Author's Notes: First of all, let me say that some of over sappy-ness I blame on the fact that this is a fairytale spoof and fairytales are overly sappy. Secondly, the bee's rock- hail them.

As always- read and review please ^^

Songs used: 1- So This is Love (Disney)

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--Act VII--

In such a state of shock that he couldn't bring himself to move, Bankotsu just stared down at the one pinned beneath him.

Turning his head to the side, Jakotsu bit his lip and replied, "I'm sorry… I lied."

The Prince remained where he was, finally bringing himself to speak, "I kissed…a guy…" He ran a hand down his face, "Damn, Father was right…"

Opening his mouth to once again apologize, the mysterious 'princess' was cut off as Bankotsu continued.

"This is just too weird…the only person in the entire world I love is another man." He blinked at the words coming from his mouth, and then blushed.

The two went quiet for a bit, before Bankotsu reached out, pulled up Jakotsu's sleeve and climbed off him. Looking away, he held a hand down for him, "Let me…help you up."

Tentatively, Jakotsu reached up and took the hand, finally standing once again beside the Prince. He was about to pull his hand away, when Bankotsu tightened his grip on it.

"Your Highness?" He questioned.

"Is it okay?" Bankotsu muttered.

"Okay?"

"That I… feel like that about you. Is it okay?" He explained, his head down and bangs hiding his face.

Jakotsu gently reached over, and turned Bankotsu to where he faced him. His youthful eyes were wide with confusion and emotion as the taller man slowly caressed his cheek.

"It would be an honor, your highness, for you to feel that way about me." He said pulling his hand back away.

"Bankotsu." The soft voice said, as he turned his face away again.

"Excuse me?" Jakotsu questioned, barely hearing the soft mutter.

The Prince took a deep breath and continued, "Please, call me Bankotsu."

Jakotsu nodded in reply, and they were once again left in silence.

Finally, the Prince spoke up, "We have to sing yet another love song don't we?"

"Yeah, or the orchestra won't stop vamping the intro."

"Once this is over, I swear, I'm never singing again."

"Good, your vocal chords might be strained after the honeymoon anyways." Jakotsu replied, a hopeful smirk on his face.

Bankotsu blanched, "Hon…honeymoon?!"

"Well something has to constitute the 'Happily Ever After,'" He explained.

Blushing, the braided-man was about to retort, when he caught the glare coming from the director, and rolled his eyes, "Fine, I'll sing the song…but you're supposed to start," He remarked, looking to Jakotsu.

Nodding, the taller man began,

"So this is love, Mmm mmm

So this is love,

So this is what romance is

We kissed and so, Mmm mmm

So now you know…"

"And now I know…" Bankotsu echoed.

Then, being as it's a love song- yes, that's right, they sing the next part together.

"Why girls weren't something I liked."

Then, Bankotsu began the next verse,

"I've found someone, Mmm mmm

Someone for me,

And now my heart has been set free."

And once again, duet-time,

"So this is the feeling that, I've been long for

Mmm, mmm

Mmm, mmm

So this, is, love."

The song ended and the two continued to stare longingly into each other's eyes, because for some reason, inspecting the pupils of another person is extremely romantic.

After a few minutes, Jakotsu pulled his hand free and before Bankotsu could inquire as to why, he'd wrapped his arms around the young Prince from behind, whispering into his ear softly, "I know it's confusing the first time you fall for another. But it's okay, I understand. You can be nervous, unsure, whatever…and it's perfectly okay. As long as your feelings deep down are genuine, I'm sure everything will be just fine."

Bankotsu turned to look up at the one behind him, "Thank you…" He said softly. He continued to move until he was facing him, then hesitantly, he reached out and cradled Jakotsu's face in his hand. Taking a deep breath, and a blush etched on his face, the young Prince shyly spoke, "I…I don't know what it is about you, but… you make me feel different, you make me feel like a normal person instead of treating me like a Prince. It's like… you know what it's like to be trapped in your own home, to be desiring nothing but to break free from the routine, you…somehow understand me."

Jakotsu smiled and leaned down, placing a gentle kiss on the young Prince's forehead- then looking into his eyes to assure that he wasn't pushing things, he moved down and captured Bankotsu's lips with his own.

The Prince tensed at first, eyes shooting open, then he relaxed and began to return the kiss.

Feeling the young man's body reacting to his touch, Jakotsu dared go a bit further, and slipped his hand into the Prince's jacket, sliding it off his shoulders.

The stiffened cloth fell to ground as the braided-man clutched at the glittery fabric of the blue dress.

Meanwhile the King and Queen, curious as to what was causing the Prince to be so long out in the garden with the mysterious 'princess,' had just peered out the door.

"I think it's safe to say he likes her…" Suikotsu said proudly.

Once again, the blue sleeve fell off Jakotsu's shoulder, and the Queen noted it, "Dear, are we sure that's a 'she'?"

The King blinked, and replied, "I never knew a man could make a dress look that good." His remark earning a smack to the back of his head from his wife. "What?"

"You're married to a woman, might I remind you."

"I was just saying…." He began to explain, when she hushed him.

"Shh, they're talking." Kikyou muttered.

Arms wrapped around the taller man's frame, and head resting on his chest, Bankotsu brought himself to speak. "I know this is silly, but… I just realized I don't know your real name."

Jakotsu laughed a bit, "It's…."

But before the name could be said, you guessed it, the clock struck midnight.

Pushing Bankotsu slightly away, Jakotsu opened his mouth to say something, but couldn't. He turned and ran, the Prince standing in shock for a few moments before chasing after him.

Heading down the main staircase, the two guards blinked to attention as Jakotsu rushed past.

"Uh, hey- you lost your shoe!" Ginta called out.

Not having the time to stop, the young man kept running unsure of what would happen if someone found out his real identity.

"I don't think she heard you, Ginta." Hakkaku replied.

Breathlessly rushing out onto the steps, Bankotsu looked off after the figure as Jakotsu disappeared into the night.

"Oh, your highness, did you say something wrong to her?" The one guard inquired.

"Hakkaku, don't ask him that!" The other whispered to his companion.

"All I did was ask his name…."

"His?!" The two guards blanched.

Bankotsu frowned and blushed, "Yeah, it was a guy."

Ginta's mind processed this, offering him an interesting mental image of Bankotsu and Jakotsu in a rather compromising situation in the royal bathroom's shower. As his mind played out the scene, the mysterious man that had just ran off had pinned the Prince against the wall, and was seductively whispering, "Don't worry, I'll do much more than wash your back, your highness…"

Shaking the image from his head, he decided to change the subject, "If it helps…she…err, he dropped his shoe."

Bending down, the young Prince gently lifted up the glass sandal and looked off wistfully in the direction the mysterious man had disappeared in.

The King and Queen appeared behind him on the stairs.

"Bankotsu, what happened?" Suikotsu questioned.

"I… I don't know… " He sighed, then turning, continued, "But…I know one thing Father."

"And that would be?"

"You were right… I think I am…well… err… that 'Princess' was another…another guy…" He muttered.

Placing a comforting hand on his son's shoulder, the King spoke, "Well, we won't exactly get any heirs that way, but at least you're happy son."

"Confused is more like it." Bankotsu replied.

"Well, we need to convert that confusion to sappy romantic longing fast, this story's getting near the end," Kikyou added, walking over.

Sighing the Prince muttered, "Okay, so deep down I can't live without him so we must search the kingdom far and wide for the one who's foot fits this glass sandal… Does that work?"

Suikotsu pondered it for a moment, "Well, you could be more enthusiastic you know. I mean, for all we know the young man was hit by a stray carriage and died before he got home, so you've lost him forever and…" He paused as the Queen's hand hit the back of his head, "What?"

"You made him cry. Are you happy now?"

Looking over at Bankotsu, they noted the tears welling in his eyes, "He's not dead right? This is a fairytale, it has to end happily, right?"

"Well, the original Little Mermaid was actually very depressing and Ariel ended up dying while the Prince married another girl…" The King replied.

Clutching at his Father's suit, he forcefully demanded, "This story has a happy ending right?!"

Gulping, Suikotsu placed a hand on his son's shoulder, "I believe so, but just in case, let's try being a little more open with your emotions so all the Shounen-ai fangirls can get their fix."

"All right, fine…" Bankotsu muttered.

"Come on inside son, we'll have Mukotsu send everyone home and we can talk things over," Kikyou remarked, turning towards the palace entrance.

"And you can tell us about all the juicy details…" Suikotsu added.

"De...details?!" The young Prince blanched.

"Of course son, we want to know everything," The King said with a smile.

Bankotsu frowned and muttered to himself, and Kikyou just shook her head and followed them up the stairs.

As the royal family made their way inside, two large figures in dresses looked on. Having seen the entire incident from nearby as their dresses drip-dried from falling in the fountain, the two step-brothers went to inform Renkotsu of the latest events.

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Meanwhile, Jakotsu continued running, even though his beautiful dress had changed back into the tattered one and his carriage had long ago turned back as well. The bees were flying along side him as he made his way through the sleeping village towards his home.

"Buzz buzz buzz," One bee 'spoke up' causing Jakotsu to pause and look down.

There upon one of his feet remained one of the two glass sandals. He stopped and reached down, pulling it off and cradling it in his hands, "It's still here. Just one shoe…"

"Buzz buzz buzz?" The second bee inquired.

"Where's the other? Oh, I think it fell off as I was running out." Jakotsu said with a sigh.

"Buzz buzz?"

"Yeah, I kind of lost track of time, so when the clock started chiming midnight, I ran."

"Buzz buzz buzz. Buzz buzz?" The third bee butted in.

"How'd it go? Well, I was about to get down his pants when the damn clock chimed."

"Buzz buzz." The first bee said flatly.

"Oh, you meant the whole night, not just my romantic endeavors. Well, I met with the Prince."

"Buzz Buzz?" The second questioned, excitedly.

"Yeah, it was the same guy. I don't think he recognized me from the marketplace though. Then again, it wasn't until half way through the night that he accidentally found out I was a guy."

"Buzz buzz?!" All the bees exclaimed.

"Yeah, he did."

"Buzz buzz buzz?"

"Buzz buzz?"

"Buzz buzz buzz buzz buzz?" They berated him with questions.

"Yeah, he was freaked out at first. We'd actually already kissed before then, so I think it shocked him… but then…." He paused, letting them hang off each and every word.

"Buzz buzz?" They nudged Jakotsu on.

"Then, he said he couldn't believe the only person in the world he loved was a guy. He…He loves me, and although he seems a bit confused still, he didn't mind that I was a guy."

"Buzz buzz! Buzz buzz buzz buzz!" They cheered.

"It'd be great but… I can't ever see him again…" Jakotsu sighed, the reality of the situation sinking in.

"Buzz?"

"I ran out on him and he thinks I'm some royal that's just got a fetish for dressing up in dresses to win over a sexy guy's heart. If he found out I was just some commoner… he'd never accept me."

"Buzz buzz buzz," The first bee reprimanded him as he opened the door to his home.

Jakotsu paused, halfway in the doorway, "What do you mean he wouldn't care?"

"Buzz buzz buzz buzz, buzz buzz buzz buzz."

"You think so? I mean- you're right… he was able to look past my gender even after I lied about that, so maybe…. Just maybe my social status won't be a problem either."

"Buzz buzz buzz buzz!"

"But I still have to deal with Renkotsu…."

"Buzz…"

Yawning Jakotsu went in and began to close the door, saying one last thing to his animal friends, "Don't worry. I haven't given up hope yet… I'm sure the fact I accidentally dropped my sandal will somehow come in handy and everything will work out to a nice happy ending. Good night my friends."

"Buzz buzz, buzz buzz buzz." They replied, before flying over and resting in the nearby garden.

As Jakotsu made his way up the stairs, he paused and touched a finger to his lips, "No… I won't give up hope on this…it's more than just a physical attraction this time… I really do care for that man, and I can only wish that he can feel that way about me too."

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Preview for Act VIII-

The Prince begins his search for the mysterious man he's fallen in love with, Jakotsu's determined to run away from home and tell the Prince the truth, and Renkotsu's out to sabotage it all in hopes that him and his sons can marry into the royal family. Find out what happens, next time ^^