Rating: K+ (for a smidgeon of shounen-ai)

Atsushi ran the brush through his charge's hair, admiring how soft and silky it was. The demon was staring listlessly into the mirror, his gaze seeming to go right through it. He hadn't eaten in a several days and sleep had been out of the question for the past week. Of course, as a demon – especially one of his power – it was not necessary to sleep and eat very often, but still, the war demon wished he would eat something. Nine days had passed since Masahiko had been declared dead, and the whole palace was just starting to come out of mourning, except InuTaisho, who was still lost in depression.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly even though he already knew the demon prince was anything but okay. He reached around and embraced the young demon, resting his chin on the younger's shoulder. He's too young to be shouldering such a burden, he thought ruefully. The loss of his father and having to take on the Lordship of the West and the South, it's so sad that he has to handle all this. InuTaisho turned to face his caretaker and returned the embrace, burying his face into the other man's shoulder. He choked down a sob.

"Th-this is too fast," the silver-haired demon whispered. "It's all too soon."

"Shhh…I'm sorry…" Atsushi murmured, rubbing his back. He couldn't, after all, tell the young lord that it was okay – he'd lost his father, after all – so he had no way other to comfort him. "I'm so sorry. If I had been there…"

"Don't do that. The 'what if's' do no good."

"I know. Let's get you changed for the ceremony."

"I don't want it. I'm not ready for this, yet."

"I know you don't want it, but it's your duty, and you are ready. I know you can do this." Taisho's eyes gleamed with tears as he looked up at his caretaker.

"I suppose all wars have casualties, and his life was not the only one lost, but…" he muttered. "Was it worth it…if this was the price of winning the war?" Atsushi stroked the young lord's cheek.

"Clearly he believed it was. And these questions…do us no good, anymore." Now the war demon picked up a ceremonial robe from where it was hanging on a chair. He slid it on over the prince's haori and hakama, arranging it in neat folds around him. It was a royal purple trimmed in gold, too festive for the tone of the day. Then, the war demon pulled the prince's hair up into a high ponytail, tying it securely with a dark purple hair tie. "Please try to smile a little, okay?"

"I will," InuTaisho replied, forcing a little bit of a smile. Now he took the older demon's face between his hands. "Atsushi…you've been taking care of me for seventy years. You have served my father for all that time, as well. You have advised him in political matters and assisted me with my personal studies. You have displayed a great amount of wisdom, courage, and intelligence…" He trailed off, taking a deep breath.

"Thank you, My Lord," Atsushi replied, a little mystified by the unexpected compliments.

"I'm not done," InuTaisho continued. "What I'm trying to say is…I want to bestow on you part of my inheritance. I want to give you the Southern lands," Taisho finished. The war demon gaped at him.

"W-what?" he stammered.

"I am not ready to take on the Southern lands; I would like you to take on the South at least until I am capable of handling both areas. Will you please do this for me?" Atsushi embraced him.

"I would be honored, My Lord," he murmured. After seventy-years of watching politics, he had a fairly good idea of how things worked.

"Thank you." There was a knock on the door and InuTaisho pulled away. "Come in," he called, and a servant poked his head in.

"My Lord, the Ceremony of Ascension is about to begin." The young demon forced a quick smile and they left. The ceremony hall was lit with numerous candles which lined the walls. The crowd there was somber, caught between celebrating the ascension of their new lord and the death of his father. At the head of the room stood the council, awaiting the approach of the new lord. InuTaisho walked up the aisle, listening to the whispers of the other demons.

"Prince InuTaisho of the South and the West, the heir of Lord Masahiko, do you accept the titles of Lord of the South and West and The Great Dog Demon?" the head of the council asked. Hesitation.

"No," InuTaisho declared loudly. He turned to face the crowd. "Ever since I was a young boy, I have been watched over and taken care of by a close friend to our family. I owe this man my life, as he has always been the for me, teaching me to defend myself and protecting me himself. He has advised my father and myself in both politics and personal life. I know of no better candidate for Lordship of the South than my caretaker, Atsushi the War Demon. As for me, I will accept the Western Lands and the title of Great Dog Demon." The demon now turned to face the council. "Does the council acknowledge my decision and accept Atsushi as Lord of the South?" The question was followed by shocked silence. Then…

"The Council accepts Atsushi as the Lord of the South and declares Lord InuTaisho as Lord of the West and the Great Dog Demon." The crowd applauded as Atsushi joined Taisho before the council. The ceremony progressed and ended quickly. As soon as he could, Atsushi slipped away from the ceremony hall and made his way through the halls. He went straight to Takeo's office and came in without knocking. The healer, who normally would've been at the ceremony, was sitting at the window, staring out into the night.

"Takeo," Atsushi whispered. "I…I know you didn't want anyone around, but…but you can't just sit here alone, anymore." He walked over to the healer. "I know that Masahiko was like a father to you, and I am sorry…that things ended like this, but please…" He walked over and laid a hand on his friend's shoulder. The fox demon looked up at him with tear-stained cheeks, and the war demon's chest clenched painfully.

"Atsushi," he whispered. "I…I know I shouldn't…shouldn't do this, b-but…" The purple-haired demon gathered the smaller man into his arms, pulling him to his feet and embracing him tightly.

"Shhh…I'm sorry…" he whispered. Takeo let out a strangled sob. "Oh, Takeo…" The newly-lorded demon kissed the healer's head. "I'm so sorry…" Unlike Taisho, Takeo was not granted the favor of being able to mourn the way a son would for a father, even if Masahiko had been the only father he'd ever known. He was forced to mourn in private and keep up pretenses around everyone else. And on top of that, he had been there, when Masahiko had died. He'd been trying to treat his wounds and save him but had failed. "I'm so, so sorry."

"I just…I should've been able to save him."

"It's not your fault. Takeo…" He forced the fox demon to look at him. "This is not your fault. You did everything you could, and you are in no way to blame. Do you understand?" The healer attempted a small smile.

"Thank you, Atsushi. I just…I can hear them…telling each other…when I came back alone…Kami, I could hear them whispering…I failed. Atsushi…!" He broke down into sobs, again. "Why couldn't I save him?"

"Takeo, it is not your fault! You did everything you could! War has casualties. Not to sound crass or uncaring but…but, Kami, Takeo, you can't beat yourself up over this, anymore! You're not eating or sleeping or doing anything to take care of yourself. I can't watch you do this to yourself, anymore." Atsushi grabbed the healer and held him at arm's length. "All this time…you've been here for me, helping me cope with everything and learning how to fit in with this society and everything. Please…let me be here for you, now."

"Thank you, Atsushi. You're right…of course…that these 'what if's' and 'if only's' are doing me no good. I just can't believe he's dead. I mean, I was there…he was i-in my arms, a-and his blood was everywhere…it was all over me. I was…I was trying to stop it, trying to give him some of my Ki to last him, b-but he was fading too fast. H-he t-touched my cheek…he told me to…take care of his s-son. He…he said he loved me…and he wanted me to tell Taisho…that he loved him. And then he was dead, Atsushi. He was dead in my arms…in my lap, and I can't fix that. Dead is dead. No bringing them back."

"I'm sorry. Oh…Takeo…" Atsushi drew him in again.

"W-when I told Taisho…about his father…Kami, I never wanted to do something like that. It was horrible. He…he couldn't even look at me. I never wanted to hurt him like that."

"You didn't. You just were the unfortunate deliverer of bad news. You didn't hurt him at all, okay?" They stood there in each other's arms for a long, long while until finally Takeo was all cried out. He leaned back, sniffling a little.

"Thank you, Atsushi. I guess I needed that." The war demon wiped the tears from his cheeks before they could dry there.

"Takeo, I…I just want you to be happy."

"I'll be okay in time. I'm sorry for dumping all this on you and making you pick up the pieces of this tragedy."

"You're not making me do anything, Takeo. I want to take care of you the way you've taken care of me. I want to see you happy and smiling. I…I love you." The healer stared at him, shocked by the sudden confession. Horror dawned on the war demon as he realized what he'd just said. He'd intended to keep it a secret, ever since he realized about twenty years back. They had been traveling and had come under attack from some Birds of Paradise. Takeo had gotten wounded in the crossfire, and while he was taking care of him, Atsushi had realized just how panicked he was. It was the first time he had come in danger of losing the healer. It was then that he knew what he felt for Takeo was not just friendship or gratitude. But Takeo was still young and would probably find himself a nice fox demon-ess to mate, so he had vowed never to say anything about it.

"You-?"

"Please forget what I just said!" Atsushi cried, horrified. "I am so sorry. I…I didn't…!" At an utter loss for words, he turned to flee, but the fox demon caught his wrist and pulled him back…straight into a kiss. He froze, his heart pounding loud in his ears, his breath caught in his throat. Wh-what? He…he's kissing…me? The war demon's mind refused to process the situation. Then, the healer pulled back a little.

"Why did you never tell me?" he asked.

"W-what?"

"Why didn't you tell me…how you felt?"

"Because…you'll find a nice female fox to mate, and I don't want your compassionate heart to get in the way of that. I didn't want to hold you back."

"And what if…I felt the same way?"

"I…hadn't thought of that." Takeo let out a wry chuckle. "Do you? Feel the same way, that is?" The fox demon nodded.

"That's why…it was so hard…to look you in the face, after I failed to save Lord Masahiko. I couldn't bear to let you see my shame…I didn't want you to see me like that," he admitted softly. Atsushi leaned in and tentatively kissed him.

"Don't hide from me…ever. Lean on me and trust me with your weakness so I can be your strength," he whispered. Takeo nodded and the war demon smiled a little. "Good. Oh…um, I…I have something to tell you."

"What is it?"

"InuTaisho…eh, Lord InuTaisho…made me Lord of the South."

"What?"

"J-just until he's ready to take on all that responsibility. It's pretty temporary."

"I see. Congratulations, My Lord."

"Don't call me that. I'm just Atsushi."

"Alright, Atsushi. Thanks…for coming to check on me. You're right that I need to move on, now…it's been a little more than a week since his death, and I…all of us need to heal." The war demon embraced him one, more time before walking off to try to make InuTaisho eat and sleep a little.

Okay, I guess I couldn't decide if I wanted a happy or sad chapter, so it's a bit of both. Anyways, I didn't feel like being depressed, so I ended on a happy note instead of a sad one...kind of. Anyways, sorry that I didn't spend a whole lot of time on Masahiko's life and everything, but I feel like "After Five Days" has given us a LOT of insight into the general type of life that demon nobility have, so I didn't want to linger on it. Remember, these are one-shots, lots of stuff is missing. Anyways, thanks for reading. Please review!