disappointment the effect was spoiled by his apathetic melancholy, and the crimson gown merely made Kai's eyes stand out eerily red against his white face.

Catching a glance of his reflection in a standing mirror, Kai wanted to bawl. He could not believe this was really happening. It wasn't right! Why did he have to marry someone he did not love, nay, hated to the very core of his being? How could he promise his life to another when he had already given away his heart?

What difference did it make? Kai had grown up knowing this would be his fate, ever since Voltaire had taken him in after his parents' deaths. He was nothing to his grandfather but a means of acquiring more wealth and power. Kai had been sold to the highest bidder, and Voltaire would get a new title out of the deal. Who cared if the chattel exchanged in the deal was unhappy with his lot?

Biting his lip to keep from crying, Kai quietly submitted as the maids removed the gown and took their leave, and Boris pushed the boy to his bed for another change of the bandages covering the whip marks on his back.

:::King:::

King's day was one of anxious, hopeless strategizing. He appreciated Hiro's plan to speak with Tyson in hopes of influencing the younger prince's behaviour, but what King really yearned to do was prevent the whole thing from happening. He knew Kai would never be happy with this union. Kai's story of Paladina, and the sincerity with which it had been told, completely convinced King that Kai's love for Miguel was more than a fleeting crush or a means of escaping his dismal fate. Kai loved Miguel with all his heart, a heart that had been caged and starved since his parents' deaths, and King wanted so badly to help Kai achieve this dearest of heart's desires, a happy marriage.

But it seemed impossible. Hiro had volunteered to speak with Tyson but would not challenge his father's decision outright. King had much less political clout than either of the princes, having married into the family, and could not challenge the decision from any position besides one of concern and affection for his friend. Voltaire would never consent to break off the deal without serious compensation, and what was worth more to him than a grandchild in line for the thrown?

Don't give up! He thought desperately to himself, pacing around the airy, flowery room he loved best. It was normally a place of sunlight and warmth in the middle of the day, but today was overcast and gloomy. How fitting, King mused, taking a moment to lean against a window frame, gazing over the surrounding landscape. From his window he could see the castle gardens bustling with wedding guests, and beyond that the fields and forests of Drayne. There were people everywhere. The castle was already full, and yet he could see more carriages and horses approaching in the distance as thousands gathered for this special occasion. I guess dropping Kai out a window and telling him to run won't work, he joked humourlessly to himself. He would be caught in a minute.

A mewing cry distracted the young monarch from his musings and King crossed the room to fetch Naomi from her crib. Soothing his baby, he asked a waiting maid to bring her something to eat. Even in his mental turmoil, the sight of the little being born of the love he shared with Hiro brought a smile to King's face.

All I want is a chance for Kai to know this joy, he prayed. Akasha, help him.

:::Kai:::

Kai spent his last unmarried night in troubled sleeplessness. He tossed and turned on his bed, unable to get comfortable while the weight of his heart seemed ready to crush him. His throat was tight as he tried to hold back the sobs and tears and desperate misery bottled up inside, dangerously close to choking him. He did not want cry in front of the emotionless brutes Voltaire had left to watch him.

Staring into the darkness outside his window provided a small distraction. From the window seat he watched the town beyond the castle walls, where late-night revellers could be heard and sometimes seen as light spilled from doorways and windows. As the moon rose and night weighed more heavily on the town, the streets below quieted and only a few stars provided company for his lonely vigil.

Gazing into the quiet, lonely night, Kai could not help but think of Miguel. If only it was Miguel to whom he would soon be wed. If only Miguel's strong, warm arms could be wrapped around him now, comforting and reassuring him. If Miguel had told Kai that everything would be alright, that he would fight for him, Kai would have believed him.

But Miguel was not here to comfort Kai. He had not reassured Kai, or promised to fight for him. Kai had not given him the opportunity by admitting to him the truth about his situation. Miguel had no way of knowing, beyond Kai's occasional uneasiness and the fact that he had clearly been running away when Tala and Bryan found him, that there was anything wrong.

It was so wrong, all of it. And it was his own fault. He had known he should have kept running, but he hadn't been able to bear leaving Miguel, just as he had not been able to hurt him with the fact that he had been lying about his identity since the day they met.

Perhaps he did deserve this fate. Was this punishment for lying to the man he loved?

Near dawn the sheer weight of mental and physical exhaustion reduced him to an sleep-like state of unconsciousness. However it seemed no sooner had he nodded off than Voltaire and his usual grisly entourage invaded the room. Scaring Kai awake, Voltaire pulled the shaking mena out of bed.

"Where are your manners, boy?" the Duke sneered. "You have a guest. Look who came to see you."

In half-delirious confusion Kai scanned the room until he noticed the one person, beside himself, who was not over six feet tall and build like a boulder.

"Claude!"

Suppressed tears jumped to his eyes as Kai stared at his unfortunate companion. Filthy and bruised, Claude looked barely able to stand, and his parched lips and pale face told Kai that Voltaire had not been allowing him food or water. His pregnant belly hung heavy in front of him while his hands were tied behind his back. Blood and dirt streaked in his silver hair and one eye was swollen in a dark black eye.

Struggling to break from Voltaire's grip, Kai cried, "No, what have you done! Let him go, please!"

Restraining the weakened mena with one hand, Voltaire chuckled mirthlessly. "Oh, we will let him go, after you are married and I hear that the prince has enjoyed your wedding night. He seems quite eager to have you."

Revulsion and helplessness swept through Kai's body, so strongly that he could barely keep himself from retching. It would have been pointless, as there was nothing in his stomach, but he still felt sick at the thought of sharing his wedding bed with that pig in prince's clothing.

Red eyes sought silver, and Kai found Claude gazing helplessly at him, also close to tears. Kai swallowed. He would not do anything to jeopardize Claude and his baby. He just could not bring himself to be so selfish. The pregnant mena had already been through too much torment for Kai's sake.

"I... I'll do it." Kai whispered. "Whatever you want. Just... don't hurt him anymore."

"Kai, I..." Claude murmured in a hoarse, desperate voice.

"It's alright, Claude," Kai tried to reassure his friend, though his lip was trembling so badly he could barely speak. "I'll be... fine. Just... go home, when they let you out. Please, I..." He gasped a sob, unable to continue.

"Return the commoner to his room," sneered Voltaire. "My grandson needs time to prepare himself for his wedding."

"Kai!" Claude cried frantically as he was dragged from the room.

Kai winced as a slap echoed from the hallway outside his door, followed by a muffled whimper.

With one last sneer Voltaire too, left the room along with his entourage. Kai gently sat down on the edge of his bed, his empty gaze lowered to the ground. So this was it. Today he would marry Tyson and live the rest of his life in regret. His delicate shoulders shook with silent sobs as he hid his face with his hands.

There was no time left.

:::Miguel:::

From Dark Gargoyle's back the blonde Lord looked over his party. Garland rode in front to guide them to Paladina, though Miguel also knew the way. Bryan rode right next to the marchioness.

At Miguel's side, Tala was sitting atop his grey stallion with his pet wolf Wolborg running beside him. The redhead was anxious and worried about Claude, and Miguel couldn't blame him. But still … the blonde Lord wished he had stayed back in Paladina. They couldn't afford any rash actions from the hot-headed knight.

Miguel wasn't sure he would be able to remain calm either when they reached their destination. He didn't think he would be able to face Kai and see him in the arms of another man. It would kill him. His anger had cooled down significantly since he had discovered the truth two days ago, but he was still hurt by the lies Kai had told him.

Even though he wished he was back home, another part of him, a large part, wanted to know the real truth and he wanted Kai to be the one who told it. He wanted to look the mena in the eye when he asked him to tell him the complete truth.

He hoped in his heart that Kai's love had been true, that he had actually loved him for him and not as some means to get away from his fiancé. He just needed to know the truth.

"There it is!" Garland called as he reined Apollon to a stop. Miguel looked down the hill towards the castle of Drayne.

"Are you sure Claude is there too?" Tala asked.

Garland nodded his head, "I'm positive. Voltaire will use Claude to keep Kai compliant. Kai cares too much about Claude to let anything happen to him or your baby," the marchioness assured the redhead.

When he figured out what had happened to Claude, Tala had been furious. He knew of Voltaire's cruelty. The Duke was famous among the common people as a vicious and brutal man, one you did not want to cross. As such, he had already forgiven Kai for the lies he told everyone.

He trusted Kai to keep Claude and his baby safe, but he didn't trust Voltaire. He just hoped Claude would be alright. If he had been harmed, Tala would murder that kidnapping son of a bitch! Nobody touched his wife and unborn child and got away it, not even a noble.

"Come, I know a secret way into the castle. This way we'll avoid being seen by Voltaire or one of his men," the marchioness told them.

"Alright, lead the way then. The sooner we get this over with, the better," Miguel said a bit apathetically.

Garland looked at the blonde, a bit worried. He hoped Miguel would give Kai a chance to explain himself. For now they had to get into the castle and rescue Claude.

Et voilà, c'est fini.

LOL sorry I just had to do that X3. My family from France came for a visit. Now I suck at French, I'm not kidding I really suck at it! But it was nice to see them none the less, even if I didn't understand a word they said most of the time. I can understand a bit here and there and say a few things to them but not much.

Anyway I hope you all love the drama and heartache and I do hope you will all show your support by REVIEWING!

Now normally I don't do this at all, but I'm in the mood for some reviews, so here the deal dear readers. The more reviews I receive the faster the next chapter will be posted -evil grin- Muhahahahahaha yes I'm keeping the next chapter hostage.

Now this will only be a once in year thing so don't worry. I'm just in the mood to see some reviews. LOL

So ... REVIEW!