"I'mf fine," Kalel muttered, spitting the cloth out of his mouth. "I just felt a little nauseous, that's all." He trudged back to the bedroom, leaving Jorele to clean up in the bathroom. He let himself fall onto the bed covers, and he wrapped his arms around his waist.

Why, he thought. Why now? Dammit, why now?!

Chapter 8: Morning After

Ritsuka yawned loudly and stretched his arms. He cringed as a sharp pain ran up his back.

"Damn," he muttered. "Soubi's couch is really uncomfortable." He scratched his head slowly. Why was the house so quiet that morning? "Soubi?" Ritsuka rose from his couch. "Soubi, are you here?" He crept down the hall to a door left open. Ritsuka peeked inside, half-expecting to see Soubi asleep in his bed. "Sou-" Ritsuka quickly clamped his mouth shut. He had accidentally walked into Kalel's and Jorele's room.

The prince slept silently with his arms wrapped around Kalel. His peaceful smile gave Ritsuka chills; what dream could possibly be so pleasant to him? Ritsuka slowly backed out of the room.

That was too close, he sighed.

"I love you, Ritsuka." Ritsuka's ears perked at the sound of Soubi's voice.

He's next door, he thought. He slowly crept out of Kio's room, careful to leave the sleeping pair undisturbed. His feet barely made a sound as he plodded toward the next room. His ears perked again.

"Sou-chan, I'm too tired." Ritsuka's eyes widened. Who could be with his Soubi? His anger rose in his chest. Suddenly, he threw open the door to Soubi's room. There he saw Soubi, half-clothed by the bed quilts, holding a young boy in his arms. Ritsuka blinked back his tears. The boy looked just like himself.

"You bastard," he growled. "What are you doing with him?!" Soubi pulled the boy closer to his body.

"Kio, settle down." Ritsuka stamped his foot.

"I'm not Kio!" he snapped. "I'm Ritsuka, Aoyagi Ritsuka. Rii-tsu-kaa!"

"What's going on?" The pair glanced back at the door. Kalel stood in the entryway wearing one of Jorele's white tunics and rubbing his eyes. "Why are you yelling, Ritsuka?" he yawned. Soubi blinked several times.

"Ritsuka didn't yell," he said. "Kio's the one who's been shouting." Kalel shook his head.

"Ritsuka, why are you angry?" he asked. Ritsuka bit his lip.

"S-Soubi," he whimpered, "slept with someone else, a boy who looks exactly like me." Kalel stretched his arms toward Ritsuka.

"I'm sorry, Ritsuka." He gasped as a slender hand stroked his hair.

"Back to bed, Kalel," Jorele murmured. "You need to rest." He gently nudged the boy back to the bedroom. He then turned his attention back to the trio and chuckled softly. "Did you enjoy yourself?" he asked Soubi. "You are very loud when you are love-making. I could hear you through the walls." Ritsuka shot an icy glare at Soubi, the Fighter's cheeks red with embarrassment. "Even Kalel and I don't make that much noise in bed."

"Sou-chan is gentle," Kio yawned, rubbing his eyes. He scratched his head as he sat up in bed. He suddenly froze as a dark, furry ear fell to the pillow.

"Damn you, Kio," Ritsuka growled. "Why did you do that do my body? I can't go to school without ears! The staff will call my mother, and she'll find out about everything. I can't let that happen!" Kio yawned again.

"I was lonely," he replied. "That crazy mother of yours beat me before I escaped and came here. Sou-chan opened his arms to me and I came. Don't be jealous that he chose me over you, Ritchan." Jorele ran his fingers through his hair and sighed.

"Soubi, could you really not tell?" he asked. "Ritsuka isn't the boy you hold in your arms. Ritsuka is standing right in front of you." Soubi shook his head.

"That can't be," he said. "You and Kalel cast a spell. Is this what you did?" Jorele nodded his head proudly. "Change them back." Soubi's voice became cold and sliced through the thick atmosphere.

"I can't," the prince replied. "My Fighter is in no condition to cast the reversal spell." Ritsuka wrung his hands.

"Is Kalel all right?" he asked quietly. Jorele nodded again.

"He was feeling sick last night," he informed the worried boy. "He's under a lot of pressure from the Allurian government. They're furious that he is carrying my heir." Kio's jaw dropped.

"He's what?!"

"Kalel is four-and-a-half months pregnant," Jorele beamed, "with my heir." He smiled warmly. "We're hoping for a son." Kio shook his head wildly and pulled at his hair.

"That makes no sense!" he cried. "Kalel's a man. That's not poss—"

"Unless he's a chimera," Ritsuka murmured. Kio rolled his eyes.

"Great," he moaned. "Just throw ancient myths into the mix, Ritchan." Ritsuka waved his finger at Kio.

"Chimerism is a genetic defect," he began, "that occurs when two fertilized eggs, or zygotes, merge into one zygote, resulting in an offspring that has two genetically different cell types. In Kalel's case, his zygote must have formed from the merging of male and female zygotes. Kalel then, must have male and female sex organs that produce individually male and female sex cells." Soubi closed his eyes and smiled.

"That's my Ritsuka," he sighed, pleased at the demonstration by his Sacrifice. He gently pulled the other ear off Kio's head. "I'm sorry, Kio." The flustered you man waved off Soubi's apology.

"I shouldn't have been such an ass," he said. "I took advantage of Ritsuka's body. Some guy I am, huh?" Jorele thoughtfully stroked his chin.

"There are other ways to break the spell," he informed them. "Certain teachers back at the Academy can reverse it easily. Nagisa-tan is exceptionally skilled." Soubi chuckled under his breath.

"I wonder how she feels about you calling her 'Nagisa-tan'," he smiled. "After all, that's something I would expect you to add to Kalel's name." Jorele flicked his hair over his shoulder.

"Never mind that," he said. "If you want your Ritchan and Kaidou back to normal, I suggest you find someone else to cast the spell. I will not put my child in danger for their sakes." He started toward the door, his hair swaying with each step.

"Still the same prince," Soubi muttered, "using everything to your advantage for what you want, and refusing to help others when you risk losing something. That's a terrible weakness for a king." Jorele rested his hand on the door frame.

"I know," he answered quietly. "I know."