A/N: Hey everyone! There's chapter 2 and oh my goodness, it's out on time! Hope you are all enjoying your holiday season and enjoy the fluff of this chapter before it all goes down hill...maybe. Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed this fic and I hope you continue to enjoy it!
Shout out to my Guest reviewer! I'm really glad you're enjoying the fic hun and I know a month is long but I want these to come out just like I want them to! Robert Frost is a brilliant poet and a adore him. I thought Fire and Ice was just so fitting. =) Hope you continue to follow this and thanks again!
Warning – suggestive themes. And fluffy fluffiness.
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Chapter 2 – Beginning
Some years later
"Have you finished looking over the proposals your highness?" Seiri asked as she entered through the large double doors that lead to Reisi's study. She gave a short bow after she closed the heavy door behind her.
"Just about, I'll be taking my afternoon walk once I've completed them," Reisi answered as he skimmed over yet another long document.
It was a snowy Sunday afternoon and like almost every Sunday since he was ten years old, he purposefully left most of his schedule open. Sunday's were special and the only day Reisi ever looked forward to, not solely because he could take a break from his many responsibilities, but because Sunday's were the only times he could truly be 'Reisi' with the person he cared for most. There was always someone waiting for him on Sunday afternoons.
"Should I tell the cooks to expect you for lunch or dinner today, your highness?" Seiri asked as she respectfully stood by the door.
Reisi signed the paper he had been reading before he looked up to properly greet her, "Tell them to make my dinner and leave it in my room, I'll eat it whenever I come back. They don't have to worry about my lunch for today." He said as he organized the documents that remained scattered on his desk and neatly set them in a pile with all the other completed pages. "Done," he announced almost merrily as he stood from his desk.
"Understood. Are you sure you won't take any guards with you?" The tall blond woman asked as she watched him put on his over-robe and white fur shawl. She already knew the answer, of course.
She asked him this question every Sunday and like every Sunday before, Reisi's response was also the same, "Thank you for your concern, Seiri, but I'll be fine."
Seiri nods her head in understanding and doesn't push the matter any further. Reisi smiles at his old friend and pats her shoulder as he walks past her, "Don't wait up, I'll be back before dawn, captain."
"There is no need for you to address me with such respect, your highness," She said, smiling at him as she followed him out of his study.
"The same goes for you," He retorted. "Take care of things here while I'm out."
"Of course, your highness!" She answered animatedly as she gave him a deep bow.
Reisi couldn't help the sigh that escaped his lips and the small grin that occupied them afterwards. She was ridiculously loyal, but he was ultimately grateful for her presence in his life.
Without further ado, he walked out of the large house and into the brisk afternoon air. He made his way to the immense forest he was now intimately familiar with and walked down the worn path he took every Sunday. When he finally reached the end of the narrow dirt path he entered a clearing that was now completely covered in snow drops. The tiny bed he and Mikoto tended to fourteen years ago spread little by little until it completely overtook the small clearing. Reisi stepped through the flowers carefully, making sure not to crush any of the delicate buds under his stride as he made his way to the figure lying down among the multitude of small white flowers. It still astounded him how Mikoto could fall asleep anywhere, at anytime, with little difficulty. The Blue fox gracefully sat down beside the sleeping Red fox and smiled fondly at his companion. Reisi gently pushed aside one of the straps of Mikoto's headpiece and fluidly leaned over the sleeping fox, ghosting his lips over the red-head's warm ones.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Reisi whispered as he slowly pulled back, the fond smile never leaving his lips.
Even at the feather-light touch Mikoto began to stir. One of his ears twitched at the top of his head and he groggily cracked open his eyes. When his foggy mind finally cleared, the red fox looked up at Reisi and smiled, "Hey," he said.
"Hello," Reisi returned the greeting and the smile. He began to gently comb his long pale fingers through Mikoto's crimson locks, helping ease the Red fox into awareness.
"What time is it?" Mikoto asked, voice still laced with sleep as he stayed lying down, enjoying the attention Reisi was giving him.
"Late afternoon, did you wait long?" Reisi replied, continuing to stroke Mikoto's hair.
"Not more than usual, maybe an hour or two," Mikoto said, plainly.
"Hm," Reisi hummed in acknowledgement and leaned down once more to capture the other foxes' lips. This time Reisi pressed his lips firmly against the red-heads and Mikoto reciprocated the intimate action.
Reisi pulled away after a moment and Mikoto gave a small noise of protest. The Blue fox gave a sly grin as he stared down at the red-head and said, "Shall I make it up to you?"
Mikoto grinned and proceeded to switch their positions, hovering over Reisi. "I guess you're usually pretty good at that," and as soon as the words left his lips, he occupied them with Reisi's once again.
The blue fox grinned into the kiss and re-tangled his fingers in Mikoto's fiery hair. He slipped Mikoto's headpiece off and set it aside as the red fox easily removed Reisi's fur shawl and unfastens his outer robe.
Just like every Sunday since their relationship had taken a romantic turn, they made love amongst the snowdrops and momentarily forgot about all their worries and responsibilities. In these tender moments, they ignored the fact that they were the Kings of opposing tribes, they forgave each other for the wounds they had inflicted upon one another in battle, and they pretended that being together like this always, was a real possibility.
Contrary to Reisi's theory when he was younger, he never did get used to the cold and was still very sensitive to it. No one but Mikoto knew this though and as they lay naked together in the field of snowdrops, limbs entwined and skin touching skin, Reisi curled his tail around himself and allowed Mikoto to hold him in his warm embrace. The Red fox radiated heat thanks to his innate power over fire and would always share his warmth with the sensitive blue fox. Sharing body heat like this had become a habit. Ever since they were children Mikoto noticed how hard winter was on Reisi and never hesitated to offer the blue fox a place in his arms.
As Reisi basked in Mikoto's warmth the redhead returned the favor from earlier and ran his fingers, soothingly, through the other's blue hair.
"How was your week?" the Red fox King asked.
Reisi let out an exasperated sigh, "Same as every other week; stressful."
"The council at your throat again?" Mikoto asked, gently nuzzling the side of Reisi's head.
"As per usual, every time the most minor thing happens with the Red tribe they want to start a war. As things are now, the hostility between the two tribes is far more controlled than it was in the past, I don't understand what those old fools are thinking," Reisi sighed again leaning further into Mikoto's side, "It's as if they don't trust my judgment, I've already been king for over four years. If I wanted their input on the state of affairs I'd ask for it."
"I understand where you're coming from, and it's not just the old farts of your council that can't move on. There's always at least one group of brats in the village that want to start an all out war with the Blues. Conflict now and again is inevitable, but a war is out of the question," Mikoto said, never removing his hand from Reisi's hair.
Reisi brought his hand up to his mouth as he let out a small laugh, "Well that was an awfully mature response from you, Mikoto. I'm sure Izumo would be proud," he teased.
Mikoto frowned, "What? I can be serious. I've been a king longer than you, after all."
Reisi rolled his eyes, "A year more doesn't count at this point, Mikoto. Our experience level might as well be the same."
"Don't be a sore loser, Reisi," Mikoto teased back as he nipped at the tip of Reisi's ear.
"I always remember that being your job, though," Reisi retorted, smirking up at the red-head and nipping him gently under his chin.
The Red fox scoffed but pulled Reisi in closer. They were quiet for a moment after that exchange, simply enjoying the little time they had to themselves.
Then, out of nowhere, Mikoto asked, "Do you think we'll ever be able to be like this all the time?"
"Mikoto…" Reisi's playful tone from earlier disappeared completely and was replaced by one of warning.
"I know we've talked about it before, and I know that there's really no fixing how our tribes feel about each other. But is all this sneaking around really what you want us to do for the rest of our lives?" he asked, pulling away slightly to look down at the other fox.
Reisi sighed, he hated talking about this. They had had one too many fights already over the subject, especially when their relationship first started. Reisi didn't even want to think about the argument they had after they were both crowned the Kings of their tribes.
"Of course I'd much rather be with you all the time, even if you can be unbearable at times, than in my village being harassed but the council, but we both have a duty to uphold to our people. It would be far too selfish to even consider putting our relationship before them," Reisi explained for the millionth time. He understood Mikoto's frustration over their relationship but he also knew that he had many other responsibilities and so did Mikoto.
"I think Totsuka and Izumo know about us, or at least Totsuka does," Mikoto cut in.
Reisi stiffened but did not move out of Mikoto's arms, "What makes you say that?" he asked evenly.
Mikoto shrugged, as if the news was nothing important, "Totsuka has always been good at reading and understanding other people. I'm sure seeing the way we fight was enough to tip him off."
"Do you think this will be troublesome?" Reisi asked, scooting in closer.
Mikoto shook his head in the negative, "No, he's not the type to go around telling people. I'm not worried," he said.
Reisi nodded, "Are you just trying to prove a point? That not everyone is opposed to us being together?"
Mikoto shrugged again, "Maybe. I just don't want you to think that it'll never happen, that we'll have to hide forever. Maybe most people are opposed to it right now but there are still people like Totsuka and Izumo who wouldn't care if we were together or not."
Reisi was silent for a moment as he thought over the Red foxes' words and then he sighed again, "I know that there are people who are more accepting and open minded than others in both our tribes. But, realistically it would probably take another century for the animosity to fade enough that what we have would be accepted by both sides and wouldn't be a catalyst to even more hatred," Reisi didn't like to hope for things that would never come, but he did want to believe that one day a relationship like theirs would be alright, even if it didn't happen within their lifetime. "I think Seiri has her suspicions too, though," he added after a brief pause.
Mikoto nodded, "Can we just agree on 'maybe one day' rather than 'never'?" he asked.
Reisi shook his head in surrender, "I suppose we can," and with that he tilted his head up and captured Mikoto's lips with his own.
The Red fox did not protest at the abrupt end to their conversation and ardently kissed Reisi back. It was already early evening and their time together was coming to a close.
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When Reisi finished re-dressing himself, the sun had long since left the sky and the small clearing they were in was just barely illuminated by moon and starlight. He turned to the Red fox who was lounging on the ground. Mikoto hadn't stopped staring at him since he began to re-dress. The Blue fox smirked at him, "Sorry to take away your view, but I really must be going now." Even though the teasing was evident in his voice there was also a lingering sadness in his tone.
"Hmm," Mikoto hummed in acknowledgement as he finally stood.
He took a few steps forward until he was close enough to pull Reisi in for a quick kiss goodbye.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said with a mischievous smirk.
Reisi rolled his eyes but smiled, "Just don't melt another house, they're annoying to rebuild."
Mikoto gave a small chuckle, "It's not like I did it on purpose."
Reisi smiled, "Being a savage is simply in your nature it would seem," he said the words with no malice in his voice, only fondness.
"Well you do a pretty good job at taming me, huh your highness?" Mikoto said, teasing him back as he tightened his grip on Reisi's waist.
"I suppose that's true," Reisi answered as he wound his arms around Mikoto's neck.
They shared one finally kiss under the dim starlight, soft and sweet, before Reisi reluctantly pulled away, "I must go," he said.
"I know," Mikoto replied regrettably. He removed his hands from Reisi's waist and Reisi forced himself out of the Red foxes' warm embrace.
No other words were spoken between them and they only spared each other a parting glance before they turned and walked in opposite directions of one another. Each heading back to their own tribes and their own responsibilities, after all, come morning they were rival kings once again.
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a/n: And the plot thickens! Sort of. Eight more chapters to go and there's soooo much more that needs to happen. R&R and see you next time!