Slowly, Cecil sat back down on the branch, white and shaking. Never in his life had he received a shock such as this. The man sat beside him, the man he knew as Khai...he was none other than...

"Kain, I don't understand."

"I know you don't."

The blonde hair...and the kiss...I should have known! "But...how, and why?"

"Like I said...let me explain." Kain got a little more comfortable, though he would not meet Cecil's gaze, and adjusted his cloak. "We were in different classes for pretty much everything, including letter writing. Yours was the class that did the whole pen-pal project, and our class...we were the ones to receive the letters. I ended up getting yours, only...we didn't like each other at the time, so I thought it would be funny to invent a name and play along with the whole thing, mess you around."

"How did you come up with the name?"

"The first and third letters of 'Khai' are the first two letters of my first name. Also the second and last are the first two letters of my surname. I was quite proud of myself for thinking it up, and I knew you didn't know many of the other people in my class, so I was safe. I invented myself as a Baron citizen, and you fell for it completely. I loved being able to take the piss, but then you began to tell me things...things you would not tell anybody else. I knew then that I could not ever tell you what I was doing, or you would be..." Kain bowed his head. "I can't even begin to apologise for this..."

"Just...just carry on."

"Well, we carried this on for years...I knew you had fallen for the person I had invented, but of course, I was still just regular old Kain to you. You didn't know it was really me, but you told me every now and then what you had read in your letters. By now we were friends, and on good terms...you felt you could trust me, you said. And still I could not tell you how I felt...the only way I could express how I felt for you was through the letters, still pretending to be somebody I wasn't. Then, of course, every now and then I offered to deliver the letters for you...I was taking them for myself. After the Mist incident, the only way I was able to get letters to you was when Golbez was asleep. His control was almost nil then."

"Damcyan?"

"I was aboard one of the airships when they dropped the bombs. I'm ashamed to say I infiltrated the castle and stole the crystal, leaving the letter behind, knowing you or somebody else would find it. I also took a letter from you after I fought you at Fabul."

"So that is where it went..."

"Yes. It was me the whole time." Tears shimmered in Kain's eyes now as he turned to Cecil. "I can understand if you hate me, Cecil. How could you not?"

"..." The Paladin gazed downwards intently, heart in his mouth. I'm so confused. Kain, my best friend...he led me on this lie for years. I loved someone who was non-existent.

"Please say something, Cecil."

Cecil bit his lip, not sure what to say in this situation. "I...I gave my heart to one that never even existed...and I have been kissing my best friend!" Kain winced at Cecil's tone. "Not for some silly dare like years back, but this was something I wanted...needed. And to have this bombshell dropped on me...nothing could shock me more...and I thought you loved Rosa!"

"I do," Kain insisted. "But I love you as well. I...I always have. But I could never tell you...not till now, and you took my hood down." Face beet red, he stood and brushed himself down. "You probably need some time to think. I'm going back to the castle." He began to walk away, but Cecil's hand closed round his own, stopping him. Kain turned back. "What?"

"Don't go." There was pleading in Cecil's eyes. "Stay here...stay with me." He stood also, and smiled at Kain. "I'm not angry, just surprised. You could have told me...I would not have judged you."

"I was scared. Surely you can understand that."

"I know. I would have been too. But...I thank you for telling me. Knowing who Khai really was...I am saddened to know he does not really exist, but in a way, he does. Here." Cecil pressed a hand to his heart. "I think, no, I know, that I loved him. Therefore, I...I suppose I love you, Kain." The Dragoon's eyes were wide and watery, though from the wind or from emotion, Cecil couldn't tell. "We have always been so close," he continued, looking down at their linked hands. He smiled and threaded his fingers through Kain's, squeezing gently. "The times we swam naked together in the lake, the cold nights where we had to huddle for warmth, and the comfort we offered each other when we were down...it only seems right that we try to make the next step. This is what you wanted, right?"

"Of course. I have waited so long..." The tears in Kain's eyes collected anew, dribbling down his cheeks. Finally, he broke down, choking back his sobs.

Cecil pulled the weeping Dragoon into his arms and rocked him gently. "Kain..." he whispered. "Please don't cry..."

"I'm not sad," Kain insisted in a shaky voice as he clung to Cecil tightly, face buried in his hair. "I'm...I'm happy. I love you so much..."

"I think I feel the same way. And if not...I'm close to it." He pulled back and wiped Kain's tears away gently. "So…what now?"

Kain let out a watery chuckle. "What do you mean?"

"Well, just...what do you want to do now?"

"Anything you want, Cecil. Anything for you."

"Well, it is getting a little chilly...could we go back to the castle? My room is occupied, so...we could go back to yours?"

"Mmm. Sounds like a plan." Kain squeezed Cecil's hand, just as the Paladin had done before. "Come on then...you do feel cold."

In silence, they made their way back to the castle, still holding each other's hands. Every so often they would look at each other and smile affectionately. Cecil was still reeling from Kain's revelation, but everything they were doing felt right, like it should have happened long ago.

It was only when they got back to Kain's room that Cecil said, "I should have realised my feelings sooner..."

Kain just grinned happily and lay back on his bed, arms behind his head. Cecil made to sit on a chair, but Kain patted the bed, and he moved to sit there instead. A hand stroked up and down his back, making him shiver pleasantly. "Kain?"

"Yes, Cecil?"

"What do you want out of this?"

"What do I want?" Kain propped himself up on an elbow so as to look at Cecil better. "I want the usual things in a relationship; to love and to be loved, to be able to share with you what I would share with nobody else, to spend my time with you, the best times of my life...and also...if it came to it, I suppose sex would be a nice bonus." He chuckled at this. "I just want to be happy, and for you to be happy as well. If all I got was that, I would be a man content."

Cecil gazed down at Kain in wonder. The older man was looking at him with such passion, a tender smile tugging at his pale lips. Strands of blonde fell into Kain's eyes alluringly, and Cecil reached out to brush them away and tuck them behind his ear. Then he shifted, no longer sat up, but lying beside Kain, who began to tremble as if frightened. "Is there something wrong?" the Paladin asked him.

"Well..." Kain started, biting his lip. "I should tell you something, just in case we do ever...you know..."

"Go on. I won't be mad."

"Okay." Kain nodded firmly. "Cecil, I'm not a virgin."

Cecil just blinked a few times. "So? It doesn't surprise me. A good-looking guy like you could never stay virgin for long."

"No, I mean...I was taken. Forcefully. If I did anything wrong...he..." He shuddered, all colour draining from his face as he recalled the torture. "The pain...the pain was unbelievable...if I described it to you, you would still never understand the horror I went through."

Cecil didn't need to ask who 'he' was. Letting out a soft noise of sympathy, he slid his arms round Kain and held him close. "I don't want you to describe it," he whispered, stroking the older man's soft hair. "I would not have you relive that...but you did not have to tell me."

"I had to...because there was something else."

"Yes?"

"Yes. A few times...it was sex. He was rough with me, but it was sex nevertheless...and despite everything else he had done to me, I enjoyed it. The closeness was all I desired, but that's all I felt from it."

"You didn't love him?"

"No. I could never love him." Kain snuggled into Cecil and sighed happily. "I am glad you didn't push me away."

"That would be cruel of me, Kain. No, I will do everything in my power to ensure that you will be safe and happy...you have suffered, but you're free of that now."

"It really doesn't bother you?"

"Not at all." Cecil smiled warmly and stroked Kain's cheek with his thumb. "You know, this feels…right. I thought I would be more nervous than this…but what will the party say about us? Rosa is my main worry."

"Yes, I suppose. But, if you think it would be in everybody's best interests-"

"No, Kain. We got this far. You don't want me to slip through your grasp again, do you?" Kain shook his head. "There you go then. We have known each other so long…and had I known that you felt this way for me, I would have gladly entered a relationship with you long ago. The party will understand, I'm sure…" Cecil finally released Kain and rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. "I hope she is not too hurt by the situation…the last thing I want is to make her upset. I love her, but not as you do."

"I understand, Cecil. So…what now?"

Cecil chuckled as his earlier question was used against him. "Whatever you want, Kain. I'm yours for the night, till we move out for destinations unknown."

"You're…mine…?"

"Of course." Cecil flashed Kain a dazzling smile. The Dragoon blinked, running his tongue over his lips nervously and gazing down at his beloved. Cecil didn't appear to be as nervous as Kain, though the Paladin was blushing a little, his normally white cheeks dusted with rosy pink. Cautiously, Kain reached out a hand and touched Cecil's hair, running his fingers through the white strands. Cecil nuzzled him with a happy sigh, turning his head and baring his throat. Unable to resist, Kain leaned down and brushed his lips over the warm, inviting flesh, being met with a soft whimper of pleasure. Cecil's hands threaded through Kain's hair, urging him back down, and this time Kain left a trail of gentle bites all the way down to the Paladin's collarbone. Moving upwards, their lips met again, tongues twining and dancing. The Dragoon's heart nearly burst with adoration at the sweet moans Cecil made in response.

Their positions shifted, and now atop Cecil, Kain could feel himself growing more and more aroused by the quivering body beneath him, and the hands that were now running over his back, the Paladin's pale form pressing against him as he did so. Keeping his mouth firmly attached to Cecil's, Kain began to slide up his lover-to-be's tunic, slowly exposing his stomach and chest. Cecil's muscles were not as prominent as Kain's, but still felt firm under his gentle touch.

Cecil broke away from the kiss and groaned as Kain ran his hands over the expanse of his chest, and rubbed his fingers over a nipple. "Oh, do you like that?" Kain asked.

"Y-Yes..." panted Cecil. Kain lowered his head and hesitantly flicked his tongue over the nipple, and to his delight, Cecil moaned. Liking this reaction, Kain began to suck softly, rubbing the other as he did so. His beloved's body was trembling beneath him, and it only turned Kain on more. He had waited far too long to be able to do this with Cecil; always 'look but don't touch.' How he had longed to kiss those pale lips, even if it were just once…and now he had him. Nothing could be better.

Cecil lifted his arms so Kain could remove the tunic shoved up to his neck, and he put it aside before returning briefly to Kain's lips. Pulling away, he fiddled with the clasp of Kain's cloak, and tossed the garment to the floor, then started on the Dragoon's tunic, which slid off easily. Now both bare-chested, their body heat seeping into each other, Cecil reached down and rubbed a hand over the obvious bulge in Kain's leggings, being met with a surprised gasp, but Cecil did not relent, and thrust his hand beneath the waistband, wrapping slim fingers round the throbbing organ he found within. "You're huge," he chuckled. Kain didn't reply. He wanted to, but with Cecil now stroking him, he was in too much pleasure to form a coherent response. Instead he just clung to Cecil, panting softly, his eyes rolled into the back of his head as he whispered his beloved's name.

"It really does feel right," murmured Cecil, as he ceased his ministrations after a minute or so. "I should have done this long ago…"

"Mmm..." Kain was trailing kisses down Cecil's neck again, loving the way the Paladin shuddered and gasped beneath him. Starting to move lower, he kissed down the milky white abdomen, tracing the smooth flesh with his tongue every now and then and chuckling as Cecil's whimpers of desire became ever more desperate. "Kain..." he whined, clutching at Kain's hair. "P-Please...stop teasing me..."

Kain smiled, amused. Cecil's face was flushed and he desperately tried to hold back his moans as Kain returned to kissing his stomach, caressing the soft trail of white hair leading down from his navel. Kain, having more experience in the bedroom than Cecil, was determined to make this a night that they would remember for a long, long time. Any thoughts about the time he spent with Golbez were shoved out of his mind, and he concentrated on the panting, writhing figure now biting on the back of his hand to stifle his cries.

Hooking his fingers in the waistband of Cecil's leggings, Kain helped the Paladin out of the padded cloth, throwing them over his shoulder. Cecil's face immediately went bright red and he looked away shyly, twitching the blankets over his legs. Kain raised an eyebrow. "We've seen each other naked countless times, Cecil."

"Yes, but...not in this situation!"

"Cecil..." Kain leaned in and kissed Cecil's soft lips. "You are the most beautiful creature I have ever laid eyes on. You have no need to be embarrassed...I have seen your body many times now, and every time, I have had to stop myself staring at you for fear of growing aroused. But now, seeing you...I am free to." He chuckled lightly. "Tell you what. I'll make this equal."

Cecil adjusted the blankets and frowned at Kain. The Dragoon began to remove his own leggings, and with that done, he slid under the covers with Cecil, pinned him down and kissed him hotly. Cecil melted into Kain's ministrations, his embarrassment gone as he felt his lover-to-be's naked arousal, hot and throbbing, rubbing against his own. Once more, Kain pulled back and began his descent down Cecil's shivering body. Cecil bit down on his hand again to muffle his sudden scream; Kain had engulfed his dripping erection in his mouth and proceeded to suck hard, stroking Cecil's inner thighs as he did so. He pushed aside images of himself doing the same thing to Golbez...he didn't matter now or ever...only Cecil. It was hot and stuffy beneath the blankets, but Cecil's sexy moans encouraged Kain to keep going. He took his hand off one of Cecil's thighs and moved it between them, caressing the younger man's quivering entrance as he continued to lick and suck him. "K-Kain!" Cecil gasped out.

"Hm?" Kain lifted his head.

"N-Nothing…you just surprised me a little…"

"Should I stop?"

"No, please don't…" Cecil slid his hands through Kain's hair, urging him back down. "It feels so good…"

Kain chuckled softly, and went back down, tracing his tongue over the leaking head and making Cecil shudder. However, he was only teasing him now, and he emerged from under the covers to press a few fingers to Cecil's lips. The Paladin frowned at this, but when Kain raised an eyebrow, he understood and took the fingers into his mouth, lubricating them as best he could. Kain couldn't help rubbing his free hand over his own erection as he watched Cecil, imagining what else he could do with that pretty mouth of his…

Cecil caught on to this, his eyes travelling downwards to Kain's very obvious erection and the hand stroking it. Smirking, he pulled away from Kain's fingers and flipped their positions so Kain was laid out on the bed in Cecil's place. Before Kain could respond, Cecil got on all fours beside him, and grabbed the Dragoon's hand, directing the wet fingers round to his entrance. Returning the favour, Cecil hesitantly licked the tip of Kain's engorged length, and looked up quickly to gauge his reaction. The Dragoon's eyes had fluttered closed and he bit his lip, breathing heavily. The fingers rubbing Cecil's entrance now slipped inside, and Cecil winced, half in discomfort, half in tingling pleasure. To take his mind off it, he began to suck Kain firmly, relishing his delighted moans and his body shuddering in pleasure. Cecil proved to have a very talented mouth and tongue, and he uttered the occasional soft moan as Kain probed him insistently, sliding in a third finger and curling them to strike Cecil's prostate; the Paladin shuddered and gripped Kain's thighs tightly, his scream muffled by the straining length in his mouth. Kain chuckled through his moans, and ran his free hand through Cecil's hair, pressing gently to encourage him to take more. Cecil was only too happy to oblige, eager to taste more of the shivering Dragoon.

After a few minutes, Kain pulled Cecil back up, keeping his fingers inside the younger man. He beckoned, and Cecil slowly clambered on top of Kain, straddling him and gazing down at his flushed face. "Truly...is this what you want, Kain?" he whispered.

Kain smiled at Cecil, and resumed stretching him out, to more shaky moans from the Paladin. "I want this more than anything," he breathed.

Cecil twitched and gasped above his lover-to-be. "Despite...everything with G-Golbez?"

"I love you. After this, our bond...it shall be unbreakable." Kain slowly pulled his fingers out of Cecil and drew him in for a soft kiss. "Do you want this, Cecil?"

"Yes. I'll admit, I'm nervous, but it feels so right I am more than willing to go through with it."

"Don't worry, I'm nervous too."

"You are?"

"Yes...but hush, my love..." Kain took himself in hand and rubbed the wet head against Cecil's entrance, being met with a pleased groan. Kissing along Cecil's jawline, neck and collarbone, he pushed inside.

"K-Kain..." Cecil stiffened in Kain's grip, whimpering. "Oh...it's so..." He winced, and Kain immediately ceased his movements. "It doesn't hurt," Cecil said quickly. "I just need to get used to it..."

"Are you sure?"

"Please, carry on, Kain!" begged Cecil. Kain groaned at his lover's lust-filled voice and resumed pushing in, not stopping till Cecil was fully seated. That done, he smiled up at the Paladin, whose expression had become soft and dreamy. Never had Cecil imagined that he would end up in this situation with anyone, least of all his best friend. One of Kain's hands moved from Cecil's bony hip to stroke his erection slowly. This caught Cecil's attention and he looked down suddenly, running his tongue over his lips. He smiled gently at his lover. "Are you ready?" Kain asked him. Blushing, Cecil nodded. "Good..."

Of course, Kain had no experience whatsoever in this part of sex. There was no way in hell he would ever have taken Golbez, and he had fought and fought repeatedly to batter away Barbariccia's lewd advances, so making love to Cecil was new to him. However, the skills seemed to come easily, and judging by the way Cecil rocked back and forth, moaning softly and his hair sticking to his sweat-soaked face, he was doing a good job. Kain continued to plunge in and out of his lover, fast and firm, but not rough. He had had quite enough of that.

"Kain!" Cecil cried, running his hands over his own chest and clawing at himself. "I-I think..."

"Yes, my love?" Kain whispered, pumping Cecil's leaking erection.

"I'm...I'm close...K-Kain..."

"Mmm..." Kain leaned up to kiss Cecil's neck, sucking gently. "Come for me, Cecil...come for me..."

Cecil continued to writhe and scream only a few seconds more before his orgasm erupted, splashing over Kain's hand and his stomach, covering them both in the hot white substance. Cecil continued to rock against Kain, wanting him to climax too. Seeing the thick jets of come spurting out was too much for Kain; with a strangled moan, he burst out inside Cecil, who shuddered as he felt the warm liquid fill him.

Cecil collapsed onto Kain's chest, almost knocking the wind out of him. Both ignored the mess they had made of themselves and snuggled up to each other happily, basking in the blissful afterglow of their lovemaking. Neither had the energy to speak. Cecil just about managed to pull the covers up over their bodies before resting his head on Kain's shoulder and falling asleep within moments.

Kain chuckled wearily when he realised Cecil's deep breathing indicated slumber, and he carefully pulled out of his lover, lying him down on his back. Cecil gave a little twitch in his sleep as Kain's release dripped out of him a little, dampening the sheets below, but Kain didn't care. Propping himself up on an elbow, he gazed down at Cecil, a warm smile gracing his handsome face. He cursed himself for not being able to reveal his feelings sooner. I think...maybe he would have still returned my love, if only I had been brave enough to admit it to him earlier. Till recently I was the only person who knew of his sexuality...yet he knew nothing of mine. He stroked some of Cecil's hair back from his still-flushed face. You've made me happier than I could ever imagine, my love...

Content, Kain got comfortable beside his lover, and pressed a tender kiss to his cheek before settling down and drifting off into a deep, uninterrupted sleep.

His last thought was, I wonder what the party will make of it...