Sorry for the delay. Bad news after bad news killed the writing for a while. I'll try not to let it happen again, but it probably will. Enjoy please.
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Hisoka's ears flattened on his head and he pulled the blankets up over his head hearing the annoying noise. Instinctively he snuggled into his pillow pressing one ear to the pillow and covering the other with the blankets. The annoying noise was replaced by a gentle steady rhythm that relaxed him further into sleep. After a few relaxing moments his eyes widened. Since when did pillows make noise? Very slowly he opened his eyes and blinked. His white pillows had gotten a tan? How? His sleep-clouded mind didn't register it until he felt a warm breath flutter his bangs. When Hisoka looked up he saw the peaceful sleeping face of Tsuzuki. His own breath caught in his throat. Why was he so close? Why was Hisoka using his (he gulped) chest as a pillow? Heat rushed to his cheeks and he mentally panicked. Despite his state of mind his body was completely relaxed. The warm body heat radiated keeping him warm and there seemed to be a comforting scent and aura at being so close to Tsuzuki. Why did his body betray him so?
"Hisoka! Get up already! If we're late Father will kill me." Suddenly the blankets were pulled away. Hisoka instantly curled up against the lack of heat. It seemed Tsuzuki didn't like it either and he curled around Hisoka attempting to seek heat from him. That was when he realized there were arms wrapped around him. His entire face had to be bright red—he just knew it. "As touching as this scene is, the teacher will be here in ten minutes." There was a slight growl to his brother's voice that made him realize what the next step would be. If Hisoka wasn't up soon he would be drug off the bed by his tail. It had happened before. His brother did not have much patience. There was a brief struggle and Hisoka managed to push away Tsuzuki's arm and sit up. "Hurry up."
"Fine, fine." He muttered his ears low and his eyes half open. The blankets pooled around his waist as he rubbed his eyes. With his body fully awake Hisoka struggled to push the position he had woken up in to the back of his mind. A task that was not made any easier when Tsuzuki sat up as well and stretched. Through the corner of his eye Hisoka had a good glimpse of the bare chest and the muscles there. It deepened the blush already on his face and forced him to look away. After recovering somewhat he got out of bed and grabbed a set of clothes form his wardrobe.
How could this one neko be affecting him like this? It wasn't like he hadn't seen others without their shirt and it certainly wasn't like he hadn't bathed with others before. He and Tatsumi used to bathe together all the time, that is before those strange markings appeared. The two of them had even slept in the same bed. What was so different about Tsuzuki? By the time he'd finished dressing he still hadn't figured it out and it was beginning to frustrate him.
"Hurry up. I'm not going to be responsible if you're late." Hisoka shot his head up hearing his brother. All he managed to do was get a glimpse of Tatsumi leading Watari out by the hand. He shook his head with a sigh. "So Tatsumi's bonded with him already." With a shrug he tossed the second set of clothes at Tsuzuki. "Put these on. You can't wear that out. Our teacher won't be able to concentrate." That last part had come out on its own. His eyes widened and his face flushed. With his tail swaying nervously he refused to turn around.
"H-hisoka, I'm dressed." Hisoka relaxed slowly hearing his own name being used, albeit hesitantly. It took a conscious effort to keep himself from purring at hearing his name from the other neko. He blushed startling. Where had that come from? After a quick mental headshake he turned around to look at Tsuzuki.
"Let's go. If I'm late all three of them will kill me." He grumbled trying to stop a blush. Quickly he walked out of the room knowing Tsuzuki would follow right after him. It was confirmed when he heard the chain scrape against the stone. He'd have to deal with that before it became too annoying. Not only that, but he would have to get clothes for Tsuzuki. He couldn't sleep without a shirt again especially if they woke up in the same position again. Hisoka wasn't sure he could handle seeing that every morning. He didn't know what it could cause him to do.
Lessons were boring as usual and for some reason he was beyond pissed that their tutor had made Watari and Tsuzuki sit in the next room to wait for them to finish up with their lessons. It wasn't necessarily the fact that he'd snapped at them, but he had felt edgy without Tsuzuki around and had barely paid attention. This caused the lessons to stretch on longer and making him even more irritated. By the time they had finally finished up his ears and tail were flicking in irritation and he was contemplating six different ways to get the tutor to shut up. A few of them involved stabbing the pen in his neck. The second they were released he got up and stalked out of the room. He paused at the door to the next room and blinked. There was giggling. Through the wooden door he could hear the two of them talking. While he couldn't make out exactly what they were saying he could tell that they ere having fun. The emotions he could read were mixed, however. From what he could tell the two of them were laughing and joking around to lighten up what was a depressing topic from before. With a small frown he pushed the doors open.
"Tsuzuki, we're going for a walk." He called into the room watching as Tsuzuki bolted up from his seat and ran over excitedly. When he got close Hisoka held out his hand to stop him. He reached out and unhooked the chain from the collar. "There." His voice came out softer than he had meant and he blushed. "I-it was scraping along the floor . . . i-it was annoying." He quickly shot out as an explanation then turned and walked down the hall quickly. Without the chain he wasn't sure Tsuzuki had followed so after a few minutes he glanced behind him. Tsuzuki was a foot away following him quietly with a gentle smile on his face. Now that he knew the other was following he made his way to the library. It was his own personal safe haven within the palace walls. He settled down in the big chair he'd loved since he was young then gestured for Tsuzuki to sit in the chair next to it. Once Tsuzuki was settled in the chair he looked over.
"Something is bothering you." Hisoka stated quickly before he lost the nerve to bring it up. It wasn't his place to pry, but something in his mind told him to push this matter. He still refused to think that it was because he was concerned. No, it was just because if there was something wrong with him it would interfere with his own life since the other couldn't leave his side for very long. "Don't try and say it's nothing, I know better." He said quickly before Tsuzuki even had the chance to protest. "So here's how things are. When it's just the two of us we're friends. You call me by my name, don't just take orders, relax, and talk. There are enough people around here that treat me like I can walk on water." He muttered under his breath his ears flicking in annoyance.
"O-okay, Hisoka." Tsuzuki was shifting nervously in the chair. He seemed to be waiting for something. Hisoka decided he needed to help him push through everything he knew so he didn't say anything. After a few minutes of awkward silence he opened his mouth, closed it again, then spoke. "I-I'm sorry . . . This is all . . . all weird for me." He admitted and Hisoka watched and waited for him to go on. "I . . . I grew up in the slave house . . . the only person I could . . . relax with was Tari." It seemed like that small speech had been a huge leap for the other neko. Hisoka decided to reward him.
"Just try. It'd be nice to have a friend around here. Muraki is the closest thing Tatsumi and I had as a friend." He shuddered then blinked seeing Tsuzuki cringe and shudder as well. His hand reached over to his wrist, the one he'd seen the scar on. "He's beyond creepy, isn't he?" The prince decided he needed to fish for information.
"He didn't seem like it at first . . ." Tsuzuki's eyes had a faraway look that made Hisoka nearly ache. He couldn't honestly say why he felt this way, but he kept quiet and listened intently to the other. As he waited he noticed that Tsuzuki continued to run his thumb along the scar.
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Watari took Tsuzuki's hand walking out of the study room. He made his way to the room his master had pointed out to him as they left. The tutor had quickly ordered them out of the room. Tsuzuki refused to move as had Watari until their masters gave them the word to move. While Tatsumi had done so immediately Watari watched as Hisoka hesitated then finally begrudgingly agreed. It was the perfect opportunity and Watari was not about to pass it up. He closed the door behind them and pulled Tsuzuki into the biggest hug he could. "Tsu! Are you all right? You aren't hurt are you? Is he treating you well? Did that rat bastard do anything to you?" Watari couldn't help it, he rattled off all of the questions. The last one had been directed at seeing Muraki at the ball.
"Tari! I'm fine." Tsuzuki's answer was quiet and subdued which immediately set off warning signals in Watari's head. "Master is pretty nice and I think he's starting to get used to me. Thank you for doing that spell on me." He smiled gently nuzzling Watari. It still seemed like an empty smile. Watari decided that he'd have to break their rule. Carefully he sat Tsuzuki down then sat down next to him.
"What did he do to you?" He knew his face was much more serious than anyone had ever seen before, but he was dead serious. Tsuzuki was his only friend and like his little brother. It bothered him that he didn't know what was wrong and it bothered him even more that there was nothing he could have done to protect the other. Tsuzuki seemed to understand the question and his smile dropped. He opened his mouth to protest and Watari shook his head. "No, Tsu. This goes beyond the promise." Watari took his wrist and turned it up. "This happened because of it. Tell me what happened."
"Tari . . ." Violet eyes refused to meet his own and that was when Watari knew he was starting to get through to the other. "I . . . please . . . I don't want to remember it all again . . ." Tsuzuki pleaded still not looking up. As much as it hurt him Watari couldn't quite let it go.
"Tsu, if you don't talk about it is only going to hurt you more." He set a hand on Tsuzuki's shoulder then pet him. He waited for a moment then hugged him. "I'm just trying to take care of you. I don't get to see you as often and I'm really worried." He didn't even try to hide the shudder that ran through him. It wasn't like Watari blamed their masters for being apart like that. He loved spending time with his master, but whenever he saw Tsuzuki miserable he always felt bad for enjoying time especially when it wasn't with him. He didn't know if the other prince was treating his friend like he deserved. What could he do if he wasn't?
"It can't hurt me anymore . . . it'll only hurt you and I'm not gonna do that." Tsuzuki shivered, but spoke with a sense of finality in his voice. Reluctantly Watari realized that he wasn't going to get anywhere. When Tsuzuki was protecting other people he was impossible to convince otherwise. With a small sigh he caved and hugged Tsuzuki tighter. They sat there in silence for a moment as Watari decided what to do next. After a few more minutes he decided that he had had enough of the silence and began tickling his friend with a grin. Tsuzuki wriggled and giggled as if on cue.
"Now, Tsu. Whatever could be so funny?" He continued to tickle him giggling himself. "It certainly isn't me is it?" He paused for a moment, enough for Tsuzuki to regain his breath before going back in again. The giggles sounded less like from the tickling and more like Tsuzuki was actually having fun. He tickled him for a few more minutes then let up.
"Tari, no fair." Tsuzuki slumped against Watari rubbing his eyes to get rid of the tears that had formed from laughing so hard. There was a small lingering smile on his face that brought another to Watari's own. Now it was time to switch conversations.
"So you got to sleep in your master's bed hmm? Someone melted the icy heart of the prince." He lightly poked Tsuzuki's side and grinned seeing the blush on his friend's face. Quickly Tsuzuki shook his head.
"H-he just had me sleep there, Tari. Nothing like that happened." His friend squirmed in the seat his blush deepening and Watari wondered what thought had caused that reaction. "I just don't fit in any of his clothes. All he has are these three things."
"Mmmm-hmmm. And you two ended up cuddled against each other while you slept." Watari said sarcastically until he saw the look on Tsuzuki's face. It was a bright blush with a surprised look. So that was what had happened. Well, that wasn't going to stop Watari from teasing him. "It looked so adorable. He was curled up against you, his head buried in your chest and you were holding him like a little teddy bear." He cooed lightly pinching his quickly reddening cheeks.
"Oh yeah! Well don't think I didn't notice you walkin' funny before." Tsuzuki retaliated poking his stomach. "I bet you woke up cuddled all close too." He teased with a grin. The problem was that Watari was in no way ashamed of what happened and quickly turned the tables on his friend.
"Of course and we had a little more fun before we came to wake you two up." He purred with a smirk. "It was sooo good." Watari chuckled seeing Tsuzuki's ears flatten a bit and a blush grow on his face. It always amused him to see how easy it was to get Tsuzuki to blush especially since he'd experienced much the same things many times over. While Tsuzuki was completely unashamed about most things, but when it came to sex he blushed just like a virgin. "I'm surprised we didn't wake the whole wing of the palace." His smirk grew although he wouldn't add any more details. Some things were not meant to be shared.
"Tariiiiiii!" Tsuzuki whined burying his face in his hands. "Too much information! I don't wanna know what you and Master's brother are doin'." Watari chuckled tickling him again. Tsuzuki squirmed giggling lightly.
"Yes you do. You wanna know every intimate detail so your itty bitty brain can imagine the whole thing." He continued teasing him as he tickled watching the giggles and blushes coming from his friend. There was a sound outside the door and Watari stopped tickling him. He lightly ruffled his hair then nuzzled him expecting that their time was up. As expected the doors were flung open and Hisoka was standing at them.
"Tsuzuki, we're going for a walk." Watari was a bit hurt when Tsuzuki immediately bolted up and ran after Hisoka. He knew though he might do much the same if it had been Tatsumi at the door. His master came in a few seconds after Hisoka and Watari quickly got up and ran over.
"I want to show you something." Tatsumi held out his hand and Watari quickly took it his fingers lacing with the prince's. They walked out Watari beaming the whole time.
Thank you all for your reviews. I do want to comment that these are from Hisoka and Watari's POV. Someone made a comment about Hisoka seeming weak, but when you see him mostly it is from his own point of view and we do know that our dear Soka-chan has some self-esteem issues. I do love hearing feedback so please give me constructive criticism. Oh, and my love. The beatings must continue until morale improves x3 3