"Shion, I seriously have to go." Nezumi murmured. It had been a week since he started his new job, but he still felt that he was on a bit of thin ice as far showing up late.

"What? I'm not doing anything." Shion said innocently. It would have almost been believable, if his mouth hadn't been slightly muffled against Nezumi's neck.

Nezumi chuckled, his eyelids slipping closed again. He was severely tempted to give in to Shion and tell Sal to go screw himself. He'd already been too distant from Shion the past few days. A side effect of Shion's curiosity and Nezumi's determination not to tell him a damn thing. But tonight Shion had been needy in a whole different way, and Nezumi was having a hard time convincing himself that work was more important.

He sighed, "Do you think you could hold onto this mood until I get back?"

Shion pouted, "You get back so late, and you're always exhausted."

Nezumi made a face. It was true, but…

"I'll see if I can come back early, okay?" Nezumi smiled evilly. He knew ways to speed up closing time, he'd just have to be a little heavy handed with his pouring tonight.

Shion gave in with a huff. "Fine!"

Nezumi mussed his hair as he sat up. "Good boy." Shion glared.

Nezumi pulled on his jacket and scarf as he got up, followed by his boots. As he pushed open the cellar doors cool air rushed in as dusk began to fall outside.

"Now Shion-," Nezumi began.

"Stay inside?" The white haired sighed. "I know. I will."

Nezumi smiled, "And work on patching those clothes for our neighbors. If I can take them back by tomorrow they said they will give us extra potatoes."

Shion nodded. "Sure." And Nezumi shut the doors behind him.

It was a busy night at the tavern. It seemed some knights coming back from abroad had stopped for in some cheap company before heading back to the castle and it made Nezumi edgy.

He knew Shion wasn't breaking any rules here, but he couldn't help but worry. What if one day the king decided Shion was more trouble alive than he was worth?

Nezumi tried to shake the thought from his head.

"'Ey Ratty. Take some drinks over to the table in the corner, will 'ye? My girls are a little preoccupied at the moment." Sal sniggered.

Oh, Nezumi could see they were preoccupied. A little more publicly than was decent too. Nezumi suppressed a violent reaction.

As he took the tray over, he saw one of the knights sitting at the table look up at him. He was clearly drunk, but he also looked very intent as he eyed him.

Nezumi instantly got a bad feeling in his stomach.

"….you really think?" one of the knights, who didn't happen to have a girl in his lap, was asking another.

"Well something strange is going on at the palace…"

Nezumi stiffened.

What?

"You know…" the other knight glanced around nervously. "Some people were saying–,"

"Hey!"

Nezumi jerked as the knight who had been staring at him shouted. "I remember you!"

Nezumi turned to look at him, eyes narrowing. "What?" he asked coldly.

"Yeah! I know I've seen your face before." The knight slurred, scrutinizing him. "You…."

Nezumi glared daggers at him. "I don't think so. You're drunk."

The knight bristled at that. "Don't talk to me like that!"

Nezumi bore his teeth before he could get control of himself, and suddenly the knight's eyes widened.

"Wait a minute… can't be… it's the prince's whore!"

Nezumi's eyes widened.

"Excuse me?" He feigned offense and confusion instantly. "I'm the bar tender, not one of the whores. I don't know what you're–"

"Not here!" the knight stood up, "You're the one who left the castle with the prince."

Nezumi tensed, he found himself reaching for his dagger.

"Whoa, whoa." The knight held up his hands. "Calm down. I'm not going to hurt you."

"Oh?" Nezumi sneered. "How generous."

"No really," The knight looked around. "I mostly wanted to ask… do you know where the prince ended up?"

"No." Nezumi said smoothly and without hesitation.

The knight deflated. "Really? Because…"

"Because what?" Nezumi raised an eyebrow.

The knight glanced around. "Any way that I could talk to you outside?"

"Why?" Nezumi demanded, tensing again.

The knight frowned and motioned for Nezumi to join him in a slightly quieter corner a few feet away.

"Here," The knight reached into his bag and pulled out a piece of parchment. "If you do see the prince again, he should probably know about this."

He handed the paper over to Nezumi, who unfolded it and read slowly. His eyes widened.

"Who else knows about this?" Nezumi demanded.

"Most people in the castle town." The knight looked sad. "But… the king doesn't want to start a panic."

"Of course he doesn't." Nezumi's eyes narrowed.

"Look…" The knight looked nervous. "Don't go tellin' a lot of people. I just thought…"

"Did you know Shion well then?" Nezumi asked. "You must have if your want to protect him, even now."

The knight looked down. "I don't know if I'd say that. It was… just hard not to like him is all."

Nezumi looked down too. "Yeah. I know." then he turned around and walked away with a wave over his shoulder.

"Sal!" Nezumi called over the bar. "I have to duck out for the night."

"What?" Sal demanded, looking furious. "But the place is packed, we need you!"

Nezumi pressed his lips together. "I know… but this is…"

Sal glared for a moment, then suddenly he grinned.

"I guess I could suffer through without you this once." Sal said slowly. "If you agree to dance tomorrow night to make up for it.

Nezumi's eyes flew wide. "What? I'm not letting anyone touch me Sal. You know that."

Sal grinned wider, "Then take the stage shift. No one will touch you up there."

Nezumi gritted his teeth.

"Fine." He agreed tersely. "but I swear, anyone lays a hand on me and they lose it. Got it Sal?"

Sal laughed and it sounded horse as coughing. "Got it, got it, my little Ratty. I'll see you tomorrow night." he flashed his yellow teeth.

Nezumi stuffed his hand in his pocket to keep from punching him and stormed out of the tavern.

"Wow, you are back early." Said Shion when Nezumi returned, and he smiled. "Look, I finished those clothes–,'

"Shion." Nezumi's voice was cutting and insistent and Shion stopped.

"What?" The white haired asked nervously. "is something wrong?"

Nezumi pulled the piece of parchment out of his pocket and handed it to Shion.

Shion looked at it.

It was a bulletin for the Royal Guard. No one in or out of the palace until further notice. The king is indisposed.

Shion's eyes widened.

Indisposed.

That word…. it only meant one thing at the castle.

"He's sick?" Shion swallowed hard. "How long…"

Nezumi pointed to the top corner of the paper. It had been dated a week ago.

"And he's still…?" Shion trailed off.

Nezumi looked down. "As far as I know."

There was silence for a long time as Shion stared at the paper. Then finally he sat down on the bed and sighed.

"You know…" He said, with no emotion on his face. "Rikiga said something to me once, about what it mean to be king. He said, being a ruler means living as if you were never human."

"Well that explains some things," Nezumi admitted bitterly, sitting down beside Shion. Shion gave the ghost of a smile.

"Yeah I guess it does." his eyes saddened. "Nezumi… I don't think he'd lift the exile on me. Not even now. If I tried to go back… I think they would kill me."

Nezumi tensed all the way down his spine. "Are you thinking about doing that?"

Shion didn't respond.

Nezumi turned harshly and stared at him. He was about to grab him by the shoulders and say that he wasn't going to let him do it when suddenly Shion said, "No. I don't think it would do any good."

Nezumi relaxed.

Shion shook his head. "I mostly feel bad for my mother. But, well… She wouldn't want me to risk my life, and maybe someday…. things will be different." Shion ran a hand over his face.

Nezumi looked away. He felt almost like he needed to give Shion a moment. But then…

A soft sound.

Nezumi's eyes widened, "Shion?"

Shion had a hand over his eyes, but a tear slipped through, sliding over his cheek.

"Shion?" Nezumi felt suddenly panicked. He didn't actually know how to handle crying. He didn't generally find himself in these sorts of situations.

Shion shook his head, and rubbed his hand across his eyes. "I'm fine," He said quickly, finding a smile and opening his eyes to look at Nezumi. At Nezumi's nervous expression he laughed.

Shion leaned into Nezumi's side, resting his head on his shoulder. "Did I worry you, Nezumi?"

Nezumi raised his arm and wrapped it around Shion's shoulders, pulling him closer. "Yes, you idiot." Nezumi grumbled, looking to the side. Shion's expression soften.

"Good." He murmured. "You're…" Shion trailed off, not finishing his sentence. Nezumi almost asked about it but didn't. It just didn't feel like the right time.

"So," Shion let out a breath. "You came home early."

Nezumi shifted, "I did… but Shion I didn't do it for–,"

Shion stopped him, leaning up to press his lips to Nezumi's. It was bolder than he usually was, and Nezumi blinked in surprise.

"Come here." Shion whispered, pulling Nezumi with him until the dark haired was lying over him on the bed, and he had pushed their lips back together.

"Shion…" Nezumi mumbled around kisses. He wasn't doing a very good job of resisting. Shion hands had started to feel good, slipping under his shirt.

"Make me forget, Nezumi." Shion said huskily in Nezumi's ear, his breath hot, making Nezumi shiver. "Make me forget about all of it. Please… I want you to."

Nezumi shuddered again. What the hell? What has come over this kid. I didn't even know he was capable of thinking these things.

"Shion…" Nezumi felt both his desire and his hesitance leak into his voice as Shion's mouth found his throat. "I'm not sure…"

"Please," Shion begged and it went straight south on Nezumi's body. "I already love you. This isn't a reckless decision."

He had a point, Nezumi had to admit, and he softened. He could feel himself melting into Shion as he gave in.

"Okay, Shion." Nezumi breathed when their lips parted again. "When I'm done with you, you aren't going to remember your own name."

Shion smiled and pulled himself back to Nezumi.

"Perfect," He breathed, as he helped Nezumi in removing their clothes.