The mixture of burnt wood, cinnamon and smoke warming my skin as I curled up on a plush cushion next to Kouen who held a book in one hand, the other wrapped around my shoulder; I leaned up and nibbled on his ear, displeased by his lack of reaction I sucked on his neck leaving a dark purple mark.

"I can't hide that." He chuckled, the low, deep rumble and subtle rise and fall of his chest that I found soothing as I rested my head down on his pectorals that were exposed by the kimono he had haphazardly thrown on when I managed to coax him from the silk blankets this morning.

I giggled, rocking slightly back and forth. "It'll still be snowing later, maybe the snow will help." I joked admiring the white fluffs swirling and sticking to the glass cabin window. "Let's build a snowman!"

A small smile spread on his lips as he leaned down and kissed me lightly, eagerly I leaned up and he chuckled. "You're adorable."

"Shut it." I snapped playfully, my head falling back down to his chest. "I'm going to miss this." Mournfully I shifted closer.

He glanced away, rubbing my shoulder and tracing small circles with his fingers.

"You know, my mom and I when we lived in Reim we would go up to this old clock tower on the edge of the capitol- it's so rundown that I almost fell through the stairs, bt my mom was always there for me. We'd go up to the top and look through the dusty glass and sit on the rusty gears and look at the sky- of course the clouds never let the sun through, and my breathing problems are probably because of all the pollution but I'd listen to her talk. She had a really pretty voice. She was working for my father as an inter to get a degree in preforming arts." I laughed- almost bitterly. "Guess it didn't go as planned." I sighed, looking up at Kouen who listened intently. "My dad, when he got really sick, I asked him if he loved my mother. He said he did, with all his heart."

"Sounds romantic. It's unfortunate it didn't work out." Kouen mused pulling me closer.

I nodded, my voice muffled by what I said next; "Romantically tragic. I should write a book."

"Careful, your brother might sue."

I openly gaped at his horrid attempt a joke before bursting out into laughter. I grabbed his cheeks and bite playfully on his lower lip. "I love you so much!" I laughed trowing my arms around his shoulders. Grinning mischievously I wiggled out of his arms and skipped into our large room where a small northern rodent that had crawled through the open window while me and Kouen were...occupied with other activities...which ended with Kouen and his bullshit laughter that caused his shoulders to rumble as if there was an earthquake in his stomach and my face burning as I glared at the little shit. With a grin I held my hand out for the small mammal who sniffed at it warily before poking my hand with it's wet black nose.

"You won't barge in on us again will you?" I inquired as I shifted through my bag of clothes. He it was. As if it understood perfectly the little rodent huffed and stood on it's short fluffy blue legs and i's large belly sagged below it as it tediously turned and curled up into itself. After I changed into the blue koi kimono hanging off my shoulder loosely, as I blushed. Despite my slight embarrassment, I purred tip toeing over to his side as his grinned with the same enthusiasm as a beast about to bite down on it's prey as his fingers worked the blue obi off my waist.

How fitting.

When the snow had finally settled in mounds outside I sat down on the wooden porch scooping snow into my numb fingers as Kouen leaned against the open Shoji while he smoked a long, thin pipe with metal ends. "Kouen." I stood abandoning my project as I strode over to his side, staring at the pipe curiously. "I've never seen you smoke before."

He raised an eyebrow curiously. "Does it bother you?"

"It's sexy." I giggled.

He grunted, taking a long drag, before passing the pipe to me. Curiously I glanced at the markings on the metal- inhaling the smoke deeply before exhaling as I rolled my tongue against the roof of my mouth before grimacing. "That taste horrible."

He chuckled at my reaction, plucking the bamboo from my fingers. "And I was hoping you had virgin lungs." He smirked. "I wanted to take that first too."

I blushed, glaring down at my half finished snowman which the blue furred rodent so lovingly snuggled his muzzle into gnawing on the small pebble that was part of the snowman's mouth. "We should name the pervert." I held my hand out, and the rodent playfully clawed at the long sleeves of my kimono. "Oh wait, you already have a name." I joked scratching the mammal behind it's large fluffy ear.

Kouen sighed, sitting down on the porch next to me observing the small animal. "Chibi Aladdin." He scooped the animal up into his arm and proceed to braid the long fur of it's tail.

I sighed. "Just what I need. One more pervert in my life." I closed my eyes and inhaled the fresh air deeply. "We could stay..." I shook my head roughly. "Maybe I should write a book."

Kouen's hand gently touched my cheek and our forehead's knocked together. "Yehuda Amichai wrote; Mix sorrow with sorrow, like time-saving history, which stacks holiday and sacrifice and mourning on one day for easy, convenient memory."

I snorted. "How old is that one? Twentieth century?" Leaning against him I sighed. "I understand, if I had to choose between my personal life and the lives of millions, I'd do the same thing." I nuzzled his neck. "I understand, I wish I didn't so I could scream and yell, but..."

"I wish you would." He muttered, resting his chin on my head.

"Please, whatever Scheherazade says, don't shave your beard." I looked up pleadingly at him. "I don't care if you have to go to war, just don't shave your beard."

He let out a victorious cheer and swung me up into his arms. "How 'bout another go?"

"I don't have that kind of stamina!" I screeched as he carried me back into the house as I glared at the little munchkin who smirked at me knowingly with his green eyes glowing with taunt.

Damn, you little bastard.

As we drew closer to the city I found the clod clinging more and more to my flesh as I absently stared at the large winding buildings, Kouen dismissing the press with a few pointed glares that caused them to shrink back in fear. I grimaced, wondering I I could ask for a little more time, because , to be frank I needed all the time I could get. "Alibaba" he called.

"Yes?" I snapped my head back to glance at him, and his eyes softened.

"Take the day off."

"Yes sir." I glanced down on the ground, so much for that: but it's not like I could totally blame him since he was a prince about to be engaged by the representative of another nation and the press would hesitate to cover it as a 'scandal' all over the network, especially if they found out dignified prince had been with a noble slum brat. He definitely didn't need that.

I sulked my way back to Aladdin's and Ugo'sUgo's- since I was now a permanent resident- even though Ahambad had offered me to stay as a truce, but as I shoved the spare key into the lock I fell back with a yelp as a chorus of yells exclaimed; "Happy Birthday Alibaba!"

"Guys!" I barked, slaming the door shut. "What did I say." I stubbornly crossed my arms eyeing the banners and streamers hanging from the ceiling. Kougyoku tossed one of those weird horn things that shot streamers into my hair. "I told you I didn't want anything."

"I took the liberty of not getting anything." Judal muttered, wrapping an arm around Kougyoku.

Well thanks. Like I expected anything else.

"Come on Alibaba, today is an important day! You were born." Aladdin laughed pulling me along to sit me down at a long table Ugo only used for special occasions.

"As were a million other people, but okay, let's be egotistic and celebrate." I shrugged with a lazy grin.

Later, after I escaped just before Morgiana wrestled that ridiculously large cake out of the fridge I stepped out onto the balcony- booking at the man with long pink hair tied back into a sloppy pony tail. "Hey, Alibaba." He fretted with a weak smile, taking a long drag from his cigarette.

"Fuck...Muu..." What the hell to I say? I knew he liked Scheherazade...but he looked completely miserable. "Do you need a hug?"

Maybe it's because he was so painfully tall compared to me-and not to mention large- the fanalis let out a weak chuckle. "I could ask the same to you- you look terrible." A large hand reached out and ruffled my hair affectionately. "Sorry about your dad, must be horrible since you'll have to work for some other prick-"

"He's not a prick!" My face Burt's into flames. "I mean- he's nice, not that he's overly nice but he's a good boss!" I ranted nervously twiddling my fingers. "And he's..."

He raised his eyebrow with an amused smirk. "When did you grow into a man?"

I looked at him wide eyed. "Huh?"

He looked back out at the city with a sigh. "You're taller." Really? "You're more level headed and mature, you didn't hesitate to offer me comfort... You've grown." He looked proud. His gaze grew solemn. "I'm sorry."

I joined him, leaning over the railing into the depths below. "It sucks." I admitted. "And I can't do anything- no, it's more of I don't want to because..." He nodded taking another long drag. "So, you do the dirty deed yet?" I teased, and he sputtered.

With a glare he punched my shoulder. "Have you?"

I hesitated, feeling my cheeks warm up before I nodded. His red eyes widened a little before he tossed his head back in laughter. "It's not funny!" I snapped, wrenching the smoke from between his fingers and stomping it out beneath my feet. "Ha!"

Kouen

I stared absently out the window through the meeting, the blonde similarly kept her gaze on my father as he spoke. It made me sick- talking about this marriage as if it was some business contract- I didn't even care for her and they expected me to marry her? My eyes widened a little. When had I become so adamant about the virtues of marriage.

I closed my eyes in an attempt to sooth the aching headache that was forming in the base of my skull. Alibaba... I wonder how he would look in white...he certainly would look becoming in a dress. My eyes snapped open, and the sound of breaking glass made me internally cringe. I made an apologetic noise as a servant hurriedly cleaned up the mess. Koumei sent me a worried glance.

I ignored it, feigning interest in the city once again, the towering skyscrapers glowing below one of the higher floors in my building...the one I worked so hard on building. It was his birthday. The thought has been tormenting me since we went to my cabin, since my brief return for a change of clothes Kougyoku solemnly agreed to look after Little Aladdin (the Imachukk squirrel- I swear everything was humongous there) while we briefed over the the terms.

"If I may speak out of turn, may I ask his Prince's opinion?" Scheherazade's voice reached my ear, and I looked down at the small blonde haired woman who stared up at me determinedly with fiery green eyes. Not as bright as Alibaba's- I quickly burned the thought away with a blow torch: no stop being a pervert Kouen, this is no time to get a boner because your stupid imagination started imagining Alibaba with his perfect lips- as I grunted. "Obsolete."

"Indeed. But quite effective isn't it?" This was defiantly an effort to draw out the conversation, by the look on her face it looks like she was hoping for me to end this agreement. This woman didn't know a single thing about Kou.

I gave a pointed glance towards my father, who quickly shuffled out of the room- Koumei following- deeming him a safe distance I responded: "you expect me to reason with my father, why didn't you refuse the offer in the first place."

She prused her lips. "I see..." I'm not blind. "As you know, it was to avoid war, my people's lives mean more to me than anything-" I snorted, figuring that my father wasted no time taking advantage of her feelings- "and I have interest in another."

Surprise welled in me, and I quickly resumed my indifference. "If you would've refused, I would've supported you." I grumbled. I could still be with Alibaba if she had simply done that...maybe... I shook my head, quickly.

She looked stunned. "Are you... Blushing?" She inquired dubiously.

Damn it Alibaba! This is all your fault too! "I...have another...also."

She blinked. "Who?" She choked out in bewilderment.

I guess there was no harm..."A...Alibaba... Salu..." If I said his last name would she recognize it? I don't want to cause him anymore humiliation.

Unfortunately, I watched in horror as she burst out laughing.

Fuck whatever sick and twisted humor those gods had.

"Alibaba Saluja! Is he off somewhere in a cell because he did something on the verge of lunacy?"

"No." Were we talking about the same Alibaba. Maybe there was another Alibaba- well she had said his last name, so that obviously wasn't the case- andand Alibaba wasn't even a common name.

She blinked, "really?" She asked dubiously. "Are we talking about the same juvenile delinquent that used to hack into national security systems and switch the floodgate commands with the one for plumbing for fun?"

It was my turn to deadpan. "He what?" That Alibaba sounded way fun-er (I don't care if that's not a word) and way more kinky...

"He didn't tell you?"

Well there was that little tidbit when he told me about how his mother died, he killed another man, and turned into a total ass...but much less words...maybe I should've been a little nicer when I teased. "Niot much." I shrugged, with a mischievous grin. '"I suppose you'll give me sufficient blackmail material."

Prepare yourself Alibaba; I'm going to constantly remind you of how you mooned Morgiana after you first met.

Apparently, black mail would have to wait, for when Hakuyuu called (no I can refuse a request from my older brothers, thank you very much) to let me know that Alibaba was talking to an old friends- Muu Alexuis, who just so happened to be the object of her affections, I caught them moping on the balcony.

Kicking the fanalis's ass when he gave a reassuring pat on Alibaba's back, I growled; "hands off Rapunzel."

"Kouen?" A teary eyed Alibaba blinked owlishly at me, and it tugged on my heart a little.

Storming right over to him I clamped my lips onto his, ignoring his cry of surprise I licked his bottom lip, then nipped on it. "For fucks sake I'm going to get my father to call if this wedding even if I have to screw you in front of him." Whoa that came out wrong. Silencing any response with a swift kiss I tried again."well not completely, cause blue balls over here needs to marry Scheherazade, but " another kiss, "I really never told you-" another kiss"how much I love you? And we never had sex in your new bed-" another kiss, "and I really want to have sex in that bed I picked out for you."

He laughed, an adorable blush on his cheeks. Oh yeah, he's all mine fuckers. I'm gonna have to start my own god damn fanclub. "Guess that's good- well I think the Aladdin's are in there right now" he yelped as I scooped him up into my arms- kicking the door open.

Quickly taking a hint, the blue haired males smirked. "I'll kick everyone out then, come on Chibi me!" Aladdin jumped out with wink, slamming to door behind him as I dropped him on the quilt.

I trailed kisses down his neck, and he shivered in anticipation. "Happy birthday." I muttered as I lapped at the soft skin- Alibaba's honey milk scent invading my nostrils.

Oh Gods help me now; I was going to completely ravish this man.