Thanks to all my reviewers!

Reviews:

wingedstranger – I'm glad you loved it and here is more!

sesho – Thank you for liking it!

Neathangel – Yes, everyone is wondering who this mystery girl is, but you shall have to wait! Thank you so very much!

evildictionaryninja – Thank you for excusing me and no problem for updating. Yes, fillers: don't like them, but can't have a story without them (most of the time).

darkangel36 – Aw, a huggle, thank you! Yes, Yuki finally admitted it!

yariee – Ah, the Yuki being married mystery….are you sure that's what's going to happen….? Thank you!

Darkyu- Yuki…to be wed…? I don't know…..??? (mystery) Yes, I just adore this couple as well, that's why all my stories are based on them. Thank you very much and it wasn't soon, but at least I did update it.

Previously

"Well, don't work him too hard," the woman said with a laugh. "You don't want to exhaust the poor guy."

Yuki chuckled. "He's tough, I'm sure he could handle anything I throw at him." Yuki continued to watch him for a while before turning and walking the main door of the kitchen. He knew he couldn't leave him, but what Haru had said to him was racing through his mind at that moment and Yuki couldn't leave it alone. He sat on one of the wooden carved benches and held his head in his hands. With his eyes closed he started to think of possibilities of what Haru meant by '…someone might want to destroy that bond that you have with him. And when she does come, you better be strong.' What does it mean?

Now

Sweat formed on Kyo's forehead as two trumpets sounded ahead of him. The walls around him seemed to get closer and closer as he made no progression forward. He looked around for some way out of what he was about to enter, but the only light source was ahead of him and many people stood in his way, casting shadows on the walls that were closing him in. A murmured voice ahead of him rang through the hall, though he had no idea what was being said. When the voice stopped the lined people in front of him started to move forward, keeping in their lines. Someone gripped his arm and he looked over at the person. Yuki stood there with a small smile on his lips.

"You really need to relax Kyo," Yuki said as he dragged Kyo along to keep up with the others. "It's just dinner, there's nothing to worry about."

"But why all of this?" Kyo asked. "Can't we just arrive whenever we feel like it?"

"No, it's been like this for generations and the King isn't going to change that," Yuki answered.

No matter what Yuki said, Kyo still thought this was unnecessary. All the Lords and Ladies have to line up outside the door, vassal next to them if they have one, a trumpet sounds indicating their arrival. The King is already present on his throne looking chair at the head of a table as the Lords and Ladies take their respectful seats. Servants stand behind the chairs to help some into them and to push others chairs in.

Yuki had already locked onto his spot in the middle of the first table, which had been empty all week. He took his seat and motioned Kyo to take the empty one next to him. Plates, silverware on napkins, and glasses were already at their places. Soon all the seats were filled and the servants entered with the food. Each servant placed their meal down in the middle of the table and the others filled the wine glasses.

Once all was done and the servants bowed out, the King stood. "I welcome you all to my table," he spoke, for some of the people there were visiting from other kingdoms. "Please eat your fill and enjoy your stay in Minrain!" He bowed to some of the visiting people, who also stood and bowed back. A man adorned in a military outfit and a Willnight kingdom crest stood, a lady dressed in a long, decorated gold and red dress and an Evergle crest on her right shoulder also stood.

All the kingdoms in the area were friendly to each other, and it wasn't strange for a Lord or Lady to appear on a different kingdom doorstep for dinner unannounced. Especially in Minrain, for it was in the middle of all the kingdoms, with Netherfalls in the north, Evergle in the east, Stalate in the south, and Willnight in the west.

King Akito then took his wine glass and lifted it; all the others at the tables lifted their glasses as well. "To Minrain!" he said across the room; the crowd roared 'Minrain' back to him. With their toast final, and their meal in front of them, dinner commenced.

People filled their plates with the main course of pig, and many different sides. Kyo was still stunned at all the food presented before them. Since he had lived a poor life since childhood all this 'royal' treatment was a little over the top to him at times.

"You need to eat," Yuki said bringing Kyo back to reality. "I know it may be a lot to take in right now, but as time passes I'm sure you'll get use to it." He slid his hand out of its safety in his lap and grabbed Kyo's hand hidden beneath the table.

Kyo turned to face Yuki at the sudden contact. He was just smiling back up at him like there were no worries. Though doubts flooded his mind, somehow that warm smiled assured Kyo that things were going to get better from then on.

Kyo did not hold back after being reassured. He gracefully filled his plate and ate with force, but also did it politely for he was in the company of Lords and Ladies not just from his own kingdom.

"Well, I'm glad you're getting better at your manners," a voice called from across the table. Kyo looked up, only to stare at Haru's straight forward eyes. Haru read the shock in Kyo's eyes easily and snickered. "Like you really weren't going to see me again."

"But Haru," Yuki said making a three person conversation, "aren't you on prison duty?" Haru nodded as he took a sip from his chalice. "Then why are you here and not guarding the prisoners while they eat?"

"Kazuma is doing that for me," Haru answered. "Very nice of him don't you think?"

"Well…" Yuki started but decided not to. Kazuma lived in the prison, so to say, and it almost looked as if he was happier there with all the convicted criminals than eating at a table with people of only his class.

"Stop using Kazuma to get out of doing your job," Kyo said taking a bite of meat.

"I'm not using Kazuma, he's repaying me," Haru said. Kyo and Yuki both gave him strange looks. "Awhile ago Kazuma had to go out during the day and do a few errands. That was before I was working down there full time, and I watched the prison that day. This is just repayment for that day. So don't look down on me."

"Alright, alright I get it," Kyo said. "No use in telling me your life story."

"For a vassal you sure talk big, but I really wonder if you can back it up," Haru shot back glaring.

"I'll take that bet," Kyo glared. "How about, in the courtyard after dinner?"

"You're on vassal," Haru agreed.

"There will be no violence in the courtyard," a deep voice instructed next to the arguing boys. Sitting next to Haru was the knights doctor Hatori. "I don't want to have to clean up after you two make a mess of each other."

"Ah, come on Hatori," Haru whined. "You're no fun if you say that."

"I'm saying it for your own good," Hatori said. "If the king finds out you'll be in trouble and I won't be able to bail you out this time."

"Fine," Haru said under his breath. "Hey, Kyo." Kyo look up at the sound of his name, even though you already knew the situation. "We're going to have to hold off our fight till another time."

"Fine, as long as you keep that promise," Kyo snickered, but the glaring between the two did not stop. As they ate they're eyes locked on eternal gaze of 'I'll beat your sorry ass' which was making Yuki fill a bit out of the circle, but at least Kyo wasn't as anxious as he was before.

A ringing of metal hitting glass sounded through the dinning hall as all eyes, once again, graced upon King Akito. "Thank you," he said for everyone's attention. "I would like to make an announcement before anyone parts from dinner. In a few days my castle will be holding a ball for all kingdoms. Invitations will be sent to all the neighboring kingdoms tonight, but I would like everyone to take note of this for it is a very special time for one of our own lords this evening. Of course, that information will have to wait until the night of the ball. Once again, I would like to thank you all for coming to my table and have a safe and joyous night."

As soon as the king sat, everyone started talking again, only this time over who the lord was that the ball was being held for, and why. Yuki sank back into his seat as he was King Akito whisper something to his vassal and then had him deliver the message. Yuki was dreading this day, but knew it had to come. He glanced at Kyo who was now talking with Haru about the ball and what was to be expected. Yuki thought you could get away from damnation with the love of Kyo, but now it seemed inevitable.

A gentle hand on his shoulder made Yuki turn, Kureno stood before him. He bent down to whisper the message from the king. "Lord Yuki, King Akito has summoned you to his chambers tonight for a brief discussion about the ball. Your vassal is welcome to," Kureno then bowed out as the message was received clearly. Yuki looked up at the king who was staring right back at him with a curve of his lips.

!#$&()!#$&()

"Kyo, hold on a sec," Yuki called as they started walking down the corridor. Kyo stopped and turn to look at Yuki, who was slowing him down. "I have something the king wants to see me about."

"And?" Kyo asked. It wasn't really a big deal to him at all.

"Well, you can go back to the room while I take care of this," Yuki answered as he turned and started to walk away.

"I'll come with you," Kyo called backtracking to catch up to Yuki who was now leading.

"You can't," Yuki said stopping in his tracks. "The king said he only wanted to talk to me."

Kyo kept walking to meet Yuki. Once reached Yuki did not move or say anything. But he knew he had to get Yuki's attention. So, he walked as close as he could get to him and then pressed his front into Yuki's back. "Liar," he said into Yuki's ear as he felt Yuki shudder next to him. "I heard what that guy said to you. I can come with you."

"If you want to come that bad, then go right ahead," Yuki said. He took a step forward to escape the invisible hold Kyo had on him and then twirled around on his toes to face him. "But do not speak, not even if you hear something shocking or irritating. Do you hear me?"

Kyo was speechless, frozen to the spot he stood. Yuki seemed really defensive for whatever the king had to discuss with him. Yuki then turned and started to walk toward the king's room, Kyo walking right behind him. Thoughts flooded his mind as they kept walking in the dimly lit hallway. The king had to discuss a serious topic with Yuki, getting him all in a bind, and it had something to do with the ball. Then it hit Kyo, "Yuki is the ball—"

"We're here," Yuki said without even giving any notion that Kyo had said a word to him. As the guards opened the doors Yuki gave Kyo one final warning about not talking as they entered the royal room.

"Welcome Lord Yuki, it's been awhile," King Akito greeted as the two men walked into the room. "Ah, I presume this is Kyo. Nice to meet you, Yuki's vassal." Kureno, who was always next to the king, bowed as the two guests entered.

Kyo never really met the king face to face. He never really thought that the king of their kingdom would have such an icy stare. Kyo felt as though they had stepped into the lion's den once stepping into the king's territory. "To finally meet you too my King," Kyo answered, "it's an honor."

"Well, you do have manners, I'm surprised," King Akito sneered. "I've looked at your convictions, the whole list of them. I'm still wondering how you managed to get out of jail when you were little after being prosecuted for killing your own mother."

Anger rose in Kyo at how his own king was mocking him. His fists balled at his side. He was found innocent of all those charges when he was little, and they even caught the guy who did it, so why was his king giving him shit about it like he got away with murder. If it wasn't for the fact that he was king or that Yuki told him not to talk he would've beat the man in front of him.

"King Akito, I believe you had to discuss something with me, not my vassal," Yuki spoke aloud to get the kings attention off of a sour topic.

"Of course, of course," King Akito said. He settled back down in his throne. "I'm sure you already know why you're here, I just want to make sure that you know what is on the line here."

"I understand sire," Yuki said not even giving a glance around the room. For this conversation all attention had to be focused. With Kyo being here he knew it would hard to talk to the king about these matters but he'd have to explain them later.

Kureno handed some papers to King Akito, who started to look through them. "The two of you haven't seen each other since you were very young, I'm sure you'll be delighted to see her," the king said not looking up from the papers held in his hand.

"A surprise as always I see," Yuki said. "I shall not know who it is until that night, will I?"

"Correct Lord Yuki," King Akito replied.

Silence filled the room, not one person breathed a word. Kyo felt even more nervous just standing there in the presence of the king than he did when he was down in prison as a kid. He heard everything Yuki and King Akito had to say but when he tried to put the truth together his mind washed it away. The way things were being spoke about were like they were talking about…about….

"Marriage," King Akito spoke aloud breaking the eerie silence that had trapped all four of the people present in the room. "This union will bring Minrain and Netherfalls closer than we already are."

"My King," Yuki indulged. "All five kingdoms are so close already, why would my marriage be so significant?"

Akito eyed the lord in front of him. "As of lately there have been some thieving between our lands. If this marriage progresses it might have an effect on it and stop it," the King explained. "Also, the two of you made a promise when you were little that you would marry each other and no one else. She has been looking forward to this for such a long time."

"I see," Lord Yuki answered. He thought that if the reasons weren't solid he could post-pone the wedding at least, but for those reasons people would be pushing them together if he didn't just give in. In truth he had forgotten about the whole wedding thing, it wasn't really important to him and he just said to make her stop crying. Yuki remembered the whole scenario of how it happened.

The two of them were playing in the courtyard of Netherfalls and some older servants started to say how she would never marry because she was selfish as a kid. The thought was that if you were selfish as a kid you would never live a happily married life, ever. So she started crying right there. Yuki felt sorry for her and said he would marry her when they were of age. She stopped crying immediately and then dragged him off to play somewhere else.

When King Akito said the enticing words about a ball the thought popped back into his head and he knew why it was being held. The suppressed thoughts of so long ago flooded back to him, and finally he became depressed enough to yell at Kyo. Oh, how he wanted to look back at Kyo and tell him that it was all a misunderstanding, a joke and it wasn't real. But if he looked back, he might collapse and say the truth of how he didn't want to go through with the marriage, but that would disgrace him, he couldn't afford that. He had to maintain his straight posture in front of the king, later he would be able to breakdown, but not now.

Kyo was furious about the news he was just hearing. He wanted to lash out and demand to know the truth behind all this wedding talk. His fists balled at his sides looking from Yuki to the King. How could Yuki keep this from him? He, Kyo, of all people?

King Akito noticed the excitement in the vassal behind Yuki and thought to draw up a new proposition where Yuki couldn't say no. "Lord Yuki, with you being married you do understand your vassal cannot come with you."

Yuki looked up at the king shocked about what he just said. "What do you mean?" Yuki asked. "Others have taken their vassals with them. Why is mine different?"

"Because, yours is a criminal in this land," King Akito said on a beat. He could see Yuki trying to fend for his vassal to come with him, but he would only say no. "Understanding this I know you don't want to see him go back to jail, so I'll strike a deal with you." Yuki looked up at their king as he spoke. "If you marry as you are told your vassal will be set free. His prosecutions will be wiped clean and he can start a new life, just without you."

The lord felt his stomach turn in knots. Now, not only was his kingdom's will on the line, but so was Kyo's freedom. The pressure was almost too much to bare, but he still could not say no. "I understand the reasons and what's on the line," Yuki said bowing to his king. "I will go through with the wedding."

!#$&()!#$&()

"Go on in," Yuki said softly as he opened the door to his room. Kyo, head down, dragged his feet into the solemn room. Once both were in Yuki clicked the door shut behind him staring at Kyo's back which seemed so far away. "Kyo, about what just happened. I'm sorry I didn't say anything to you, but I truthfully did forget about it until the announcement tonight." Kyo did say a word or move to make Yuki aware he was being acknowledged. "Kyo….Kyo, I'm sorry!"

"You're sorry?" Kyo finally spoke after such a long pause of not speaking a word. "Do you think hearing those two words is going to make me happy?" He turned to look at Yuki. "To think that this whole time you were just stringing me along for your own satisfaction."

"Kyo, I wasn't doing anything of the sort," Yuki intervened with his side of the story which was not getting through to Kyo. "Please, you have to believe me. I love you, only you. This wedding is just something for her own satisfaction. It means nothing to me. The only thing that matters to me is you. Please, please believe me." Yuki could feel water at the corners of his eyes, his legs started to buckle and in an instant he was kneeling on the ground, hands wiping away the tears. He wasn't even conscious that the word 'please' kept repeatedly coming out of his mouth.

Kyo just stared at the lord weeping on the floor. He wanted to believe this was all an act that if he closed his eyes and counted to ten things would all go back to how they were and this stupid argument would have never conflicted either of them. Kyo's chest started to ache as he heard Yuki mumbling and crying. In the beginning he thought there was nothing that could change his mind about how Yuki played with his heart, but now seeing the tears of a lord spill onto the cold concrete floor he thought that maybe it was the truth.

Yuki felt himself shaking from the cold air around him. All he wanted for Kyo to understand that he was telling the truth, that he really did love him more than anything. If the kingdom wasn't on the line that he would surely say no to the marriage, but a lot was at stake here and saying no would be the end for a lot of things.

"Yuki," Kyo spoke softly as he knelt down in front of the fallen lord. Yuki looked up slightly; his eyes were still hidden from Kyo. "Please explain this whole thing to me so I can understand it better."

Yuki felt his heart jump. Kyo was going to listen to him and not punish him up front. He lunged forward toward Kyo's chest and wrapped his arms around his torso. "Thank you," Yuki whispered. "Thank you."

Kyo helped Yuki off the floor and onto the bed so that he could be more comfortable as he explained everything clearly. Listening to everything Yuki had to say Kyo felt that he was starting to understand where Yuki could've forgotten something so major for his future life.

"…and that about sums it up," Yuki finished. "It was all my fault for trying to be nice to her when she was little. It basically fucked up my entire life." He looked up at Kyo, who was sitting crossed legged, elbow on knee, chin in hand just staring at Yuki. "What's wrong?"

"I believe you," Kyo voiced. Yuki beamed at what Kyo said. "I don't think anyone could cry like that if they were lying."

Yuki gave a small laugh and grin as he wiped away the remaining tears clouding his vision. "Yeah, but I'm just so happy now," Yuki spoke.

Kyo saw this opportunity and pushed himself forward onto Yuki, pinning him down. He silenced him with his own mouth. The only thing audible was the moans coming from the sealed mouths of the lord and his vassal. Kyo started to undo buttons and found his way into Yuki's pants. He quickly started to entice the extending member of the lords body.

"K…Kyo," Yuki gasped as Kyo nibbled on his fragile neck and feeling himself being exposed.

"Run away with me," Kyo drowned into Yuki's neck.

Yuki wasn't sure if what he heard was true. "What?" he asked for reassurance as the strokes kept getting faster.

"Since you can't say no to the engagement let's just run away from here," Kyo answered as he moved himself closer to Yuki's member.

"I…I can…can't do that…Kyo," Yuki forced out as he felt pleasure float through his body when Kyo's mouth engulfed him. "That would…it would disgrace my name…ah, and the…the kingdom AH!"

"So?" Kyo said. He kept licking and sucking as he tried to convince Yuki it would be better. "I don't want you to get married." He heard Yuki breathing really heavy and as he moans got louder he knew that he was reaching his limit. He played with Yuki's tip a little bit and then sucked him harder as Yuki cam into his mouth. Kyo wiped his bottom lip and chin before placing himself above Yuki. Brushing a few strands away from his eyes he lent down next to Yuki's ear. "I don't want anyone else to hear that sexy voice of yours. This scene is only for my eyes. If you showed it to that woman I would never forgive her."

Yuki was still trying to catch his breath. "I know Kyo, I know," Yuki said as he wrapped his arms around the man lying on top of him. "But, I can't say no. Not only will it help stop violence but it'll set you free. You won't be a criminal anymore."

Kyo pressed closer to Yuki. "I don't care," Kyo said. "I would rather be a criminal than give you up."

Yuki could say anything to that. At that moment he just didn't want to move away from Kyo's hold. He wanted to believe that if he held on long enough he would wake up from an awful nightmare. He just closed his eyes and drifted off into a dreamless sleep. Just awaiting what tomorrow would bring them.

Finally! I get this stupid chapter done! I know I made it really really sappy, but I did have this other idea, though when I tried to write it, it just didn't play out right. I also hope to get my other story updated before I go back to school.

Oh, yes a manga update. If you would like to know a few more titles I have finally updated my profile. Most of my titles are written in there and available at Borders, Waldens, Barnes & Noble, and Book A Million.

I will try not to wait so long to update again. But here you all are.
5 or more reviews or no update.