A huge thanks to Perpetual Dreams and Akumarayne for the reviews, along with those favouriting, following, reading, etc. I know...I write very long chapters. I can't help it, lol, but its kind of all you bearing with me and my ramblings. Well, for one Alibaba seems to be getting his act together...sort of. He's still saying "but he's also a guy!" in my head a lot, lol. And Aladdin has fun teasing him.

Anyhow, enjoy~

Chapter 14

Finally relaxed, Alibaba found himself falling back in the carpet of soft grass surrounding him. There, in the patchwork of fields still close to the north most part of Sindria, it seemed Aladdin finally came to a halt. Either way, the prince wasn't too interested. With the aid of a lit joint, he wasn't thinking of much. Certainly not the evening slowly drawing to a close overhead, or even of the fact Hakuryuu had perhaps wanted him to return. Instead, he puffed lightly at the sturdy implement clenched between his teeth, and watched the shimmers of darkened smoke form before his eyes.

The skies overhead slowly flooded to a sunset of scarlet and gold, and Alibaba was content to not think. Vaguely he continued to watch the retreating Magi from the corner of his eye, right as that blue and white figure climbed the gentle slope of a hill. And came before his destination, which appeared to be the base of a towering, gold and white pillar-like structure. One so tall in fact the slender column had its summit all but obscured as it reached up into the light dusting of evening clouds far above them.

"This is it..." he heard Aladdin say. Even if the prince's increasingly hazed over mind had no real inclination why he'd sound so enthusiastic over a simple, yet elegant tower of all things.

Then he had his answer. Suddenly Alibaba felt that joint fall from his lips and sat up hurriedly at what he saw.

Only a moment had passed before the quiet, yet increasingly familiar sound of flute-song reached him. The indication of Aladdin's magic. So much he had expected. What he hadn't anticipated seeing was the gigantic, well muscled and blue arm suddenly appearing from the end of such a small, fragile-looking musical instrument, Ugo's arm shot out, reaching up so many miles into the air at the Magi's request. And apparently to fetch something from the top of that tower ahead of them.

"W-what was that?" Alibaba spluttered, even if he knew. His eyes stung from the sudden influx of thick smoke invading them as Aladdin smiled back. And steadily made his way back over. "That looks so disturbing you know..."

"Hm?" came back a light, unaffected inquiring as that arm faded from sight in a soft crackling of flame. And in his hands Aladdin held a large, yellow and blue mottled conch shell. "It would just be hard talking to you if I was flying up there, so he fetched this for me."

"...We weren't even talking just then," he flicked the end of that now extinguished joint aside as he nodded at the object held in front of him. "That's what you dragged us up here for? ...What is it?"

"It's a shell."

"...I can see that," but then, it seemed more like a magical object to him. Especially due to how brightly it shone, just from being held by Aladdin. Already, he could almost see those small, bird-shaped lights gather and become visible. And nosily swarm round them, as if obeying an unspoken command. "I meant what was a shell doing up there?"

"Yamaraiha put it there," Aladdin replied simply, as if that explained everything. Then, after a moment's silence, he expanded on that. "There's a dozen or so towers like this set around the island. Sensei told me every month or so, she visits all of them, and infuses them all with some of her magic. They all help power a barrier which surrounds and protects the island. That barrier's usually invisible to goi...em, non-magicians, though. I guess you can see it, right?"

Alibaba squinted up at the sky. Very slightly he watched a light and subtle sphere of gold form before his eyes. As if the whole island was wrapped in a protective shell of magic. "Just about, yes."

"I just thought I could try fixing it myself and helping her out a bit. And it helps me learn to focus my magic as well," that, embers and smoke crackled against Aladdin's palms. As if he was pouring his magic into that magical device. "...I hope I get it right, though. I'm not too used to concentrating so much power on such a small thing. I don't want to make it blow up."

Alibaba found himself backing away. "...That's not likely to happen. Right?"

"Huh? Oh no, of course not. I'll be careful."

Either way, that didn't seem so reassuring. "Isn't that a bit much for you, though? I don't really want you off collapsing again?"

"I'll be just fine, don't worry," then, somewhat inexplicably, those azure eyes shone brightly. As if the Magi had just remembered something. "Oh! You reminded me of something. Something I wanted to ask you. Say...that day you and oji-san found me– did you see anything?"

Really, it didn't take that long for Alibaba to remember. And even less time for that memory he had been trying to ignore to return. Embarrassment burned at his features before he turned away quickly. "No! N-Nothing! I didn't see a thing – and certainly nothing to do with you!"

Those flickering, scarlet flames Aladdin was using to work on the shell grew quieter, as if Aladdin was intrigued by the prince's reaction. "Really?"

"Really. Yes. And I had my eyes closed the whole time. So...forget it, alright?"

"I don't think so. Not when you're getting so loud and defensive again," he despised being scrutinised in such a way. "So – you took it, then?"

Alibaba also had no idea what he was being accused of taking. "No, I didn't take anything. Look...it was just a shock, alright? Seeing you...like that. I just helped you out of the bath though, I wasn't looking."

"...Looking at what? Me?"

"No," he replied flatly. And was fairly sure Aladdin was doing this on purpose. He chose to ignore him, yet with another soft note from the flute he turned slightly. Just in time to see that gigantic arm materialise again, and again replace the now glowing shell back upon the tower above. Hastily Alibaba dropped his hands, and quickly chased Aladdin as he walked away in the opposite direction. "...Why are you always like this?"

"Like what?" he was just given a blank look. And Aladdin slowed his pace a little. "I was just asking about something I misplaced, and wondered if you'd seen it. So why are you yelling?"

"...I wasn't yelling," together, they followed a long, narrow path cut over the vast hills. All Alibaba could guess was that they were seeking out another of those towers. "So, what were you talking about?"

"Something precious that went missing; something onii-san gave me."

"Oh. Alright. Well I'm sure it'll turn up so –"he noticed those eyes searching around him. As if closely observing those now again invisible flecks of light, as if such things could reveal more about Alibaba than he could himself. So he wafted them away, and much in the manner of a drowning man. Mainly as he disliked the notion so much could be learned from him in such a way. "Stop It!"

"...Stop what?"

"I didn't pick anything up," he blustered out. "Really, I didn't. Why would I take something your brother gave you?" I just...saw you and...look! I only noticed girls before, alright? And I've only kissed girls before. Alright... one girl. And she kissed me instead. Once – and on the cheek," Aladdin's eyes flicked back to him, rather than scouring the air surrounding them. "...And she was my best friend's sister."

The Magi just nodded, seemingly not too interested in the rushed pouring of information of the prince's romantic history. Or therefore lack of. "Hm, but you want to kiss me?"

"...Must you fixate on that and nothing else?"

Aladdin shrugged. "I guess back on that night I was looking forward to it. Onii-san never let me kiss anyone. Well, I could kiss you instead, then?"

"...I'll kiss you when I'm good and ready, ok," Alibaba just sighed as they reached the second of those pillars, just as tall as the last. Right as he saw the bright expression directed at him, he regretted saying something like that. As if Aladdin was in fact now expecting...that...to happen. "...You're so easily distracted! Just...go fix that shell of yours."

He was simply given a nod, a slight smile playing over the Magi's features as he passed to walk on ahead. Once again Alibaba found himself watching the strange scene of a muscled arm protruding as if from nowhere, and snatching down another shell from the obscured heights above them. This one was pure white and adorned with swirls of aqua-blue. "It's pretty amazing what sensei did. She's so talented."

"Yeah..." he agreed. "What about you, though? Did you study music, too?"

"Huh?" for a moment that question seemed to surprise him. Aladdin then perched the cumbersome shell awkwardly in the crook of his arm to inspect that glittering flute hung around his neck. "You mean this? Ugo-kun taught me how to play it. He said if I did, he'd always be able to help me. But..." he frowned, looking troubled. "...Now you mention it, I don't remember that. His teaching me just...happened." That expression lightened just moments later. "But you picked up habits from your friend too, right?"

"Sure, stuff like smoking. Nothing like learning to play and instrument," Alibaba muttered. "And it's a pain, Hakuryuu just glares at me when I do it and that's the first time I've smoked in ages. I guess that Kassim didn't have too many good habits."

"...Kassim? You know, I've heard that name somewhere before."

He glanced over curiously. "Really? I didn't think that name would be so common back where you're from."

"...It isn't, where did I hear it..?" not for the first time, a troubled shadow obscured Aladdin's features. As if, much like when being asked about his flute, he was attempting to recall a memory which never came. He shrugged, as if convincing it didn't bother him, before curling up on the grass. And for a moment distracted himself by focusing his now fiery palms onto the shell in his lap.

Alibaba lay back too, this time surprised to see the suggestion of stars collecting above him. "Ah...it's that bird again. Do you remember?" he indicated an all too familiar flash of peach and ruby tail feathers flitting past above them. And that spy-bird of Sinbad's looking down at them. "...Is he watching you again?"

He heard a sigh, and watched a slim hand gesture as if wafting the magical animal away. "...Yes. Oji-san stop it, I'm fine."

Within moments, and haughty at being discovered, the bird seemed to all but disappear and perch on that slender white tower above them. "...I guess that's what it is to be a Magi. You have people watching you closely."

Aladdin nodded. And seemed to be waiting until they were alone before speaking again. "Him especially. He's always been close to us, though. Ever since we were young, and onii-san would raise dungeons a lot. Those two talked all the time, and Judal always helped him even if he was told not to. And they'd also fight a lot. When Sinbad came to Kou, he wanted my brother to come here instead of me."

"Well, if he had, I'd not have met you," the prince considered. "He told me he thinks of you as family. And I guess any king would want a Magi supporting him."

"Like you?"

"Ah..." not that Alibaba was really losing his nervousness over the prospect of becoming a king. "Yes. But what if Sinbad asked you to stay? What would you do?"

"I don't think I'd be allowed to," came the reply, as the two watched the last of the evening die upon the glistening horizon. "If I don't go back, they'd come get me anyway."

"...Sounds dangerous," but then, he guessed it would make sense. Kou seemed to pride themselves on their Magi. Perhaps that was why Sinbad had warned him of speaking about the black rukh, afraid of what Aladdin could say to his empire. But then, he thought the King of Sindria would want him to stay. And part of him felt he would at least try and ask."

"Oji-san is a little tough to talk to," Aladdin commented, as if confirming the prince's thoughts. "It's why I asked you about that lock of my brother's hair that went missing, and not him. You're easy to talk to." Really...Alibaba wished he could say the same. Yet the Magi was someone he still found a little infuriating at times. "It's hard to explain, but his rukh shine so brightly. Sometimes it's hard to even look at him. I...think if he did ask me to stay, it would be hard to say no."

"Harder when you go and raise a dungeon for me and Hakuryuu, too."

"Hm?" he was asked, the Magi sounding a little confused. Then his voice became cheerful. "Ah, you know I haven't actually done that before. Don't look at me like that – onii-san just liked doing it so much. I never got to learn how too. But it can't be that tough; I'll figure it out when I'm there."

He just stared at a moment, before a slight laugh escaped him. Alibaba just found it somewhat amusing that someone like a Magi was out of sorts with such a thing. "...Figure it out when you get there, huh? You're hopeless."

"Hey! It's not my fault!" Aladdin declared loudly, and somewhat defensively. "I'll work it out, really I will. I –"

Abruptly, the prince shifted up and felt himself leaning over. Well, one way another he felt Hakuryuu was right anyway. There was no real point denying it. Certainly this seemed something fairly important to the Magi, or at least important enough for him to not cease speaking of it. As he reached down, he felt his lips brush softly, and hurriedly, over the Magi's cheek. And insistently felt those azure eyes widen and that nervous babbling to grow quiet.

"Erm..." he started, as he sat back and watched Aladdin reach up, surprised, and rubbed a hand over his cheek. "Was...that alright?"

The Magi blinked, nodding and looked back at him almost curiously. He just sat there, that glowing shell still perched and forgotten in his lap. Finally he nodded, and smiled. "Yes. That was my first kiss."

"...So you told me," he averted his eyes quickly. "Which is weird, as you were so pushy about it."

"Really? I've never been called pushy before," that shell continued being cradled, and the prince felt himself being watched. Yet somehow and even sitting there, in the enveloping darkness and the growing chill of night, he felt Aladdin a little less awkward to deal with than mere moments before. "But now we've done it, we can do it again sometime."

"...Sometime," Alibaba rubbed over his own neck nervously at that. "Just...give me a little time, alright?"

Ren Kouen never expected any of this to happen, not really. Truly, he had expected his time in Balbadd to be...easy, and brief. And it should have been. The portside kingdom should have served as a foothold to the west, and then he should have moved on. Either venturing to Magnostadt or possibly even Reim, or heading south to where several of his allies were. And where he had requested Koumei to go. Yet none of that had happened.

He wasn't allowed to leave, not yet, so instead he waited. At the time, Kouen didn't know that Ren Koutoku had passed away, or that Gyokuen had proclaimed herself Empress in his absence. For so long he had asked those strange men, those priests, for news as they trickled into the country and had been told nothing. Reluctantly he stood there stagnate, and in a place rapidity losing its beauty. How different was that place he had seen as a child. Sram had become so drab and derelict from its swift decline into the thrall of dark magic, it seemed. A fate that his own home and empire had also suffered.

For now, the First Prince simply accepted what was happening. As he didn't have much choice either way.

His stay in Balbadd had certainly been permanent enough for Kouen to move into the palace. And it seemed enough for the Twenty-Third King of Balbadd to order him at the man's volition. As it was tonight at such an anti-social hour that he was roused from his sleep, and demanded of an audience. Still yawning, and smoothing down his wild red hair at that.

"...What's the meaning of his? What does his majesty need for me?" the so-named Governor of Balbadd demanded. Currently he was following a short, somewhat frail looking servant down a long, ruby red carpet towards the throne room. Where he was told Abhmad was waiting. This servant he already disliked - and a lot. As such a person not only insisted on covering his head with an emerald keffiyeh, but also refused to meet his eye. Kouen thought he was suspicious. And had no idea why such a person was entrusted here, given all that had occurred.

"Your Highness. Someone as gracious and magnificence as the King of Balbadd would not share such information with the likes of me..." added to that, he was also insincere.

Kouen's light scarlet eyes, and gave a short nod. Shuu and Ri, his two must trusted yet wizened men once serving his as his father's generals for many years, seemed to obey an unspoken command. Quickly the First Prince swept up that long, pale and mirrored hallway to cut in front of that rude servant. Who was even now so rudely leading them, rather than hanging back as he should. Even then, that insolent person refused to meet his eye. "You're suspicious. Show me your face."

The servant looked to him, and then to the two men stood behind him. As if trapping him there. Slowly a glimpse of a short, uneven white fringe became visible. Then a freckled face tilted up to look at him. Faded eyes bearing a sharp, intelligent emerald considered the First Prince silently. Almost mocking the fact that his identity hadn't been noticed sooner. "Of course, your Highness. Forgive my rudeness."

Certainly he was someone Kouen had seen before. And that voice was familiar. "...Just what is Sinbad doing - sending one of his men to spy on me?"

"I'm not spying on you. But he'd be amused you thought that," try as he might, Kouen couldn't remember this person's name. But then he doubted it mattered. "I am working for his Highness at my own initiative rather than my king's. Abhmad was thankful for my help. The truth is I haven't been here very long."

"If one of those magicians notices you, I doubt you'll be here much longer," he'd guess that man of Sinbad's knew as much. Part of Kouen even believed this person wasn't doing all this on his king's orders anyway. But then, that questionable ally and somewhat untrustworthy friend could well be trying to work something out with Abhmad.

"I don't intend for them to see me. I chose to see you, however," he watched the man's expression as he spoke, mainly as those eyes interested him. Something about him seemed somehow dangerous, despite Kouen initially being unimpressed by him. To him, it seemed Sinbad certainly had interesting people willing to serve him. "Abhmad doesn't trust many, but he might need to trust you. If it's not too bold to say, please make good use of the time you have with his Highness. With those men...it won't be often for him to converse in peace."

Kouen considered this for a moment, and nodded. And nodded at his men. "Very well. Kokuhyou, Seiryuu - keep an eye on him, will you? See that he doesn't go anywhere he shouldn't."

And that underling of Sinbad's just smiled. As if certain he could slip away from two men who had spent decades fighting and dealing with troublesome people. Such a thing seemed arrogant, yet Kouen was curious if he could evade them. And would be impressed if he could.

"As you wish," that suspicious person commented mildly, as they reached the throne room and looked seemed prepared to be escorted away. "Actually, I haven't seen your brother here a while. Is he well?"

"I don't see how that is your business," the First Prince replied dryly. He then gave him a second look, looked about as if paranoid they would be overheard. "Koumei is travelling, I told him to catch a ship and head south. Where it was safe," That man looked back at him. As if knowing full well that Kouen tended to only consider one of his brothers safe if they were at his side. It was a warning of how dangerous Balbadd was now, and he seemed to adhere to its meaning.

"I hope he's well then..." and he turned. Again walking ahead of the two men following him as he turned to leave.

"Send your king my regards," Kouen told his retreating back. Then, he turned to enter the throne room. Moonlight was strewn over the massive and silent room, and his shoes echoed over the pale olive, tiled floor as he passed over it, Curtains of deep plum wafted lazily over the shadows, and as he drew close he noticed that man of Sinbad's had been right. There he was, at the top of light green and shining steps and lounging on his throne in wait. Abhmad's squat figure was there, alone with no guards to be seen, and at such a time.

"Put aside your weapon. I have no taste for such things," a pronounced, booming and somewhat simpering voice demanded of him. Kouen arched a thin eyebrow, yet unclasped his sword serving as two of his metallic vessels from aside. He set them to lean against one of the sparkling gold pillars inlaid with emerald tiles nearby, and strode up to meet him.

He had no taste, of course, to be ordered in such a way. But then all of this seemed genuine enough. He knew that from the impatience all but splashed over Abhmad's rosy cheeks and the way he stared down upon the much taller man. The king lounging on his plum and gold-embroidered throne tilted up his chubby face, and that gleaming and jewelled crown he wore was blinding as his garishly pink clothes. At a glance, as was Kouen's impression of Abhmad months ago, he was little more than a fat, incompetent idiot. And little more than a puppet for the priests of his Empire to use and do as they wished.

Yet the events past seemed to have taken their toll on the twenty-third King of Balbadd, certainly. Even if it was subdued, his small and dark eyes seemed all the more sullen, his feathers seemingly drained of their high spirits. Kouen just about remembered being informed that after Rashid Saluja's death, and as barely more than a child, he had been thrown into ruling his kingdom. And had since succeeded in selling his people to slavery, and economic ruin along with executing any who opposed him. Tricked or not, he was the one blamed by his people for such terrible things.

"That...servant of yours said you wanted to speak to me," Kouen declared simply. He would place aside his weapons, of course, but he didn't intend to bow. Which may well have annoyed the king sitting in front of him, but he gave no sign of that. Perhaps, depressingly, he was used to such a thing.

Unreadable, Abhmad merely learned a sturdy palm up against his generous cheek and nodded. "You mean that slave of Sinbad's? I don't care for that commoner king, but if he wants to aid me I won't stop him. If they can help my kingdom...why not?"

"...I'm fairly sure he isn't a slave," but he doubted Abhmad cared to know that.

Kouen recalled his conversation with Sinbad all too well. How both of them barely recognised the country for what it had come. Since then, and predictably, Balbadd's condition had only worsened – her capital of Sram especially. Her streets even by day were plagued by constant fogs of diseased green and bloodied red. Such mists gushed so thickly here, at the capital's heart. To the point where the once beautiful, vibrant and prosperous ocean-side country and its islands under Rashid were unrecognisable. And it was slowly being engulfed by that cold, darkening undercurrent threatening to consume it. And unfortunately, it was nothing the First Prince hadn't seen before. It was the same fate befalling his own country, his own future empire. Above that, his home.

"My own people are saying I'm not fit to rule, you know," Abhmad piped up abruptly. "Yet those men Kou – your empire - send claimed I did the right thing. What do you think?"

"I think I've seen how you treat your enemies. So I'd prefer not to comment."

"Hmph..." those eyes squinted to moonlight and scanned him closely. "I simply have no desire to follow my father to an early death. There were so many traitors, and all wanted me dead. That bastard calling himself my brother included. It scared me – they all used strange black weapons. Swords I recognised. I remember those foul things were what Father lost his life to."

Kouen could only guess what he meant be that. It was possible they were the very same weapons used, and found their way to new hands even now. "Why would you think that?"

"I don't think anything. I know. It's what your priests told me," even if Kouen was reluctant to name them as his priests. "But yes, he was killed by weapons just like that, I remember it. Then they were used to try and kill me. My own people chose that...that slum-trash bastard brother of mine over me. So those men from Kou offered to help me, and execute them all for daring to raise a hand to me."

Kouen nodded. "So that's why you accepted my country's help?"

"Why shouldn't I? The king insisted. "The people dragged before me were begging for their families' lives moments after threatening mine. Their king. They tried to kill me. So I wanted them all destroyed. But then they stabbed themselves...becoming monsters. Like those years ago..."

He trailed off, the pain of a memory crossing his eyes. Yet Kouen had little sympathy however, save for the fact this confirmed those same priests were involved in the incident to claim Rashid's life. Regardless, he just saw this as his fault. The sobbing king was the one to accept the help of those priests. And dissolved Balbadd into little more than a barren nest of slavery. He grew impatient. "...Yes, but what does this have to do with me? Or would you have my help, too?"

"...I've heard about you. Those men told me not to trust you, but the slave Sinbad sent..." he paused, and cleared his throat. "I want to know, first, if what those priests told me was true."

"Which part? I'm sure they told you a lot." Puppet or not, Kouen didn't feel as kind as Sinbad might over such a matter. What interest did he have, helping such a weak kingdom and an incompetent ruler?

"...About the legend. That you'll be king of everywhere some day. Even here."

"It's just a legend," Kouen replied simply. And lied. "I believe it as my father told me this much, and I wanted to walk in his footsteps. And as my people said the legend was about me, it interested me. When..." he paused, thinking. "When I was a boy, he had already begun bringing those magic-hated countries far to the east under our control. He borrowed the magic of those priests, and with their power any we faced yielded. I don't care for them, but if they offer their power I will use them. But I want to be like him. As he told me I would be a great emperor. I believe I will be the One King, and have taken three dungeons and those fluent in Toran legend telling me such. But, above that, I have our two Magi to guide me. And their support is what so many people lack."

"...Including me," Abhmad replied quietly. Thick fingers were raised to his temple, rubbing against it as though he was getting a headache. "No one has ever said such things to me. Not Father, not my advisors...or what to do. I can't complete with men like you, or Sinbad. I...need help. For both of you to help me take back Balbadd."

"The Commoner King?" Kouen had to smile at that. "Sinbad will help you, at least."

"But..."

It was then that Abhmad's pleas died to the air at the sound of incoming footsteps. Kouen wasn't so surprised, really, he doubted they'd be able to speak for that long. But then, the conversation had hardly been to his taste. The shadows seemed somewhat more chilled and darker as two men entered the throne room. "Ah, there you are, Entei-sama...so strange to see you here at this time of night. Did you get lost?"

Slowly Kouen descended the steps, recognising the voice of the mysterious man calling himself Ithnan. As he approached, Abhmad's voice shot out from behind him. "I wanted a private audience here, so leave."

Yet all Ithnan did was lean on his staff and gave a low chuckle. He glanced behind him, and Kouen followed his gaze to a second priest. One somewhat slighter of build and shorter, and likewise obscured his features with a white veil. And, seeing somewhat bored, simply leaned against one of the tall pillars leading into the room.

"See how fierce you've become, your Majesty," the strange man laughed at nothing in particular. "Forceful...it seems ruling agrees with you." He appeared to be watching Kouen, his eyes were fixed to the curled up, and sealed letter held in a gloved hand. He thought he knew what that was. "Yes, Kouen, I'd thought you'd want this. Your mother asked me to bring you news."

...Step mother, even if he knew better than correct them. Or to voice the resentment he felt for such a person, or that woman. "We'll speak later," Kouen announced dismissively to Abhmad. Truly, he doubted anything would make him want to aid that person. And right now, this was more of interest to him. Even if Ithnan had nefarious intentions, and more than likely he did, it would be worth hearing word of the events in Kou.