Kiku smiled as he looked over the garden. He'd spent so much time there, but things were about to change. He wasn't smiling at what the garden was, but what it would become. As he scanned the yard, envisioning the piles of ash it would soon become, he spotted something in the bushes. The white snake was still among the flowers. Oh well, it would have to die too.

Kiku dropped the torch. The smell of smoke and the crackling of flames became more noticeable as each plant became a link to ignite the next. For a more desirable speed, Kiku found some lantern oil and added it to the mix.

He wasn't sure how long he'd stood, watching the garden burn. With nothing left to fuel it, the fire slowly began to die. Nothing was left but ash and embers, as well as the decorative stones that had been used to separate plants from pathways.

The sound of footsteps quickly alerted him, and he spun around.

"Kiku..." Arthur called out as the other turned.

His voice was weak, and his walk was more of a stumble. In shock, Kiku rushed forward to catch him before he fell.

"Kiku, what did you do?" He asked. As his eyes fell over the garden, they held more sorrow than Kiku's.

Seeing Arthur's eyes helped Kiku register what had happened. What he'd done. How things had gone horribly wrong.

He looked back to the garden in horror. In the middle of the ashes and destruction was a charred body.

"Oh no..." Was all he could manage. He carefully helped Arthur sit down, then went to the body. As he had assumed- and feared- it was the snake.

"I burned it..." He said to himself. "I knew it was there, and still... I killed it..."

"Kiku?" Arthur managed to walk to the prince, "Are you alright?"

"It's taboo," Kiku said softly, "To knowingly kill a white snake..."

Arthur opened his mouth to speak, but instead only managed to stumble back in attempts to keep himself standing. Kiku frowned and grabbed him again, abandoning the already dead snake so that he could heal Arthur.

He took the other into a room with some medical supplies, cleaning and wrapping his wound. They only had a moment of rest before a maid was rushing into the room.

"Kiku!" She yelled, "Princes- Prince Kiku, you must leave! Leave now!" Her voice was panicked.

Arthur frowned, "What's the meaning of this?"

"There are more ships coming!" She said, "The villagers are going into hiding. Kiku, you must flee!"

"Reinforcements?" Arthur frowned. After all this, Kiku still wasn't out of danger. "You heard her Kiku, we have to leave."

Kiku's head was bowed, "What's the point?"

The girl pleaded, "My prince, you're our last hope. You're our light. A God. Without you we're nothing. Even if you leave the land, knowing you're alive will keep us strong." She was clutching her kimono, "Please, we can't loose you. Leave with this soldier until your home is safe again."

"And how long will that be?" Kiku asked.

Arthur put a hand on Kiku's shoulder. "This is war now..." Arthur said softly, "It may take time... But we could go to England. I could tell the queen of this attack, and she could send help."

Kiku glanced at Arthur, then to the concerned maid. Finally he agreed with a small nod.

The maid gave a relived smile, "A ship is already being prepared, I can tell the crew to make sure it has enough supplies for a trip to England." She bowed then rushed out to do just that.

Arthur took Kiku's hand and squeezed it. They didn't have much time, but he gave Kiku that moment to try and focus. They then rushed around, collecting Kiku's belongings. Arthur was still woozy, and Kiku's mind was far from secure, but they had to do this. If they had any hope of sharing a future together, they couldn't sit around.

~

The first day or so were silent for Kiku and Arthur. The captain of the ship shouted orders to his small crew to keep them afloat and on course, but even his voice was drowned out by their own thoughts. Arthur stayed in bed recuperating, and Kiku sat quietly by his side, trying to collect himself.

It was late into the second day when Arthur had wanted to go for a walk around the ship. Kiku accompanied him to keep him stable. It was then that Arthur finally spoke. He wanted to start a conversation, but he wanted to clear the air about one lingering thought, "So... You're a man." Was all he managed to say.

"Yes." Kiku said,"It was because of those men my father hid my identity." He spoke calmly, but there was a clear sorrow to his tone.

"So why was he so set on marrying you to a prince?" He asked, having figured out some time ago that Kiku was to be married to the prince of England.

"To make things real." Kiku said, "To take away more of the trail that might have revealed me."

"Does... My prince know you're a boy?"

"No."

"I see." He frowned, "I doubt the queen would have her son marry another man... I wonder if she'd be upset about your father's lie though."

"Not like it would do her any good to stay angry." Kiku glanced away, "You can't argue with a dead man..."

Arthur was silent, but pulled Kiku into an embrace, "It will be okay. I won't let even my queen keep us apart."

"We'll be arriving tomorrow." Kiku said, leaning against him, "What shall we do?"

"We'll deal with things as they come." Arthur whispered. He raised Kiku's chin and gently kissed his lips.

The two returned to the bedroom, where Arthur continued to caress Kiku.

The two spent a beautiful night together, sharing a secret under the moonlight. Arthur held Kiku in his arms until the next sunrise.