Yume No Naka De

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Chapter 3

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The prince smiled up at his mentor warmly, pressing his body further into the older boy's. The other looked down at him, black hair falling over his shoulders silkily and resting on his chest, with the prince's hands.

"Could we? Please?" The younger whispered pleadingly, looking up and into the other's eyes. The advisor lifted a hand and placed it on Noa's head gently, chuckling.

"Noasama..."

"No one will find out, I promise." The little prince whispered.

"It's too dangerous of a risk, Noasama."

The prince pouted and sighed softly, gripping the elder's kimono as he leaned up and kissed the boy's jaw line.

"Soon enough, Noasama. I promise you." The black haired boy whispered, kissing the top of his prince's head. The younger nodded and leaned closer to Ryuuji's body.

"Okay… I'll... I'll wait."

"Good. Then it will be all the more sweeter, neh, Noasama?"

The young prince smiled up at him and nodded once more, closing his eyes and pressing his head against his advisor's chest.

"Yes."

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Ryuuji swallowed at what the other boy had said, thinking it over in his mind. With a small, shaky sigh, he muttered: "Well…"

"I'm sorry."

"No, no… it's... fine."

Noa sighed and stood, still avoiding eye contact with the black haired boy. Ryuuji stood with him, and as Noa made to leave, he grabbed the other boy's arm. Noa blinked at that and turned around, looking first to Ryuuji's grip, then to the other boy's face.

"...What?"

"Don't leave. Please?" Ryuuji smiled a bit, pathetically.

Noa smiled softly and stopped attempting to move, as Ryuuji's hand dropped from his arm.

"Yes?" Noa asked, blushing only slightly. He knew he had been turned down - it was near obvious. He really did not want to stay there, but if the other boy really insisted….

Ryuuji took a step towards him, moving to embrace the younger boy gently. Noa let himself be hugged; he really didn't care anymore.

"Please don't treat me like this."

Ryuuji blinked a bit, not sure of what Noa meant.

"Treat you like what?" He asked, moving away from the embrace to hold himself away at arm's length, hands on Noa's shoulders.

"…Like you're pitying me."

Ryuuji gave Noa a concerned look, standing straight up.

"I didn't mean to, Noakun."

Noa tried to pull away, wanting to leave now. Tears were forming in his sapphire eyes and he really didn't want to deal with 'love' right now.

"Noa…" The boy muttered softly, eyes widening. "You're crying..."

The aqua haired boy looked at him, and nodded solemnly. "…Yes."

Ryuuji wanted to hug him again, but really wasn't sure if Noa would get angry with him, so he didn't. Instead, he brushed a bit of his aqua bangs from the other's eyes and moved his hand to set it upon the other's cheek. The younger boy smiled softly and didn't move. Noa stayed quiet, thinking to himself. After a small sigh he moved to wrap his arms around Ryuuji's neck, hugging him and crying onto his shoulder.

"Noa…" He whispered again, hesitantly reaching a hand up to place it on the back of the other's head. "I'm sorry," He felt the boy's grip on the back of his coat tighten at his words, but Noa said nothing.

"Ryuuji, I love you." The younger boy confessed through his tears, holding his eyes shut and wanting this whole situation to end. Ryuuji only smiled and moved his hand that was on the back of Noa's head in a small movement to stroke his hair and calm him down, unsure of what to say in response.

"Noa?" The black haired boy questioned softly.

"Yes?" Was his shaky, quiet response.

"How would I know if I felt the same way... and wasn't sure I knew it...?" Ryuuji asked, looking down at the boy on his shoulder. Noa moved a bit, as Ryuuji took his hand from Noa's head. The younger boy wiped at his tears with the dark blue sleeve of his coat, before glancing up at the other.

And in one swift, almost unnoticeable motion, he had his lips gently pressed against Ryuuji's. The older blinked and didn't move, letting his eyes fall closed and moving his hands to rest at Noa's waist.

However just as quickly as he'd done it, Noa pulled away, turning to move himself from Ryuuji's small embrace and push the older boy away. Ryuuji blinked as he felt smaller hands on his chest, stumbling a bit in surprise at Noa's actions towards him. Regaining his posture, he stared down at the other, whose back was turned towards him in an odd, defensive manner.

Then, it came to him. It made him smile slightly and he had to restrain himself from making an 'aww' noise. The younger boy was scared. Of rejection, was Ryuuji's first guess. Of course - he would have acted the same after admitting that he loved him, if that were truly the case. Ryuuji lifted an arm to place in on Noa's shoulder, before approaching him fully and wrapping his arms over Noa's shoulders, palms resting firmly on the younger's chest. Noa sighed softly and reached up to place his hands over Ryuuji's, looking up as the older boy set his chin on Noa's shoulder.

"I missed you, Noasama," Came Ryuuji's voice in the other's ear, sending a small shiver through his body and another memory flash.

The prince was standing in the palace gardens, as a breeze came by and ruffled his aqua bangs out of place. Ryuuji came up beside him, kimono falling over his lean form like a purple drapery. The prince turned to look at him, arms falling to his sides. His expression was soft, eyes holding a contented look, as he moved to hug the boy. His mentor stepped back, not expecting this.

"Noasama… someone may be watching," He whispered. "We should not be so close. I am sorry."

The prince looked up at him with a dejected expression, before dropping his arms from his advisor's waist. "I understand," He said softly, voice hurt. He gaze was now down at the grass below him, and not on his advisor's face. This is what Noa saw.

Noa let out a breath that he hadn't realized he'd even been holding, leaning backwards and into Ryuuji's touch. "Otogi sensei…" Was his breathless response, the words falling from his lips without any thought on his part, much like Ryuuji's had.

Ryuuji's emerald green eyes widened and he let go, stepping back. Noa whimpered and turned, before dropping his arms and blinking as well, confused. He'd just lost complete control over his own body. And not from the sensations of being near the other boy - nothing ordinary, but something much, much more indescribable. He stepped up to the other boy.

"Ryuuji?" He asked, voice changed from its last tone. Ryuuji looked up, obviously from having the same, out of body experience that Noa had just felt. "Did you feel that?"

He only nodded in reply, looking at his hands and then back up at Noa. He had not been himself. Neither had Noa. The two of them - had been, others.

There was a voice in the back of Noa's head, a voice that was pleading to be released again, pleading for a body, wanting to use his fingers to touch the boy he loved. 'Please!' The voice begged. It was the voice of the prince; his own voice, ringing in the back of his mind, each step towards Ryuuji that he took. 'Let me kiss him again!' The voice cried, tone desperate. Noa tried to not think about it, tried to resist the cries, the pleas of the prince, calling to him, calling to his body.

He feared he would lose control to the prince again. Ryuuji watched as Noa stepped up to him, the black haired boy immediately moving to embrace him again. The younger shivered from his touch, leaning into his body as the voice continued, obviously not yet satisfied.

'Kiss him. Or let me. Please.' The prince continued, knowing that if he tried hard enough, Noa would give in. 'I wish to feel the feel of his lips against mine, just this once, Noa, please.'

Noa pulled away from his hug with Ryuuji, looking up and into the boy's eyes. Ryuuji was just as confused as he was, not understanding what was going on. He briefly wondered if the mentor ever spoke with the older boy, asking him for favors such as the ones the prince demanded.

His sapphire eyes moved to the boy's lips, and how inviting they looked. He could hear the next comments of the prince, feeling the other's feelings of excitement and not only his own.

Leaning in again, Noa pressed his lips to the boy's, this time pushing the kiss further, if the other would let him. The prince was pleased and Noa could tell, a searing course of anticipation running through his chest.

Ryuuji gasped a bit at the younger's odd urgency, mouth opening and lips parting. He felt the warmth of the younger's tongue invading his mouth, the younger's hands on the back of his head, pulling him towards him. The kiss was broken after the prince let a small moan escape Noa's mouth, Noa moving back and catching his breath, opening his eyes once more and releasing Ryuuji from his hand's grips.

The black haired boy stared at him in a dazed sort of wonder, lifting his fingers to brush the other's cheek lightly. The prince's pleas stopped, and Noa's mind was clear again. But he was afraid - afraid of what other things the prince might be able to push him into, the other things he could be manipulated towards.

The spirit's control over his body, scared him the most.