A/N: Hope you all enjoy this chap and as always, R&R please! I appreciate the feedback! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed this so far!

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Chapter 4 – Quiet

When Mikoto arrived in the small clearing coated in snowdrops, he was not surprised to find that Reisi was already there. This was the safest place in the world for both of them. When they were lost and confused, it was alright to sit amongst the snowdrops and not be strong. Here, they had no tribesmen to hold appearances for. Here, they could stop being kings, if only for a moment.

The Blue fox was wrapped in his thickest fur coat and warmest night time garbs. He was enveloped tightly in his many layers of blue, white and navy clothing as he sat on a small boulder that rested to the far left of the clearing. The large stone was about half the size of the tree-trunk Mikoto usually liked to lounge against as he waited for Reisi's arrival on Sundays. This, however, was not a care-free Sunday afternoon. The air surrounding the Kings now was far from the pleasant breeze that usually filled the field during their blissful Sunday meetings. The soft, jubilant smile Reisi usually gave him when he spotted him from across the clearing was nowhere to be seen. Tonight, the air was cold and sharp. Tonight, Reisi chose to intentionally ignore his presence and keep staring at the night sky – solemn. Tonight, things were not so simple.

Mikoto knew better than to try and speak to Reisi just yet. He could tell by the way the other fox was focusing on one star in the sky that Reisi was still trying to get his thoughts together. The Red fox advanced in the direction of the boulder but did not disturb the other fox. He took a seat at the foot of the large stone, leaned against its cold gray surface, and waited.

The Red fox tilted his head up but, like the fox sitting above him, he was not really looking at the star-speckled sky. The only thing he noticed was that the night held far fewer stars than the night before when he laid in the grass with Reisi flush against his side. His piercing gold eyes were clouded with conflicting emotions and too many thoughts to process all at once. He wasn't very good when it came to thinking things over and even less skilled when it came to having patience. Reisi's silence was eating away at his already frazzled nerves and he didn't know how much more time he could allot his lover before he would forcefully pull the Blue fox out of his own thoughts.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. He willed himself to stay patient and decided to try organizing his own thoughts one more time. He found the process of deciphering his muddled thoughts to be even more frustrating than solving one of those puzzles Reisi was so fond of. Puzzles…. Mikoto's taut lips loosened as he turned his deep frown into a crooked grin. He almost let out a chuckle at the distant memory. With wistful thoughts now replacing his irritation, he decided it was time for him to break the thick silence that weighed heavily on both of them.

"Do you remember the first time you showed me how to solve a puzzle?" Mikoto asked.

The innocent question seemed to be enough to drag Reisi out of his trance, although it left a confused look on the Blue foxes' face. Out of all the pressing topics they had to broach tonight, Mikoto picked something completely unrelated. Reisi was too disoriented to process what was happening and uttered a perplexed, "What?" to the Red foxes question.

Mikoto tilted his head upwards so he could see at least part of Reisi's face from his sitting position. "You know, when you snuck one of your favorite puzzles out of the mansion because I said I didn't know how to solve them?" The Red fox did not wait for confirmation. "You looked so excited that day. I had never seen you smile so much," Mikoto recalled fondly. Letting the lazy smile spread even wider across his face. He still couldn't fully see his lover who was atop the large rock, but he saw enough of Reisi's eyes to know that he was also smiling, albeit much more subdued than his own wide grin.

"I had never seen you run before then either. You always walked around like a true regal heir, so I thought you were too good for running around and acting like a real kid," He heard Reisi scoff at the teasing comment, but that only encouraged him to continue, "I still remember how goofy you looked when you gushed over the puzzle pieces, showing me all the different parts and how you had to try to fit them together. All that enthusiasm almost evaporated when I got mad that I couldn't figure it out, though. I got so frustrated when the pieces wouldn't fit together that I didn't want to try anymore, but you looked like you were about to cry so I ended up helping you finish the puzzle anyway."

"I think you are mistaken, Mikoto," Reisi interjected as he swept his tail across the rock so it landed beside Mikoto's head. "It was you who almost cried in frustration that day. I took pity on you and did most of the grunt work on that puzzle myself. When I let you put in the last piece you practically jumped for joy."

"I think that's the worst lie you've ever told me to cover up your embarrassment," Mikoto said with a light laugh as he gently played with the white tip of Reisi's tail.

Reisi pouted, but his ears stayed perked, showing he was in no real distress, "Well, you were happy when we finished it and I did let you put in the last piece," Reisi said.

"You made me put it in to mark the first time we made a puzzle together. Or some shit like that. I remember you doing most of the work, but that was only because you wanted to. I helped you when you couldn't find the last damn piece of the tree," Mikoto stated in mock sternness, still twirling Reisi's tail in hand.

"It was a tricky piece to find," Reisi mumbled, continuing to pout as he looked back up at the sky. It was silent for a moment and Reisi's lips once again turned into a firm line, "Why are we talking about such trivial things? No matter how fond the memory, what's the point of reminiscing about the past right now?" He asked morosely.

Mikoto finally stood up from his position on the ground and took a seat by Reisi on the gray bolder. "I was just thinking how back then, the hardest thing I had to figure out was how to piece together one of your puzzles, and how you used to smile a lot more." As he finished his statement, Mikoto entwined his fingers with Reisi's far paler digits and fixed his affectionate gaze onto the Blue foxes' face. He briefly ran his thumb across Reisi's lips as he stared into deep violet irises. The Red fox had dropped his voice to that of a gruff whisper and Reisi could tell that the other king was just as lost as he was, when it came to dealing with their current situation. Mikoto's amber eyes mirrored the worry and fatigue Reisi felt at having to rummage through so many emotions and so many unanswered questions.

Reisi leaned his forehead against Mikoto's and squeezed the Red foxes' hand firmly. "I didn't always smile back then. After my parents died, I stopped smiling for a very long time. I even stopped solving puzzles when my father died. It wasn't until I met you that I could genuinely smile again," As if to prove a point, he let a gentle smile grace his lips as he looked the other fox in the eyes. "So, do not ever think that the scarcity of my smile is due to me being with you because if it were not for you, they wouldn't be there to begin with." The Blue fox closed his eyes and rested his mostly blue tail atop Mikoto's red one and just stayed there, enjoying the closeness of the other fox and the warmth of his tan skin as it touched his palm and his forehead.

"How sentimental of you, Reisi, I think that's the first time you've ever been this sappy," Mikoto said, his words teasing but his tone loving. He didn't hesitate to lean even closer to Reisi as he wrapped his free arm around the other foxes' waist. Reisi had yet to open his eyes, but he could tell Mikoto was smiling by the way his forehead creased against his own.

"Well, you seem to have taken quite a few of my firsts already, Red fox King. It's not surprising you have now taken another one," Reisi responded, still smiling. He cracked his eyes open and the first thing he saw was the blue tassel he had given Mikoto over five years ago. "You even flaunt the evidence on your hip," he added as he played with the end of the light blue fabric. "It's almost hard to believe we've gone undiscovered for this long." He said thoughtfully, his voice falling away at the last word. Mikoto suddenly grabbed Reisi's wrist and gently trace the red band that adorned it.

"When we gave each other these, I don't think either of us was really thinking of what could happen. Looking back on that day, I just remember being desperate. Thinking we might have to stop seeing one another; I was so desperate to have a piece of you I could always hold on to. Becoming king was probably the scariest moment of my life," despite the bitter taste the memory left in his mouth, Mikoto still smiled, "Only second to our first time, of course. I only half knew what I was doing and I was so damn nervous that you would hate it, or that I would hurt you. Fuck, I was shaking so much it was probably god-awful. How the hell did you stay with me after our first time was so shitty and so poorly timed?" the red-head asked, slightly shaking his head as he continued to trace the thin red band that held so much more meaning than its simple threads could ever depict.

Reisi chuckled, "My, my, I did not know the Red fox King lacked so much self-confidence, and the night before his coronation no less," Reisi's smile softened as he continued, his eyes becoming clouded in a nostalgic fog. "You might have only half known what you were doing, but I was completely clueless. For all my time spent reading and studying, there was no book to prepare me for anything that night; not the sex and certainly not the heartache. All I could think was, 'God please do not let this be the first and last time we do this.' You might have thought you were awful, and I suppose in comparison to now you might have been, but to me it was…" he stopped for a moment trying to think of the proper words to describe the foreign feelings he felt on that night. So much desire and uncertainly dominated his heart back then, it was hard to place how he really felt through all his tumultuous emotions.

"Perfect," was the word he finally decided on and Mikoto's hand immediately stopped its tracing at the strange description. Reisi could see the skepticism in his lover's amber eyes, so he continued, meeting Mikoto's gaze evenly as he spoke. "For all our clumsiness and inexperience, in that moment it was still perfect. It was exactly what we needed at the time; reassurance that we were connected and always would be. It was right after our first serious argument and we were both desperate for something to ease the uncertainty your position brought to our relationship. We were both going to be kings of rival tribes and we were so young and so lost. How could we lead an entire tribe when the only things that ever filled our minds were thoughts of each other?" Reisi let out a strained laugh, "We were naïve but that moment was all we had to keep us grounded; the trinkets we gave one another were the only reminders that our love was real as we fulfilled our duties to our people. That memory and this bracelet were all I had of you that year we were apart after you ascended the throne. So, yes, I do believe it was perfect even amongst all our imperfections," Reisi re-affirmed, ending his brief reminiscing with a sober smile. That year was miserable for them both, but it was in the past and it had only made their bond grow stronger, no matter how unpleasant it was.

Mikoto said nothing for a while but eventually he resumed his hold on Reisi, and this time he wrapped his arms even tighter around the Blue fox. "Well, you're on a roll today, aren't you, your highness?" Mikoto's voice was tense but he still managed to come across as joking. Reisi could tell that the Red fox was trying to lighten the heavy-hearted mood with his teasing but it was hard for either of them to be comforted so easily after reliving such painful memories. "I'm sorry," Mikoto whispered sadly, the teasing lilt in his tone completely evaporating as he nuzzled one of Reisi's ears.

Reisi hugged the Red fox desperately, he knew Mikoto was apologizing for more than the fight, and separation, they had all those years ago. "It was not your fault," he assured. And he meant it. He didn't blame Mikoto for any of the dismal memories he had; not even for the time the Red fox spent with Totsuka while they were apart.

The resurfacing of those bitter emotions from so long ago only drove them to appreciate the warmth they were allowed to share now, even more. If they had gotten past that wretched year apart, they could get through this. There was no way they would be torn apart again. They had gained experience, they had become wiser and they could get through this. That steady mantra ran through both of their minds as they steadfastly held onto one another.

Just like this, how they were now, was the way they both thought it should always be. They were irrevocably content in one another's arms, and if only the world they lived in could see their happiness, maybe things would be different.

Reisi placed his face into the crook of Mikoto's neck and inhaled, long and deep. Mikoto smelled of smoke and pine trees, a unique blend that was only Mikoto. The Red foxes' hold provided more warmth to the Blue fox than his countless layers of clothing ever could. It was warm and serene in Mikoto's embrace. They shared a pleasant silence and Reisi quietly wished that tomorrow would not come and break them apart.

"Speaking of firsts, do you remember the day I first figured out that you didn't like the cold?" Mikoto asked, abruptly returning to the previous topic.

"Yes…." Reisi replied slowly – slightly confused that the Red fox had suddenly started a new conversation.

"That was the day I realized that Totsuka wasn't the only one who could calm my flames," Mikoto admitted softly.

Reisi was a little stunned by the confession and immediately tilted his head up to look at Mikoto's face. The Red fox was smiling down at him tenderly and Reisi's heart clenched at the sincere expression.

"What made you come to that conclusion?" Reisi asked, just above a whisper still astonished by Mikoto's impromptu declaration.

"Well, that day it was really cold when you met me here, in the clearing, and I remember you looked miserable. You were clutching that fur shawl of yours like it was the only thing keeping you alive," Mikoto said, smiling more openly now as he recalled the day. "At first I thought you had been yelled at by the council or chased out of your house, you looked so god damn unhappy."

Reisi let a small smile show on his lips as well, as he remembered the day. It had started off as one of the worst days he could remember because the council had, in fact, ruined his morning. But most of the dejection was replaced by the fond memory of what happened on the second half of that day, when he met with Mikoto.

-.-.-.-

Mikoto was lazily lounging around in the clearing as he usually did when he waited for Reisi. He had finished tending to the flower bed for the day and no longer had anything to entertain himself with as he waited. It was particularly cold on that winter afternoon and even Mikoto wore a brown fur shawl to keep himself warm. Thankfully, today he didn't have to wait very long. Right as he was about to doze off, Reisi came into view. The young red fox smiled as he saw Reisi make his way over to him but then frowned slightly when he noticed the expression on Reisi's face. The Blue fox prince looked incredibly sad. He had his ears pulled back and was clawing at the white shawl around him, trying to pull it as tightly around himself as he could. He looked much like what you would imagine a kicked puppy to look like–pained and distressed. Mikoto stood up and met his ailing friend halfway.

"What's wrong?" He asked as soon as he reached Reisi's side.

"No-nothing," Reisi stuttered, looking away from Mikoto's gaze as he shivered.

Mikoto furrowed his brows in displeasure; it was unlike Reisi to deflect his questions like that. He moved in a bit closer and placed a hand on Reisi's shoulder to get him to turn in his direction. The Red fox was shocked to feel how frigid the other's shoulder was. It might have been very cold out, but he could hardly feel the other foxes' body heat underneath his palm and that frightened the young Red fox.

Mouth agape, he looked at the side of Reisi's face that was visible and asked, "Do Blue foxes always feel this cold?"

Mikoto felt Reisi's shoulders tense at his comment and the Blue foxes' eyes turned even more pained as he shook his head 'no.'

"Then why do you feel like you're freezing?" Mikoto inquired, his worry for his friend increasing.

Reisi was quiet - the air thick and heavy around them - before he looked up into Mikoto's concerned golden gaze. The small Blue fox looked as if he were on the verge of tears as he spoke, "It's because I'm only half Blue fox," he finally replied, his voice a broken whisper. As soon as the sentence left his lips, the tears which he had so valiantly held back began to spill over the rims of his eyes, the small rivets of water falling in steady streams down his round cheeks.

Mikoto was momentarily shocked by the other's statement but was quick to recover and began comforting his friend. "Hey, Reisi, it's ok. Blue fox or not, I still like you. I should actually like you more now that I know you're only half the jerk I thought you were," he joked, trying to lessen his friend's displeasure. When that didn't work, he added, "I'd even like you if you were one of those high and mighty Gold foxes. You're still you, no matter what," the Red fox boy assured, adamantly.

When Reisi still wouldn't look at him, Mikoto grabbed the young foxes' small hands and tore them away from his tear stained face.

"Reisi, look at me," he urged, "I'm your friend, and no matter what you are, nothing will change that. I thought we promised each other that it didn't matter what tribe we came from."

The conviction in the Red foxes' voice finally convinced Reisi to open his eyes and look at his friend. Reisi almost started crying all over again at the sight of Mikoto's steadfast eyes and the willingness he saw in Mikoto's demeanor, to help Reisi feel better. Before Reisi could think things through properly, he flung himself into Mikoto's chest and wrapped his shaking arms around his friend's midsection. Mikoto was not expecting the impact and barely managed to stay standing, stumbling back a few steps. He wasn't quite sure what to do as Reisi buried his face into his chest, but eventually he hesitantly wrapped his arms around Reisi's shoulders and pulled him in a little closer.

They stayed like that for a while, neither making any move to pull away. When Mikoto noticed that Reisi's shoulders had stopped shaking, he decided it was safe to speak, "Better?" He asked, softly.

Reisi nodded, rubbing his forehead against Mikoto's chest as he did so, "Yes, thank you," he replied in a voice so small Mikoto could barely hear him.

Never the less, Mikoto smiled even though he knew Reisi couldn't see it. "Anytime, you're my friend after all," he said.

Reisi lifted his head and finally looked Mikoto in the eyes. He smiled contently at the Red fox before he spoke, "You're very warm, did you know that?"

Mikoto's smile grew, as he saw that Reisi's eyes had regained most of their usual mirth. "It's a Red fox thing," he replied.

"Hmm," Reisi hummed in acknowledgement as he nestled into Mikoto's chest once again, "Then I'm glad I have a Red fox as a friend," he said happily.

Mikoto gave a small laugh, "That's all I'm good for? Being your personal, portable fire?" he teased.

Reisi lifted his head from Mikoto's chest to look up at the Red fox again, "Yes, of course, being my personal fire place is your greatest source of value to me," Reisi replied sarcastically.

Mikoto just laughed more, "Well, that's a letdown."

Reisi rolled his eyes, but said nothing in return.

Mikoto was the one to break the silence again, "So, the reason you get cold easily, even though you have ice magic, is because you're only half Blue fox?" He started cautiously, carefully gauging Reisi's expression before continuing. He didn't want to see his friend hurt again, after all. "Then what's your other half?" he finally asked.

Reisi sighed and Mikoto tightened his grip on him a little. "White fox, my mother was a white fox," he said. "That's why so much of my fur is white. I look mostly Blue fox but I have far lighter fur than most of my tribe, I never really paid mind to it until today…." he trailed off, hugging Mikoto closer.

"What happened?" The Red fox asked, trying to be as comforting as possible even though he didn't really know how to be comforting. He tried his best for Reisi.

"I overheard the council talking about how foolish my father was to marry an outsider like my mother and how that would affect the purity and strength of the Blue fox line. They said that I would be a weak king because I have White fox blood in me and that they'd always have to keep a close eye on me to make sure I could affectively lead the tribe….I can't even withstand the cold very well, maybe they're right…" Reisi's voice broke once again as melancholy dripping from his final words.

Mikoto hastily pulled back and stared evenly into Reisi's sad violet eyes, "Reisi, you are so much better and smarter than those old idiots. Your dad was a great king and you'll be an even greater one because you're you. Who cares if you get cold easily? That doesn't make you weak! It's not like you can't control your powers or something, like me. If anything you're even stronger than everyone else because you have two auras and you can handle them perfectly fine. I think that's way cooler than being a pureblood," Mikoto related, passionately.

Reisi was stunned. He had never heard Mikoto speak so much and so frankly before. The Blue fox was reminded, yet again, why he valued Mikoto so much as a friend. His fierce friendship and honesty were invaluable to Reisi and he wanted to cry all over again; this time out of happiness.

"Thank you for being there for me Mikoto, but please don't ever belittle yourself to make me feel better. You are far stronger than any of the old fools that make up the council in my tribe. I can't imagine being afraid of my powers and still being able to walk and talk to people normally. Tending to the flowers in this clearing and not burning them is proof enough that you can control it. The inner strength you have is otherworldly, Mikoto, and don't ever think any differently. You are not weak, and as long as you think that, so will I," Reisi said as he smiled fondly at his friend, showing an equal level of conviction.

It was Mikoto's turn to stare wide eyed at his friend. No one had ever spoken about him like that. Well, Totsuka had on occasion defended him, and told him he didn't need to fear his powers. He valued Totsuka for his kindness and acceptance, but he was kind to everyone. When Reisi spoke to him with such sincerity and fervor, Mikoto felt so utterly accepted for being himself, he couldn't recall feeling something quite this strong.

He gave no answer and simply pulled Reisi into a strong embrace; this time initiated for his sake more than the small Blue foxes'. He hadn't noticed it much before, but while he was in this clearing with Reisi he never felt fear over his flames and he was the calmest he ever was. As the snow continued to fall they just stood there, embracing; one enjoying the warmth and comfort of the other's firm hold, and the other relishing in the feeling of peace and acceptance he felt in the other's presence.

-.-.-.-

"I remember my maid was furious when I got back so late that day. She was ridiculously worried that I'd fall ill in the frigid weather and I just remember smiling even while she nagged me and saying, that I was plenty warm," Reisi said, a wistful smile gracing his lips. "After that I finally learned to use my healing magic, but I don't quite understand how that incident relates to the calming of your flames," Reisi admitted, still perplexed as he ran over the memory again, trying to find an instance he had perhaps overlooked.

Mikoto just smiled at the way Reisi's brows furrowed together in deep thought. Reisi's bemused expressions was endearing and the Red fox took a moment to appreciate his lovers features, before explaining, "Even though you were the heir to the throne of the Blue foxes, you decided to still be my friend. And even though you were hurt and confused that day, you still took the time to comfort me when I was trying to comfort you." Mikoto shook his head in astonishment, "God, you really are something, Reisi. I'm not good enough with my words to even try to explain what that meant to me, but it was a peaceful feeling and that entire time I didn't even think of my flames once. That's saying a lot since I pretty much thought of how powerful my flames were every day when I was a kid," he said with a sad chuckle.

Reisi frowned, "I knew you worried, but every day?"

"That turned into everyday I wasn't with you," he clarified, "And even then, little by little the worry faded the longer I was around you, and here we are now, fully functioning adults who don't really worry about those things anymore."

Reisi smiled and gave Mikoto a quick peck on the lips, "Who's being sappy now, hmm?" The Blue fox teased as he moved into Mikoto's lap with a gleeful look on his face."I'm not usually one for foul language but, fuck the imbeciles who insist we are no good for each other," Reisi said proudly as he ran his fingers through Mikoto's messy hair.

Mikoto smirked, a devilish glint in his eyes, "Why don't we just fuck each other and forget about the rest?"

Reisi rolled his eyes but didn't pull away as Mikoto ran a hand down his back and rested it on his backside, "Must you always prioritize your libido over everything else? Isn't that how we got into such a mess today?"

"Hmm, no, but it riles you up so I like to pretend that's the only thing on my mind," Mikoto said huskily, as me moved to nip at Reisi's neck, creating yet another bruise to add to the collection of marks already on Reisi's body.

"I didn't think that you were capable of that level of thought, somehow, I think you're bluffing," Reisi replied as he tilted his chin up, letting out a small breath as Mikoto kissed up his neck.

"And I think that you talk way too much," Mikoto said as he detached his lips from Reisi's throat and silenced the Blue fox with a kiss before he could complain. Their lips melded together flawlessly in a dance they were both intimately familiar with, and no further words were spoken because no further words were needed. They might not have addressed the situation directly, but they both knew what their decision was, moving forward. They would undoubtedly stay together. They had fought too long and too hard for what they now had, and amongst all the uncertainty that day had brought them, one thing was still clear. They loved one another and regardless of the circumstance, that would not change.

However, no matter the intimacy of that evening or the validity of their affections, the world around them remained the same as morning came. And beyond the horizon a gloom, greater than anything they had ever faced, loomed ominously.