A/N: I don't do crack. I've never done crack. I wouldn't know what to do with crack if I got some. However, some crack got into my system anyway, and this chapter resulted. Let's keep our fingers crossed for our beleaguered lovers as they stumble down the rocky, rocky road of new romance. Readers and reviewers make my world go 'round, and I thank you all for your encouragement.

A little tickle on her nose made Jyuusan-hime twitch in her sleep. A lingering brush on her lips made her press them together as she grimaced and fidgeted. However, it wasn't until the feather-light touch swirled over her bare nipple that her eyes popped open, and she lurched upward, gasping in shock.

Disoriented by the darkness and the odd aches and tingles all over her body, she automatically thrust her hand out for her swords that usually lay next to her when she slept. She found Ensei instead. When she snapped her head around to him, she saw his wide eyes staring up at her from where he lay on his stomach, leaning up on his elbows and twirling a small flower in his fingers.

"Hey, you're awake!" he observed with a wide, innocent grin and quickly ditched the flower that had teased her from her sleep.

She blinked at him, her hair a tousled, tangled mess falling into her face. She scowled at him darkly. He realized then that, regardless of the time of day, Jyuusan-hime was grumpy when she woke up. And cute as hell.

Her eyes flickered to a small fire that blazed near them at the edge of the pond. Her bleary mind registered a few fish roasting on a spit. When she felt a cool breeze snake across her bare back, she looked down at herself and noticed a considerable lack of clothing.

"What the hell?!" she hissed and curled her arms and legs up to shield herself from Ensei's surprised gaze. "Where are my clothes? Where are my swords?"

"Er…" he stammered and scratched his cheek awkwardly. When he moved to sit up, she flinched away from him and then gasped again when she noticed he was also naked.

Her eyes instantly widened as a high-speed recollection of the night's earlier, passionate events raced across her mind. Heat and color crawled up to her hairline and washed over her body, making goosebumps crawl over her skin.

He reached an uncertain hand out and brushed a strand of hair back from her cheek. She lowered her eyes and averted her face as hot and cold shivers spiraled down the back of her neck. Regardless of how foggy her brain might be, her body knew his touch and responded with unnerving zeal.

"Sleep well?" he asked kindly, feeling like wasps zoomed around in his stomach, stinging him at will. Jyuusan-hime wouldn't look him in the face and leaned away from him.

"Um…yes…very well…thank you," she stammered stiffly with a tight smile, still not making eye contact. Or any other kind of contact.

Ensei swallowed the dry lump in his throat. He rubbed his chest above his wound, feeling a dull burn under his skin. A sinking fear chewed down to his stomach that Jyuusan-hime might be regretting being intimate with him. He crushed down the bitterness beginning to roil in his gut.

"Uh…I caught some fish. Hungry?" he asked as he looked away toward the fire, suddenly feeling distinctly unwelcomed.

Without waiting for her answer, he handed her a short branch skewering a freshly roasted fish. She took it from him timidly, still trying to hide herself and nodded her head in thanks before turning her back to him.

This is the damnedest thing, Ensei grumbled to himself, turning to the fire. He bit sharply into one of the fish and tasted the bitter charring from the campfire.

Like some goofy kid, he'd waited as long as he could for her to wake until he had to help the process along a little with his teasing flower. It wasn't that he'd expected her to pounce him as soon as her eyelids opened—well, unless…she wanted to, he thought with a wistful sigh. He just liked her company and was eager to see what miracle might occur next after the one that had put her in his arms, declaring her love for him. He was certain he hadn't imagined or dreamt it all, but glancing over his shoulder to the expanse of bare back she turned to him had him doubting himself.

Nope, he clearly recalled how silky the skin on her back felt against his rough palms as he braced her in an arching spasm of pleasure. A man just couldn't imagine something that perfect.

Ha, okay, that kind of thinking was not helping the situation, he decided, as he readjusted his sitting position to accommodate his resurrecting arousal.

Obviously, we've got a very touchy situation here, and all I need is for her to see you barking orders at me and…

Haaa…

With a deep sigh, Ensei smacked his hand over his face. This was getting depressing. Not only was he talking to his penis, but it wasn't listening. Even the momentary mental image of Jyuusan-hime's attention focused in that area had the Little Staff King fidgeting with anticipation.

All right, fine…if you're going to be rude and ungentlemanly, then we're going for a nice, COLD swim! Now, are you gonna behave?

The King drooped dejectedly.

Ensei sighed, looking down in his lap. I know, I know. It's always like this. You know how it is. Besides, what have you got to complain about? Jyuusan-hime was incredible! Not even Kouchou was like that!

The King perked up at the memory of a writhing Kouchou flashing through Ensei's mind.

Down, boy! I was just making a point. And you forget about Kouchou! Jyuusan-hime's the only woman I want.

The King approved and reached up to high-five Ensei.

Nice try, Ensei rolled his eyes and sighed. The only thing worse right now than you jumping all over the place would be me giving you a hand. Why don't you take a nap so I can talk to the lady and find out what's going on? It might work out for us later…

The King snapped to attention at the implications of the word "later." Ensei groaned in exasperation.

"Is…is something wrong?" Jyuusan-hime asked in a faltering voice.

The King rose up in exultation at the sound of her voice. Ensei coughed.

"Uh…burnt fish," he faked coughing again as he glanced over his shoulder at her, smiled stiffly, and tapped his fist against his chest, trying to dislodge his embarrassment. "You ok?" he asked casually, grabbing his opportunity to make some kind of connection with her.

The King tried to make a connection with her too, so Ensei had to quickly, clumsily flop on his stomach, looking up at her with an idiotic smile. He grimaced slightly as the King writhed in protest at being crushed underneath him.

"Um…I guess I'm not really used to this…yet," she muttered and smiled thinly.

That tiny, little word "yet" made the King squirm with hopeful delight despite the heavy tyranny oppressing his freedom of expression. Ensei smiled too, hoping she meant there would be other chances to get used to whatever "this" was. He was still working on that one, but at least they were talking.

"You must think I'm…pretty silly…after…" Jyuusan-hime mumbled shyly and her words choked off as her face reddened.

"Pretty, but not silly," Ensei told her and reached out to rest his fingers against her arm. He watched a flood of goosebumps wash across her skin from the spot where he touched her. She had to be the most sensitive and responsive woman he'd ever laid his hands on, and his fingertips tingled with her energy.

The King concurred, despite the fact that Ensei tried to ignore his insistent interruptions that were growing more pronounced by the minute. Especially when she kept fidgeting like that, giving a flash here and a peek there of her most delectable parts.

Watching her awkwardly press her arms across her breasts, then drop one hand across her lap, only then to pull her knees up and wrap her arms around them, and then return to her original position again finally got across to Ensei that the girl was suffering under his scrutiny.

His heart tightened and so did the King. She was shy. He realized that he must be the first man she'd ever been openly nude with and she was feeling self-conscious. He felt instantly protective. And possessive. And hungry. The King stirred eagerly at the sudden progress they were making.

"Hold on," Ensei smiled at her gently and turned away, scanning the area around the pond. He jumped to his feet and headed toward a patch of grass a few feet away.

Despite the soft breeze licking deliciously all over him, the King twitched in annoyance at Ensei's short attention span. If he put his maximum effort into it, he wondered if he could somehow shift the dumbass's bodily momentum back in the right direction, TOWARD-THE-GIRL, not away from her. He'd heard about men being led by their dicks, but seriously…

Ensei scooped up something from the ground and returned to Jyuusan-hime, dropping to his knees beside her.

"Arms up," he instructed and she stared at him for a few seconds. "Let's go, up, up," he urged her in his bossiest voice.

After donning a distrusting frown, she raised her hands up reluctantly. To her surprise, she felt coarse, light fabric float down over her head and rest on her shoulders and chest, tangling around her upraised arms. It was Ensei's shirt.

"I don't know where your clothes are out here, so you can borrow this for now," he stated and fumbled for a sleeve, working her arm through, and then helping her wriggle her other arm through the other sleeve. He adjusted the voluminous shirt so it spread over her knees, providing her with a considerable amount of modesty. That is, except for the way the collar gapped low down the front, revealing a significant view of her breasts if she moved just so. His eyes lingered there for a few seconds before he pressed a quick kiss to her cheek and casually leaned on his arm next to her.

"There. Can't have you catching cold out here," he remarked. "Feel better?"

The King was dumbfounded. They were losing ground. Now she was dressed! He knew Ensei wasn't the brightest star in the heavens, but he thumped against the Big Guy's thigh, protesting this much stupidity.

Trust me, my friend. The lady is a lady and needs a gentleman right now, Ensei thought, reassuring his insistent counterpart.

Jyuusan-hime couldn't help smiling sheepishly and hugging the shirt around her. "Thank you," she muttered. "That was sweet."

He beamed at her, his chest filled with warmth at the returning sparkle in her eye. The hum of energy spiraled down his spine and pooled in his groin, making the King nod in approval—maybe Ensei wasn't so stupid after all.

She held her arms up in a big stretch, now free of her self-consciousness, and giggled as she watched the broad sleeves fall down her uplifted arms and gather at her shoulders.

"You're really big!" she commented with a wondrous and wide smile, flapping her arms until the sleeves fell down over her hands again.

The King surged with self-absorbed pride, and Ensei groaned inwardly. She's not talking about you! The King would not hear it and plumped up again to prove the big guy wrong.

Ensei struggled between smiling with delight at Jyuusan-hime's growing playfulness and scowling with aggravation at the King's growing…rebellion.

Still, seeing his shirt moving over her skin, covering her protectively, making her smile, making her look so small and fragile, stirred more of him than just the King.

His gaze slid down her frame, taking in the muted dusky circles at the swell of her breasts, hinting their presence through the gauzy white shirt. When she moved, small protruding points sketched invisible lines through the fabric. Ensei imagined his teeth teasing her through the thin barrier, his tongue leaving the shirt wet and translucent at her nipples.

The King rose up in full glory, preening at his triumph over Ensei's so-called "gentlemanly restraint." Pffft. The only thing more irresistible to that letch than a woman's breasts was the hint of a woman's breasts, waiting for him to unwrap them. So predictable.

A deep, thick exhale that Ensei hadn't meant for her to hear indeed had caught her attention and she turned her smiling eyes on him. For a single second, his potent, hungry gaze stole over her face, but then he dragged his eyes away and turned to head back to the fire. He needed to pull himself together—how did she have such a powerful effect on him? She needed time to grow comfortable with him, and he wasn't going to be ruled by his dick. Even if it was the King.

Yet, as he moved to get up, he felt the soft whoosh of cloth flutter down onto his hand, braced against the ground. He swiveled his head around toward her, and she smiled coyly and cast her eyes downward, her cheeks fully awash in dark rose. He hesitated for a second as his mind registered this unexpected touch, and he felt small fingers wriggle free of the fabric and hook tightly around his.

The King listed slightly toward her touch as if to lure it to him, tapping at Ensei's thigh to remind him that if he, all of a sudden, wanted to deposit those little fingers on the King's head, the King would not object.

Ensei shifted toward her and placed a soft, chaste kiss on her mouth and drew back.

The King surged insistently, rudely demanding more, and Ensei moved his arm across is lap, hiding the evidence of his response to her kiss. The King nudged against his arm to move it, hoping for a chance to simply say hello to the lady, but Ensei wouldn't budge.

"I can't imagine what you must think of me," Jyuusan-hime stated in a quiet, wobbly voice, her head still bowed, though her eyes darted up to his now and then. "What sort of woman does…all that…so suddenly…and…" her voice dropped even lower, "…outside in the grass." She shuddered involuntarily.

Ensei's brow furrowed anxiously, and he drew her against his chest.

The King celebrated his unfettered freedom and took every opportunity to reach for Jyuusan-hime, but Ensei's tree trunk of a thigh stood between him and nirvana.

"Kotori," he muttered against her ear. He kissed her cheek and leaned back to look into her eyes, stroking her face delicately. "Everything happened so fast, didn't it? I should've…slowed it down, but…haaa…I just didn't want to."

"You don't think…um…" she stammered and her expression grew dark. "You don't suppose that…what happened to me…before…uh…the attack…made me…a loose woman…"

She gasped when Ensei caught her face roughly between his hands. He glowered down into her eyes.

"Never…never," he kissed her firmly on the mouth as if he could heal the scalding words. "I don't ever want those lips to say those words again. Got it?" He pulled her closer and kissed her forehead. "Don't even think it," he added urgently as he wrapped her in his arms. "You're a lady, a princess, no matter where you are or what you do. You couldn't be anything else."

She hugged him tightly, letting the stifled breath of relief rush from her lungs. Her eyes welled up and she buried her face in his neck.

He cupped the back of her head and hugged her, feeling the burn of regret bubbling in his throat.

"It's ok, Kotori," he murmured into her hair, but his voice strained to climb from inside him. "Uh…we can…we can probably leave tomorrow…leave this behind…get back to the mission. Don't cry. We'll say it was only a dream…and…I'll try not to…I won't…touch you anymore."

The King fainted.

Jyuusan-hime drew away in shock. Her wet eyes locked on Ensei's stormy ones. "You…" she sucked in a sharp breath, "you…think that's what…we should do?"

He brushed tears from her face with his thumb and nodded slightly.

She bit her lip and sucked in a reedy breath. "I guess…I guess… things…would be easier." Her eyes clenched shut and she lowered her face.

"Right," he stared at her, feeling his insides slowly cracking.

How the hell was he going to stop touching her? He wasn't touching her now, and he could feel her heart beating inside his chest.

"It's better, right? This way…this way…you won't cry," he said more to himself than to her, trying to justify this betrayal of everything that had changed inside him in the last day, in the last weeks, because of her. He couldn't stand to see her cry, though, and being with him had made her cry. It was only going to get harder from here.

Still, even with his thin resolve newly in place, he couldn't stop himself from reaching out his hand to lift her chin. He needed to see her reassurance that this was the path they would take together, but separately. No, that was bullshit. He just needed to touch her.

However, time seemed to hold its breath in that moment when their eyes met. She was crying. He hadn't stopped her tears at all. Her eyes were nearly a bloody red with the strain of tears pouring from them. Her cheeks were drenched. Her nose puffed in ruddy irritation. Her lips pursed tightly together and her chin trembled.

"Ensei…" she whimpered pathetically.

In a rush, time sped forward in a tempest of tumultuous emotion, desperate, bruising kisses, feverish, gripping touches, tangled, wrapping limbs, smothered, loving words, choked, sighing gasps.

The King shook suddenly from slumber when a jolt of electricity surged straight up through his crown. Whoa!!! He wondered what the hell had happened while he was napping in depression that now found him pinned between Ensei and Jyuusan-hime as she straddled his lap, clinging to the Big Guy and raining kisses on his face.

The King shrugged. He guessed he was going to have to get used to this roller coaster ride with these two. Still, her enthusiasm made him shiver with delight and she sure felt warm against his back. The Big Guy could pick 'em, he had to admit. Lucky bastard. He decided it was time a little of that luck rubbed off on him too.

The King roused himself in a nice, tall stretch that cuddled into the warmth of Jyuusan-hime's belly, covered by Ensei's shirt pooling between them. He was determined to show her just how much the Big Guy needed her, and he'd make her hunger for him, twitch for him, wet for him. He knew how to do that. He was the King after all. He wasn't going to let the Big Goof mess this up—not this time.

"Oh!" she exclaimed and leaned back to look down at the pulsing heat snuggling into her and giving her a quick nod of greeting. "Um…" she bit her lip and glanced up nervously at Ensei.

"See what you do to me," he growled against her lips and captured them again in a hungry, searing kiss. His whole body stiffened suddenly when her warm hand circled his rigid shaft.

Mmmmm, the King hummed with the swift surge of energy pulsing through him at that heavenly touch that was uniquely Jyuusan-hime's—a grip as strong as a man's in the silky palm of a woman's hand. Uuuhhhhnnn, the King couldn't help a full-length shiver. He heard her gasp at the vibration she felt inside him. Heh-heh. Plenty more where that came from, my princess, the King flexed his muscles, thickening in her grip. Just hang on.

Ensei's hand wrapped around Jyuusan-hime's and guided her over him until she became bold and exploratory on her own. He ran his hands up over her sumptuous rear end, pushing the shirt up out of the way. His fingers slid between them and dipped inside her, teasing her in time with the squeezing caresses of her hand on him. They stroked each other with increasing intensity as fiery pulses crashed through them, until their heated, shallow panting tore through their kisses, allowing only feral cries and whimpers against each other's skin.

The King poured his love over Jyuusan-hime's eager fingers and she swirled it slickly, feverishly around his crown, making him ache for her in throbbing desperation. Ensei's fingers plunged deep inside Jyuusan-hime and the tight push rocked through her, making her hand clench around his erection.

Upright, open, straddled around Ensei's waist, she realized the feeling of his fingers inside her was different than before, pushing against the weight of her body, thrusting deeper. She could feel the wetness oozing down on her inner thighs as a cool night breeze snaked between her legs. Her entire body burned in waves of wildfire devouring her. As she rocked her hips forward, his erection pulsed against her velvet opening and she pushed against it.

Wicked, smoldering eyes peered down into Ensei's. She rolled her hips again, this time slicking her wetness against the hot head of his arousal and gasping and shuddering as a small wave, a taste of what was coming, shook through her.

Ensei slinked a smile against her parted, huffing lips. "You're in charge here, little bird. Nice and slow," he coaxed her with that low, husky voice she couldn't resist.

Her eyes widened and she smiled and blushed and arched into him, her strength surging, in control of this moment. She tipped her face up and drew deep breaths against the tingling pulses washing over her. She clenched her thigh muscles tight as she lowered herself onto him and heard and felt that powerful, erotic groan of pleasure rumbling in his chest that she now knew signaled his nearing climax.

Her own orgasm ignited as she sunk lower onto his hot, hard shaft. She convulsed around him in undulating spasms while taking him deeper, letting him kiss the secret core of her being, reaching her more intimately than she thought possible.

Her head fell back and a shattering cry erupted from her lungs as she drove herself down onto him. She rode the thundering explosion inside her that swelled her climax to an answering magnitude. Her thighs and hips quivered and flexed, her body locking in a tight spasm, as wave after wave of surging, pulsing electricity sizzled up her spine and burst along her scalp. She hung there, endlessly, at the peak of paradise, out of control, her body moving with the movements inside her, twitching with delicious, little shocks, until she was released in a limp heap in Ensei's quivering arms.

Jyuusan-hime huddled breathlessly, shuddering, against Ensei's heaving, steamy chest, not one ounce of her own energy left at her command. He was little better, barely capable of staying upright and circling her in his weak arms. What power they had was focused in the thundering heartbeats, pounding together, as they slumped against each other.

The King, however, was juuuust fine. He relaxed and snuggled up in the buoyant warmth of his new favorite place in the world. Goodness, but he was sleepy! Maybe he'd overdone it just a tad, pushed a little too hard, showed off a little too much…naaaaah. The kiddies were awfully quiet, though. Speechless. Breathless. Boneless. Heh-heh. Maybe they'll stay out of trouble for a while.

Yep, he'd done a good thing, he hummed to himself as he drifted off to sleep. He promised to do it again too, as many times as it took to get these two crazy hearts beating together as one, as they were now, as they should always be. As stubborn and stupid as they both were, it'd be a challenge, but he was up for it. Well, he would be after a little nap anyway. Sure. No problem. Hail to the King, baby.