Part 6:

            When Sasha awoke the next morning to a bright, cheery cream room, he was alone. Issai. Where had Issai slept last night? Where was he now? He had a vague, lingering sensation of the warmth of another body on his skin during the night, but in the haze his mind was currently in, he was unsure what that meant.

            Sitting up, he threw off the silk sheet, only to find himself very dizzy and a slight ache pounding his skull. Clutching the edge of the mattress for support, he swore that his first drunken experience would be his last.

            He slowly stood, his long legs wobbling a little. Definitely no more wine.

            He smoothed the wrinkles out of his slept-in clothes, his black breeches causing the most discomfort, bunched and twisted in unseemly places. Though, even drunk or maybe because of it, he had enjoyed himself last night for the first time in... well... ever.

            A sharp thunk pounded through his head. He followed the direction of the sound, and noticed a screen left open to the garden. Stumbling his way outside, the strong scent of flowers and wet grass met him. It must have rained last night after all.

            Issai stood several yards away, a longbow of dark, polished wood in his hand, bowstring drawn and aimed at a target at the far end of the garden. He loosed the arrow and another thunk found the target pierced cleanly through the center, the arrow snuggly resting next to another.

            Sasha's blue eyes widened slightly in appreciation. " You are an excellent marksman," he commented quietly as he walked toward the prince, his lowered voice, for once, not out of shyness, but consideration for his aching head. " I'm impressed."

            Issai turned, lowering his bow, and smiled brightly. " Good morning. I hope you slept well?" His vibrant eyes narrowed slightly in concern.

            " Well enough, considering." Sasha replied with a wince.

            Issai nodded with apparent understanding. Hopefully he just thought it was the aching hangover and was unaware of the painful dreams that usually plagued him at night. All even he remembered of them usually was a lingering melancholy in the morning. Perhaps, he should almost be thankful the throbbing in his head seemed to smother that feeling today.

            " I do regret last night," the prince said as he leaned lightly on his bow.

            Sasha blinked, staring at the prince, hurt and confused. Regret? But... He had thought. Maybe. Idiot! Did he really think anyone, especially this beautiful prince, his country's enemy, would want to be his friend? And he had been warned. All his life. Any hurt was his own damn fault for being so foolish. So selfish. He turned away, his water blue eyes fluttering shut to hide the welling tears.

            " Is it that painful?" He heard Issai's soft steps squish in the wet grass as he approached.

            " It shouldn't be. But I was foolish," he replied, pained.

            " I'm sorry. I didn't realize," Issai said, regret thick in his lovely voice.

            The warmth from the prince's body so close behind him fueled his torment as it fueled his desire to be close, to be wanted, to be...

            " I thought it might be so." Issai grasped Sasha's arm gently. " Come with me inside," he urged. " I have something that might help."

            "Nothing will help!"

            "Such a pessimist!" Issai teased, then shrugged his slender shoulders elegantly. "But I suppose it can feel that way." He patted Sasha's arm, smiling encouragingly. " Just trust me."

            Sasha sighed but followed the prince into the room. On the black lacquered table another, smaller platter had been laid, and next to it a finely-crafted porcelain teapot, etched with exotic flowers and hummingbirds. Issai knelt on the vibrant, silk pillows and lifting the delicate container, promptly poured a warm clear green-brown liquid into a small, matching porcelain cup.

            " Poison?" Sasha suggested wryly, almost hopefully, as the prince handed him the cup.

            Issai chuckled. "Poison? Well I suppose that could cure a hangover, but rather drastic, don't you think? No, it's a herbal tea I had the servants bring for you. I assumed you would be needing it considering how drunk you were last night. Not accustomed to it, are you?"

            Sasha could only nod, too stunned to think. He... ?

            " Yes, as I thought. I regret not realizing then that it might be too much. I had just hoped to see you relaxed, not drunk. Though I must admit you were rather..." Issai smiled playfully. "...adorable."

            Sasha blinked, his blue eyes wide. " Adorable?"

            " Oh, yes! Very much so. Now drink, before it's not even warm."

            Sasha eyed him warily then drank. His nose scrunched as he grimaced. " This is awful! Are you sure it`s not poison?"

            Issai laughed. " I'm sure. It may taste bad but it works. Usually."

            " Usually? That's reassuring."

            " It takes a little while to take affect, so do you think you're up to breakfast?"

            Sasha nodded carefully.

            " Good. The way you were a few moments ago, I was worried you were going to collapse." Issai patted a pillow next to him. " Sit."

            He wanted to... to wrap himself in the closeness, the warmth, to gaze into the prince's exotic, smiling eyes... Fool! When would he learn! Issai was only doing, saying, these things, being kind, because he had to. Just like it always was and always would be.

            "Please."

            Sasha knelt nervously, fidgeting with the sleeves of his still half-unlaced silk shirt.

            " I was thinking, perhaps after breakfast, if you're up to it, we could spar. I could use the practice."

            " Surely, you're being modest?"

            " No, my swordsmanship is merely passable." Issai lightly pushed at the bridge of his eyeglasses. " I lack the ...passion... to excel as my brother does."

            " If it is what you wish." He was intending to leave today. Before it was too late. However, one hour or so the please the enchanting prince, repaying him for his kindness, even if it had been forced, wouldn't do any harm. Besides, he would be in his element, the comforting weight of a sword, any sword, in his hand, the rush of his blood as he swung, thrust, dodged, parried, whirled. In a sword he had found the only place where his deformities really didn't matter, only cold, hard skill.

            Issai smiled.

            The clang of metal against metal sung through the garden. The two young men were engaged in a fierce dance where the music was the rhythmic clash of their practice blades.

            Issai smiled in appreciation of the deadly beauty relentlessly battering his defenses. He was spectacular. A magnificent swordsman that made Issai's meager skills as that of a child in comparison. But it was the passion with which he wielded the blade that marked him exceptional. In the smooth grace where he turned a block into spun attack. With each step, each slash, each thrust, each dodge, each parry, he moved with a deadly elegance.

            Issai knew he was merely being led by the true dancer in the fierce waltz of swords. The prince could barely summon the skill to deflect the incessant blows. It wasn't helping that Sasha's energy, his passion with his blade, was enthralling. He appeared so at ease, even at peace, in the midst of the flurried whirlwind of shining metal and graceful forms.

            Then it happened. Sasha smiled, and Issai was completely lost. It was a genuine, radiant smile that glowed in his bright sunset blue eyes. The prince was paralyzed by the unspeakable beauty of it, of him. And at that moment Issai understood the phrase `disarming beauty' with the clarity of his lost breath, the ache in his sword hand, and the faint thud of his long blade as it fell to the wet grass.

            " It appears you have me, my fierce angel," Issai said as he finally found his voice. Then he winced as he unconsciously held his stinging hand.

            Sasha's smile faded instantly. " I'm so sorry," he said mournfully, as he dropped to his knees and gently took Issai's injured hand into a warm grasp. The soldier caressed his slender fingers over Issai's, examining each to ensure none were broken and then his wrist, which caused the prince to flinch. " I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."

            " Don't trouble yourself with it. I only twisted it a little. I'll be fine."

            " I'm so sorry."

            Issai lifted Sasha's chin with his other hand, and gazed at him tenderly. "It's nothing. I'm fine. So, please, smile for me again."

            Sasha merely looked at him, startled, still not smiling, not radiating with that dazzling, heavenly smile.

            " Such a sad face isn't even close." The prince would do, give, anything to bring that smile, any smile, back to Sasha's beautiful lips.

            Issai leaned down, caressing the angel's cheek, his face a breath from the younger man's. The energy from their mock duel coursed through both of them. Issai could feel it, almost taste it, smell it, in the sweaty heat rising from Sasha's flushed pale skin. And from this he would gladly, willingly, achingly, become drunk. The honey scent and soft tickling of shadow-tinted silver-gold hair, jewel blue eyes so gentle and innocently bewildered, delicate pink lips parted slightly, allowing the escape of sweet, slowly panted warm breaths...

            ...Breaths that melted the last of his control, as that smile had melted his heart, his soul, into a single-minded desire to always bring such happiness to the shy soldier. He enveloped Sasha's lips in a devouring kiss, tasting, savoring, that which, he expected, no one else ever had. Like a exotic delicacy too precious to be tasted by an undiscriminating palate. And all of Sasha was rare, and exotic and precious, undiscovered, innocent.

            Wrapping his fingers in the silky, pale hair, Issai slid to his knees, the length of his body brushing along Sasha`s as he knelt. His lips were so lusciously warm and sweet, like .. vanilla, the elusive sweetness that was Sasha. He smiled against those velvet, hesitant lips at the flash of pink rising on the young man's beautiful porcelain skin.

            " You are so very lovely, my dazzling Sasha." The breaths of his whisper brushed and cooled flushed, kiss-dampened lips. " Your first kiss?"

            Sasha nodded slowly, his sparkling blue eyes closed and trickling tears.

            Issai's dark brows wrinkled with concern as he wiped away the silver tear with a gentle thumb. " Dearest Sasha, why are you crying?"

            " You... t... t... touched me." He opened his azure eyes, heartrendingly even more beautiful with the silvering of tears. " T... touched me... Me." His voice clamped on his words as shuddering sobs overtook him and the tears fell faster.

            Issai drew him into his arms tenderly. "Shhh... I'm so sorry, my friend. I had no intention of hurting you. " He stroked the soft white-gold waves resting against his chest. " It was presumptuous of me. I should have realized you may not welcome my affections. " His heart tightened at his words as he fought back his own tears, and a surprising sadness fell over him. Why was this shy, beautiful, and obviously mortified soldier affecting him so? So Intensely?

            Sasha's trembling leapt to greater force and the prince could feel the heat and dampness of tears soak into his tunic and warm the skin underneath. At least the gentle angel was allowing Issai's comfort.

            Slowly Sasha lifted his head, his amazing blue eyes glistening, sorrowful and vulnerable.
"Y...you... truly ... like... me? Me?" he stammered between grasping breaths.

            Issai smiled hesitantly, a part of him suddenly insecure and afraid of the fair beauty's rejection. " Yes. I do."

            " Because I have the key?... and you have no other choice?"

            " No. " He affectionately traced his thumb over a platinum brow. "No key or room or `Palace' will ever make me feel what I don't truly feel. Never. I like you because you're sweet, and charming, and intelligent, and..."

            He bowed his head to place a chaste kiss on Sasha's forehead, midnight black strands falling and mingling with pale, pale gold like night and moonlight .

            " ... And beautiful." Another tear slid down Sasha's cheek. " Absolutely beautiful, inside and out. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool. " Then added with a kind smile, " Including you."

            " I...I don't...understand" Sasha whispered, wrapping his arms around himself, and hiding his pain beneath the curtaining fall of his hair. " No one wants me. No one has ever wanted me,"

            The prince tenderly grasped the angelic face in both hands, gazing into the sorrowful blue eyes with his an intense yet gentle jade. " I told you, they're all fools. Completely blind idiots that would never deserve you. Blind to a beauty that is far more precious than mere appearance. And for that they are even greater fools!"

            Sasha's eyes drifted down as his pale gold brows furrowed in confused concentration. The conflict between what he thought he knew about himself and Issai's words battled plainly across his face.

            So the prince determined to give his words the battlefield advantage. Tracing his fingers along his distressed soldier`s soft, eternally kissable lips, he whispered, " May I kiss you again?"

            Another silver tear fell and Sasha's pale lips trembled as he breathed a `yes' with a hesitant smile. Actual joy lit Issai's vibrant smoke-green eyes. He captured Sasha in another kiss, letting the desire to melt with the sweet angel enfold him and enfold Sasha in his arms.

            Sasha knew he had to be dreaming. No one would ever touch him like the prince was, no one ever wanted to. Not even in his dreams. But it was wonderful, so absolutely wonderful. And for the moment he didn't care that he didn't deserve the wonderful touches, that he was too hideous to ever more than dream it. Dream or not, he would treasure every touch, every caress, every kiss, everything Issai gave him. The phantom affections could so easily vanish and leave him only with the memory. He wanted that memory to last him a lifetime. It would have to.

            Issai's elegant hands slid under his shirt and smoothed along his back, the prince's fingertips leaving tingling trails of fire wherever they roamed. Sasha closed his eyes, unable to keep the tears from slipping down his cheeks, but he was the closest to happy he had ever been, even if that happiness was a bittersweet dream.

            Sasha was breathless from the prince's devouring kisses, skilled, sensuous lips enveloping his, a hot tongue slipping into his mouth, fervently seeking his own. It startled him at first, but his soldier's instincts rose to aid him and he answered the pleasant invasion with a passionate counter-attack of his own.

            He felt Issai's warm, intoxicating lips lift in a smile as they continued the claiming kiss. Sasha shivered. The achingly consuming heat soared through his body, energizing his whole being, surging into places within him in a way he never knew existed.

            " Sasha, you're trembling." Issai placed a light kiss on the tip of Sasha's narrow nose. " So my kisses are that pleasurable?!" he teased, resting his forehead against his angel's and peering through sultry, midnight silk lashes into feverish blue eyes.

            " No...I mean, yes... but ... I ..." Sasha blushed brightly, his gaze fluttering shyly to the side. " I meant..."

            " Yes?"

            " I never...I don't... know..."

            " Never?" Issai slowly slid his hand down Sasha's velvet smooth back, his flowing angled hips, the front of his silk breeches, until a rising hardness heated his palm. Sasha gasped. "Never? Not even alone?"

            " What... are... you..." Sasha barely breathed. " ...doing?"

            " Does it feel pleasurable?" Issai purred with a sultry smile, continuing his light caress.

            " Y... yes," he gasped.

            " So never?"

            " No..."

            " Why not?" he breathed into Sasha's ear. " Tell me."

            " N... no one... wants to... touch me,...wh... why would I?"

            " I do. All I want is to touch you." Not wanting to remove his hands from his exquisite angel for longer than necessary, his fingers flew to free the laces of Sasha's dark, silk breeches. He slipped his hands across Sasha's back, then into the black silk, caressing the smooth, rounded flesh beneath. Trailing heavy, wet kisses down the cream pale throat, he basked in the heat of Sasha's skin, flesh, body, wanting more.

            Sasha writhed in his arms, the struggling, shallow breaths a strong voice to the pleasure his touches and kisses must be inciting in his shy, so sensitive angel. He smiled against the sweet flesh beneath his lips. If this was the reaction to such simple, almost innocent affections, what would it be to the so much more he longed to give?

            Smoothing his hands along the blonde's sleek thighs, Issai slid the bothersome barrier of cloth further down, exposing firm, rounded flesh, and a portion of slender legs.

            Sasha shivered, unconsciously pressing his hips into the prince's, intensifying the contact of his now bared erection against Issai's own, still irritatingly covered by his green, silk pants The soldier's head rolled back, silver-gold hair spilling over his shoulders, a deep gasp rumbling from his slender throat.

            Lifting his head, Issai studied his sexy, passionate angel squirming in his arms. His amazing blue eyes were shut but that almost made the sight more enticingly beautiful. The unexplainable warm ache that went beyond the heavy heat between his legs tightened it`s hold on his heart. He never wanted anything as much as he wanted Sasha, all of Sasha, not even freedom.

            He pressed a tender kiss to Sasha's blushed red lips, wanting to send all the passion and emotion within him through the soft meeting of their lips. And it didn't matter that he even didn't know the full extent of those feelings or even what some may truly be.

            The blonde soldier returned the kiss with all the fervor sent, and more, his hand tangling in Issai`s soft, sweat-dampened raven hair. For one so wrongfully inexperienced, his innocent zeal more than made up for it.

            The prince pulled away to blaze a path of heated kisses along the sweet, porcelain throat, over his strong, shoulders, the caressing lips slipping Sasha's blue, silk shirt to seductively drape down his arms. Sasha sighed and Issai could feel the heavy pounding of his angel's heart when his mouth moved down his toned, smooth chest, stopping for a moment to elicit a sexy yelp from his shy soldier while his wet lips adored a pale nipple, then continuing along the flat, smooth stomach to gently angled hips. Nuzzling the furrow between hipbone and groin, the prince savored the musky vanilla scent that only was and always would be Sasha.

            With a sudden cry, Sasha's body jerked. The grip in the prince's dark hair slipped to his shoulders and tightened, fingers biting into his flesh. Sasha lurched forward, slumping over the shorter man, his hold on Issai's shoulders apparently the only support from him falling completely.
A warm tickling drip on the prince's wrist was the first alert that something was wrong, very wrong.

            " Prince!" An unfamiliar voice called.

            And that was the second.