The White King and Dark Lord Mage: part four
by: Tiga Shadow & Van Donovan
duo@trowa.com || trowa@trowa.com

an Escaflowne / Weiß kreuz crossover
------------------------------------


	Dawn cracked over the broken land of Fanelia and sunlight filtered through the open 
window. A gentle rapping came at the door and Van stirred, used to waking so early. He moved
to sit up, completely refreshed from the nights sleep, and smiled seeing Ken still holding 
on to him, curled against him. The door knocked again and he said he was up, then looked 
back to Ken.  He gently shook him.  "It's dawn." he softly said.
	Ken groaned softly and put an arm over his eyes.  "Nnngh . . . too early."
	Van loved this and proceeded nudging him.  He was already awake and prodded him 
more.  "C'mon you're Dark Mageness, good deeds are being done the world over.  Lets awake 
and put an end to the happiness." He wormed his way around in Ken's arms.
	Ken grabbed a hold of him and rolled over, half-pinning him down.  He opened his eyes
a little and grinned sleepily at him.  "Right, you go on without me."
	Van laughed and looked up at him grinning at the feeling of him over top him.  "I 
don't want to do it alone, Your Highness." he said, smiling up at Ken.
	"Thought you were the king here." Ken murmured with a yawn and rested his face in 
the crook of Van's neck and shoulder.
	"I am when we're out of this room.  But you're the Lord Mage, aren't you?" he 
chuckled, showing he was joking. He wrapped his arms around Ken as the other nestled on top 
of him.  "Mm."
	"Mmm. I dunno, but I'm comfortable here." Ken said and chuckled as he nuzzled his 
neck in return.
	"I like this."  Van agreed, trailing his hands along Ken's broad back, happily. He 
could get used to waking up this way every morning.  Ken chuckled softly.  Be it because it 
was morning or just because he wasn't fully awake, his body reacted to Van's touch.  He 
blinked and blushed bright red, and tried to pull away before Van noticed.  Van protested as 
Ken moved to get off him.  "Leaving so soon?" But he didn't try to pull him back down, 
although he wanted to.
	"Aah. . . for the time being." Ken softly murmured, blushing.
	Van sat up, propping his elbows behind him.  "You're blushing again.  Why?"
	"Oh, no reason." Ken said quickly, trying to control his blushing as well as his 
body's reaction.  Van frowned, sitting up more. 
	"Don't lie to me, Ken."
	Ken's blush returned.  "Damn.  Well . . . ah . . . a morning problem." his face 
felt like it was on fire.  Van looked at Ken's face, watching him turn red. It was so 
strange that -he- was the younger inexperienced one and KEN was the one always going red. He
looked down at Ken's legs, to where his sex would be under his sweatpants. 
	"I see." the king simply stated, and blinked.
	Ken rolled into a ball.  "It'll go away soon." he commented really quietly, and then
muttered.  "I hope."
	"It's . . . not anything to be embarrassed about, Ken." Van said, exasperated.  "I'm 
glad for it."  He reached to touch Ken's shoulder, his hands timid but strong.  "I like 
knowing I make you react." 
	Ken blushed furiously.  "It's kind of embarrassing, but . . . I guess if it's 
flattering to you . . ."
	Van got to his knees and crawled towards the rolled up Ken, stroking his arms.  
"I'll learn to take care of it, soon, I promise."
	"Mm."  he looked up at Van with eyes that were a tad too bright and smiled faintly. 
"I can't wait."
	Van smiled down at him and felt a deep sadness he couldn't help now.  He himself had 
never really had that problem. He stroked Ken's hair and smiled sadly.  "Can I do anything 
now? I feel guilty."
	Ken just smiled up at him.  "Don't worry about it, it'll go away. It's not a big 
deal." he chuckled, running a hand through his tangled hair.  "It's just kind of 
embarrassing when you don't know how your partner will react."
	Van sighed and sat back on his bed, pulling his knees to his chest.  "I think 
you're too self conscious." He muttered, and rested his chin on his knees.
	"Well, yeah, of course I'm self-conscious!" Ken smiled a little to soften the remark. 
The fact that nobody, Yuriko aside, had ever seen him this way was one factor. He just 
wasn't used to being looked at by someone who -knows- he's got that kind of problem.
	"Ah, well, if it bothers you, I'll let you deal with it."  Van said and then swung 
his legs off the edge of the bed and stood up, stretching luxuriously.  "What a gorgeous 
day." He murmured, walking to the window.  Ken just waited for it to go away, then got up 
and went to the window as well, leaning out a little.
	"Aa, it smells so nice here. Like pine trees."
	Softly, without sounding upset about it, Van answered.  "That's the smell of the 
burnt wood.  And, well, cutting boarding trees for rebuilding." He looked at the sun a 
moment longer, then headed towards his bureau.  "I'll take you on a grand tour of the 
kingdom today."  He said, smiling as he remembered Ken's tour of his home.  He proceeded to 
get dressed.
	Ken winced.  Open mouth, insert foot.  "Gomen nasai, I didn't mean to . . . remind 
you of bad things."
	"Mm?" Van pulled his shirt over his head and shook his head.  "It's all right. 
Everything reminds me."  He pulled his belt on and buckled the sword in place, then carried 
his shoes to the bed and sat to put them on.  "It -is- a nice smell."
	Ken felt bad about being so stupid, and got dressed quickly, combing his hair out 
and then tossed the comb back, tying his sweater around his waist again.  "I meant, it's 
like being in the mountains on Earth."
	Van stood up after he was dressed and they exited his room, a page who was waiting 
at his door following them.  Van glanced at Ken.  "Well, Fanelia is rather in the mountains.
He shrugged and lead him downstairs to where breakfast was being served.  There was no 
rigmarole of people here tonight, but they were still forced to sit at a huge imported oak 
table, Van at the head, Ken to his right.  "We'll have to take horses to tour -- do you 
think you can ride alone?"
	Ken grinned good-naturedly.  "I think I can probably handle it, but if I break my 
neck, I'll haunt you forever."
	Van lifted his arms as food was set and began eating. He kept his eyes on his plate 
and just commented.  "We can always ride together, but, it'd be easier if you were behind 
me."  he cut some food.
	"Iya, I think I'll be okay, I don't want to trouble you or anything."  Ken studied 
his plate, wondering how to inquire what it was without seeming rude about it.  Van just ate 
and shrugged, smiling, looking up at him.  
	"I don't mind it at all.  We'd be able to talk better too, without shouting."  He 
nodded too, as someone poured him wine and lifted it, taking a sip, studying the glass. He 
didn't want to force the issue overly -- not enough to make it sound that he wanted Ken to 
ride behind him -- but he did.
	"Well, if you're sure . . . I wouldn't mind." he picked up a roll, it being the only 
thing he recognized, and bit into it.  His eyes got really wide as he found it's stuffed 
with -something-, almost like sausage.  It tasted really good.  Van watched Ken's 
expression and laughed. 
	"Like it?" He ate something else of his own and sat, unable to believe he was 
sitting at his breakfast table smiling.  Even the random servants could be heard to be 
talking about it. He'd dropped into such a depressed stupor after Hitomi had left -- and 
now he couldn't wipe his grin off his face.
	Enthusiastically, Ken exclaimed.  "This is great!" he dug into his food with much 
more enthusiasm now that he'd discovered it actually tasted good. Van laughed watching Ken 
dig in and just leaned on his hand, watching him eating with abandon.  He realized after a 
while he was staring and finished his own food, letting them clean up. 
	"'Bout done, or do you want more?" he asked the soccer player, finished himself.
	Ken grinned and leans back in his chair.  "I'm stuffed." he blinked.  "Could I get 
some water, though?  Wine so early in the morning is kind of . . . odd, to me."
	Before Van had a chance to summon anyone, a servant was already pouring a glass 
full of water for Ken.  "I guess we just get used to it.  Usually we have fruit juices, but 
all the orchids are gone.  It'll be some years before we have seasonal fruits again."  He 
stood up and stretched again.
	Ken drank the glass of water, then put it down and got up as well, grinning hugely. 
"Well, that was the best breakfast I can ever remember having."
	The other laughed and shook his head.  "Get used to it, all the meals are like 
that."  He lead them down more stairs and out into the bright sun, towards the stable. He'd 
ask for a bigger roan that wouldn't tired midday after carrying two men on his back.  He 
wondered if they had any double seated saddles, but was pretty sure they didn't.  He'd ride 
bareback, if he didn't think Ken'd slip right off.
	"Are we going to ride without a saddle? The saddles you have here are really small,
and that could make for a really painful experience." Ken grinned sheepishly.  "If I were a
girl, I wouldn't worry about it.  I think if I hold on to you, I'll be okay without one."
	Van paused, looking back at him and titled his head, debating it.  "I think that 
ridding without a saddle would be best for you.  It's just a lot different."  He kept 
walking, peeking into a stall to alert the stable hands he was there.  He looked at Ken.  "A 
horses' back is a lot broader when you don't have a saddle between you." He nodded as the 
stable master himself came out and he talked with the man and then turned back to Ken as he 
left to ready the horse.  "I'm used to it, but, you're legs might not straddle it enough. 
If it hurts too much, we'll just get a saddle."
	Ken grinned.  "I think I can handle it, but we'll see." he looked around the stable, 
fascinated by it.  Van smirked as the huge black roan was led out of the back of the 
stables, looking like Death's horse itself.  The stable master talked some horse talk to Van 
and then the King took the reins, looking at Ken.  The horse’s back was taller than he was.
	"This is Midnight."  Van said and grinned.
	Ken looked up at it.  "It's huge." he reached up to pet it's nose.  "I like it, 
though . . . it's pretty."
	The horse looked at him with big brown eyes and snorted a bit.  Van laughed and had 
a mounting block brought.  Even -he- couldn't get on this horse without one.  He let Ken get 
on first, holding the reins so Midnight didn't start away.  Ken stepped onto the block and 
looked uncertainly at the horse, then clumsily climbed on, scooting back to make room for 
Van. He found that he could hold on with his legs as well as his hands, and braced himself 
thus so.  "Not too much strain?" Van asked, watching Ken, trying to see if the man was just 
trying to mask pain. If he was, he'd be in agony by noon. Deciding Ken was all right and not 
lying to him, he gracefully stepped on to the block and swung onto the horse. He adjusted 
himself in the seat, squeezing his knees into the horses flanks and waited for Ken to hold 
to him.  "Doin' all right?"
	Ken scooted forward more until he was almost pressed against Van and puts his arms 
around the smaller boy's waist.   "Aa. I'll just hold on to you, and if I fall, you'll 
probably go with me."
	Van smiled and leaned back into him, just a little. It was nice.  "Mmm. Well, I'll 
make sure you don't fall, then." He said, and then with just a small nudge from his knees 
the once-war horse took off. He didn't even need reins on the beast -- he could guide it 
solely with his knees -- but he wasn't up to that sort of pressure in his legs all day. It
was nice to have the alternative, though.  They moved steadily, falling into the pace of the 
horse and took off out the back of the stables and worked through the city. Very few paid 
mind to him, not realizing he was King unless they looked directly at him.
	Ken looked around in amazement, clearly enjoying seeing all the different sights. 
The place was so different, and yet so similar, to Earth. It was like having gone back in 
time a few hundred years.  Van just pointed out various features" windmill, former lake, 
courtyard, blacksmith, market and the like, continuing along not spending much time in any 
one place. The city peeled away before long behind them though, and soon they were trotting 
along down a green avenue, shaded with large trees that had somehow survived the fire. He
brought the horse to a halt before several large white tombs, and, standing majestically to 
one side was the sleeping guymelef Escaflowne, it's cape waving thickly in the wind. 
	"My family." Van softly said, and glanced to the Escaflowne.  "And an old friend.
	Ken looked at the gravestones sadly, then up at Escaflowne, and his eyes widened. 
"What . . . what IS that?"
	Van smiled sadly up at the Escaflowne.  "It's a guymelef. This one represents 
Fanelia's Dragon God, Escaflowne."  He'd show the other how it worked, but Escaflowne wasn't 
to be operated again.  He could show him the melef yards tonight when they got back.  
"Fanelia only has a few antique melefs left.  They're used in war, and before the raid, we 
had been at peace for decades, so we'd had no need for them."
	Ken stared up at it.  It looked like something straight out of one of his Gundam 
manga.  "Wow . . , that's amazing." he didn't know what else to say, he figured he was 
wearing those words out really quickly. But it -was-!! He couldn't think of any other way to
describe what he'd been seeing here.
	"It really is."  Van agreed, also fascinated by the sleeping giant. He rode up to
it, putting a hand to the cool white-silver metal.  "I'd show you it, but Escaflowne is 
asleep. Hopefully, for a long, long time.  We have other melef in the yard.  I'll let you 
see them tonight."  He smiled, turning a little to trying and catch a glimpse of Ken behind 
him, eager to see the other's face.
	Ken, still stared up at it, then he looked at Van.  "So you operated this thing,
then?"  he sounded impressed.
	"Aa.  Only someone with Fanel blood can make the Escaflowne work. It's very old, 
crafted by the Ispanos." He didn't think about the fact that that would mean nothing to Ken. 
"They don't make guymelef's like Escaflowne anymore." He petted it, affectionately.  Ken too
reached out cautiously to touch it, like he was afraid it was going to reach down and smack 
him or something. 
	"I see . . ." he breathed, softly.  Van just remained seated, turned, wishing he
had a horn to hold onto, looking at Ken's face as the other took in the massive machine, 
smiling faintly.  Escaflowne was something he was immensely proud of.  Finally Ken looked 
down at Van again.  "Like I told you before . . . you're really something else, Van-kun." 
he grinned, his hair being tossed gently in the wind.
	Van looked back forward and raised one hand, resting it on the arm Ken still had 
around his middle.  "I'm glad you think so."
	Ken's smile softened and he turned what was simply holding on for balance into a 
light embrace.  "I couldn't have done half of these things."
	"There was no need for you too."  the other said, and gently nudged Midnight again, 
walking towards the tombs before them.  He looked down at them, smiling sadly. The epitaphs 
were in Gaea lettering, but Ken could guess what they said.  The Earth boy bit his lip. He
really had no idea what to say, so he just kept his mouth shut, hoping the embrace was 
somewhat of a comfort to Van.  The young king just sat a while in silence and then turned 
the horse away, leaving the tranquil grove.  "I wish you could have met my brother.  I think 
you would have gotten a long with one another." He smiled at the idea and by the time the
trees had thinned out and they were in the sun again, his melancholy had passed.
	Ken suddenly tensed, and his grip on Van tightened.  "Van, look to your left. 
There's something big, ugly, and growling about twenty yards away from us."  Van glanced to 
the left and saw the large Earth dragon lumbering through the trees in the distance.  He 
halted the horse, watching with narrowed eyes. When he spoke, his voice was soft and his 
tone serious. 
	"Relax, Ken, it can sense your fear." he said, and just the tone alone verified the 
fact that this wasn't something just "big and ugly" but one of the dragon's he'd spoken of.
	Ken tried to calm down, but this was something he had never seen. His heart was 
racing, and he was extremely tense.  Needless to say, the dragon was -very- large, and it 
looked hungry.  He fervently hoped that they weren't on its menu.  Van gently stroked Ken's 
hand around his middle, trying to get the other to relax. He nudged the horse forward, who 
was also tense.  "Don't look at it." He commanded and bowed his head, ears alert if it 
changed its course.  Ken gulped and looked ahead, but the knowledge that there was a DRAGON 
not even half a football field away from him was totally nerve-wracking.
	Van just kept going, completely relaxed, remembering everything Folken had told him 
and shown him. The horse kept trotting along, and he hoped they'd escape the dragon 
unbothered.  After awhile, they got away from it, and Ken sighed in relief. His voice was a 
tad shaky when he asked:  "Do you think we can go back now?"
	Van kept along the path and shifted a little.  They'd just been out a few hours and 
he'd still wanted to show Ken other things.  "Already?"
	"Aa . . . I think I want to get down for awhile." he said.  He was pretty shook up 
by the dragon encounter.  Van reached back, patting Ken's thigh with one hand. 
	"Can you hold on for a few more?  We can stop for lunch at a safe clearing up 
ahead." he said, not ready to go back himself.
	"Sure . . . sounds good to me." Ken's grip on Van relaxed a bit.  Van sighed in 
relief and continued a long, taking the horse off the path a little.  Before long the 
baubbling of a nearby stream came into play.  He followed along until they reached the banks.
It was a secluded little area with the stream cutting right through the middle of the glade.
He rode right up to a tree stump that he seemed to know was there and stopped by it.  Ken 
dismounted gracelessly and stumbled off of the block and sat down next to it, like his legs 
unable to hold him up.  His eyes were a bit glazed with fear, and he was shaking.  At the 
moment, he didn't -care- if Van thought he was a silly 'fraidy-cat, he'd NEVER seen a dragon 
before and he never wanted to see one again!	 
	Van just smiled, tying the horse to a branch and went over to him, sitting on the
block next to him.  He didn't say anything, because he knew it'd come out rude.  It was 
obvious he wasn't bothered by the encounter at all.  He held out a gloved hand for Ken, 
trying to smile understandingly.  Ken took the hand, willing his heart rate to slow down. 
After a few minutes, the paralyzing fear that had gripped him let him go, and he looked up 
at Van.  "Sorry . . . I'm kind of shaken now."
	Van longed to drop on his knees between Ken's legs, push the other down and crawl 
on top of him, but he resisted.  He squeezed his hand and sighed.  "I'm sorry.  It's hard to
corral them out.  They took over while Fanelia was destroyed, so they're still many close 
by."  Ken nodded slowly.
	"Aa . . . I'd hate to meet up with one again, but something tells me this won't be 
the last time I see one." he stretched out on the soft carpet of grass and moss, still 
holding on to Van's hand.  Van let his legs guide him to the ground below, but didn't get so 
brazen as to sit in between Ken's legs, instead just kneeling beside him, holding his hand.
He smiled compassionately down at him. 
	"Just so long as you remember not to fear them or bother them, you'll do all right." 
He remembered the first time he'd faced a dragon. He'd been alone, though.  He'd been 
terrified. Perhaps that was because he knew he was going to have to kill it.
	Ken smiled up at him.  "Well, that might take some time and adjusting to, but I 
think I'll be okay."
	Van nodded, smiling.  "Of course.  You're strong, so I know you can do it." He 
looked to Ken's legs and then at the horse cropping grass in the near distance.  "How are 
your legs?  Not too sore?"
	"Kind of sore, but none the worse for wear. I'll walk around for a bit afterwards 
before getting back on, and that will help." Ken answered with a grin.
	"Aa." He let go of Ken's hand and got to his feet, walking towards the horse.  "I 
had them pack some provisions for lunch." He pulled a sack out and came back, carrying it, 
sitting Indian style by Ken again, opening it.
	Ken sat up and stretched his legs out, then tucked them in and grinned, bracing 
himself on one arm.  "Great, I'm starving!" he laughed a little.
	"What a monster, after all you ate at breakfast." the other chided, but he was 
joking.  He pulled out the things packaged inside, basically sandwiches, pickles, some dried 
fruits, dried meats, and other things that wouldn't have gone bad without refrigerator.  He
pulled out two flasks of water too, presenting one to Ken.
	Ken took it and pulled a long drink, then put it down on the stump and picked up a 
pickle, examining it.  He takes a cautious bite, and his eyes light up.  "It's good!"
	Van watched Ken from where he sat, a brow raised in inquiry.  He knew he hadn't been 
so shocked upon seeing the novelties Earth had to offer.  "You act like you thought it 
wouldn't be.  Why would we eat anything that didn't taste good?"
	"I don't know, I've never been big on trying new food, that's all."  he said with a
grin, mentally chiding himself for acting like such a tourist.  He picked up a sandwich and
took a bite out of it.  It tasted really good, too.  There were sweet peppers and some kind 
of sauce on it, like pimento, only it wasn't really cheesy.  Almost like cream cheese with 
chives and onions and stuff.
	Van just chuckled and kept eating, not really tasting the food all that much. He 
washed it down with his water and stretched again for the sky and then flopping onto his 
back on the grass, his legs unfolding.  He stared up at the trees and blue sky above him.
Ken finished off his lunch as well and took another drink, then stretched out next to Van, 
gazing up at the sky.  "This' fun. I like Fanelia a lot so far."
	"Aa, it's very nice here." He agreed, looking up, aware of the other close to his 
side.  He sighed, putting his arms behind his head.  "I'm glad you're not disappointed."
	Ken chuckled, still gazing up at the canopy of leaves above them.  "Did you think I 
would be?"  Van rolled onto his side, looking at Ken, arm tucked under his head. 
	"I was afraid you'd be upset that so much was destroyed."
	Ken turned his head to look at him.  "Iie, that's nothing to be disappointed in. 
I'll enjoy helping you rebuild this place.  The people all seem so happy, too.  They were 
all elated when you returned." he smiled.  "They must really love you."
	Ken didn't even know the tip of the story of why Van's people really loved him so 
much.  After all, he'd brought down Zaibach.  "Aa, they do. I'm lucky, I guess."
	Ken nodded and rolled onto his side as well and chuckled a little.  "I think you're
a great king, from what I've seen so far."  Van rested his head on his hand, holding himself
up that way, hand on his side, just looking at Ken.  He smiled softly. 
	"I'm glad you think so. I like to think I am as well, even if I don't want to be a 
King."  his eyes sparkled.
	Ken simply smiled back.  "If you had a choice . . . what would you be?"
	"Mmm, I don't know," He said, looking up, thinking.  "someone normal, I guess.  Like 
you."  He looked back at him, admiringly.
	Ken laughed.  "I'm not normal, I'm an assassin!"
	Van chuckled and shrugged.  "You know what I mean.  It's difficult having a whole 
nation looking up to you.  You're free.  You can do whatever you want."
	Ken shook his head.  "Iie, I'm not free.  Technically, I'm dead.  I don't exist 
anymore on Earth.  Maybe I'm free -here- . . . but what would I do with the freedom?  I just 
want to stay here with you."
	Van found himself smiling at the last sentence and let his head rest on his arm, 
lying on his side completely, looking at Ken.  "You had the freedom to leave that world and 
come to this one.  I could never do that.  I'm tied here.  I can never even leave Fanelia. 
Not permanently, anyway."
	"True enough . . . I wonder if they're worrying about me." he looked up at Earth in 
the sky, then back at Van.  "It's cool, that you can even see Earth and the moon during the 
day."  he commented, changing the topic.
	Van glanced at the planet hovering above them and looked back to Ken, keeping more
on the topic, despite the other's efforts.  "Do you think you'll ever want to go back to 
them?" He didn't know why Earth and the moon could be seen from here, even when the sun 
shone, so he just let the first comment pass.
	After thinking on that for awhile Ken rolled onto his side to look at Van, studying 
him carefully.  "Would you be sad if I left?"
	Van closed his eyes, remembering something similar Merle had said to him.  "Only if 
you didn't come back."
	Ken smiled.  "Then no, I probably won't go back. If I went back, I might be too 
tempted to stay."
	"I wouldn't keep you here, though.  We have the abilities to travel between worlds, 
so . . . if you did want to return, I'd let you." He said, keeping his eyes closed, thinking 
of Hitomi, and how she basically left him.
	"Aa . . . but I wouldn't want to go back unless you went with me." he looked back up 
at Earth in the sky.
	"Perhaps for a short while . . . but you know I couldn't leave for very long."
	"I know." he agreed with a nod.  "I'm not too interested in going back soon anyway."
He laughed a little.  Van opened his eyes and looked at him, smiling.
	"I don't know that I'd be able to go for a week without seeing you." He softly 
stated, and he meant it.
	Ken smiled back at him, happy.  "I don't know if I could, either."
	Van reached out and touched Ken's face with his hand, gently caressing it.  "Mm."
	Ken closed his eyes and sighed softly, enjoying the light caress and the feeling of
the sunshine warming him.  He was really enjoying himself.  Van scooted his torso closer to 
Ken, so he could run his hand through the other's hair, just watching the other's serene 
face.  Ken wrapped one arm around Van's waist, mimicking the comfortable position the two 
had slept in last night.  At this rate, he could fall asleep again, right here.
	Van wasn't sure what he wanted to do.  He wanted something more, but he didn't know 
what.  He just remained laying there, his arm pinned under him just having enough room to 
reach up and hold Ken's hand in place on his side.  He spoke softly.  "If you fall asleep 
now, you'll never get to bed tonight."
	Ken chuckled softly, eyes still closed.  "I'm sure there are other things to do at 
night than sleep." and he hadn't mean that sexually, either.  He meant checking out what 
people in the palace and the city did at night.
	"Perhaps, but you'll be doing it alone.  This King needs to get up at dawn, 
remember?"  Van said, chuckling.
	Ken laughed.  "What can the King do without his Dark Mage Lord, though?"
	Van chuckled this time and shook his head.  "Not much, which is why he needs his 
Mageness to stay awake -now- so he can sleep with his King tonight and wake up at the dawn 
to takeover the world, or whatever nonsense."
	Ken laughed harder.  "That's no fun!  We should take over the world at night, 
there's less chance of getting caught."
	"I like to sleep when it's dark." Van retorted as he trailed his hand down to Ken's 
shoulder and just looked at him, wondering if the other would ever take the initiative to 
kiss him.  He kept anticipating it, and it never came. He chuckled more.  "No one will expect 
us to do it in the daytime, anyway."
	"Yeah, but doing it in the dark is better, though." he grinned at him.  "If they 
can't see us, they can't find us, which makes conquering the world a -much- easier task."
	"Aah well, I think your corruptness wore off, Your Highness. I just want to protect 
this world, anyway." Van grinned, bearing pearly teeth.
	Archly, as he peeked an eye open.  "Oh, it wore off? . . . maybe I should recast my 
spell." he grinned and moved his arm to tickle Van again.  Van was alert instantly, eyes 
widening, looking at Ken and instantly squirming back.  He'd forgotten the tickling process. 
	"Aaah, nonono." He tried to pull away.
	Ken laughed and rolled on top of him, pinning him down.  "Maybe I'll find a better 
way, then, since that one seems to wear off so quickly!"
	"Aaaah!"  He laughed and screamed, completely unable to get away now, with the 
bigger man pinning him.  He squirmed none-the-less, laughing.  "Don't you know!?  Good will 
always triumph!"  He whined and when he was worn he stopped struggling, panting, looking up 
at Ken.  He tossed his head once more, trying to show he wasn't giving up.
	"Looks like evil's winning this time around, Your Majesty." Ken said, laughing.
	Van wriggled more under him and then flopped again, panting.  "Go ahead, do your 
worst!  I'll still never cave in!"
	Ken grinned mischievously.  "Do you mean that?"
	Meekly, looking up at Ken, Van wasn't sure he'd be able to stand another onslaught 
of tickles.  "No, not really."  He said, looking up with sorrowful eyes.
	Ken chuckled and rolled off of him.  "Aw, you're no fun."
	Van sat up and looked over at Ken, rubbing his arm from where he'd been pinned. 
"Sorry."  he smirked.
	Ken blinked and looked at Van as he rubbed his wrist.  "Did I hurt you?"
	"Eeh? Oh, no." he worked his arm, showing the redness from where Ken'd been holding 
him.  "It's just the ground isn't as soft as your bed.  But I'm not hurt."
	Ken smiled a little and moved close to him, curling around him a 
little.  "Well, if you say so." he put an arm around Van's waist again.  Van laid back down 
and scooted into Ken, close enough that their knees touched.  He bowed his head, tucking it
under Ken's chin, listening to him breath. 
	"Just don't fall asleep." He softly said, holding to boy from the Phantom Moon.
	Softly, Ken said:  "I'll try not to . . ." he felt so good with Van there, though, 
that the idea of sleeping was very tempting.  He was now so relaxed.
	"You're bad," van softly said, and lifted his face so his lips touched the other's 
throat.  He let his breath wash over his skin.  He swallowed tightly, nudging his nose into 
the other's throat.
	"Ah . . ." he tilted his head back a little, his hand coming up to rest 
on the back of Van's head.  Van pressed closer to him as Ken touched his head and lifted his 
head some.  The ground was far from soft, and they would both be covered in grass when they 
finally finished laying together, but he wanted to remain like this, or more intimate.  He 
wanted to love him and be loved, but he felt the other was holding back.  Ken looked down at 
the boy in his arms, his eyes half closed.  He felt almost drunk at the sensation of being so
-close- to someone else; another boy; his friend; Van.
	Van murmured something incoherent into Ken's neck and sighed, feeling sleep coming 
to take him on as well.  That wasn't good.  It'd be bad if they fell asleep out here.  "Let's
. . . stay out here for awhile." Ken whispered, hugging him closer.
	Van, speaking into Ken's throat, softly replied.  "But there is so much more I want to 
show you today."
	"Can it wait for tomorrow?." Ken asked as he stroked Van's hair.
	"Of course," Van murmured, nuzzling Ken as the other petted his hair, shifting and 
moving up some, closing his eyes.  "But they'll wonder . . ."
	Ken whispered right into Van's ear.  "Let them wonder." he held him tighter.
	"Ken." Van murmured, slipping his hand to Ken's shoulder and back, pulling him gently 
towards him, wanting to feel his weight against him again, nuzzling his neck more.  He wanted 
to be close. So close.  Ken let Van set them up and closed his eyes and reveled in his warmth 
and the feeling of him in his arms as he shifted to move onto of the boy.  It felt so right. 
	This time when Ken pressed into him, he felt his body react.  Perhaps because he'd seen 
how Ken had responded this morning, or perhaps just because he was more consciously aware of 
his desires now, but it was nice.  The confines of his pants restricted him though, and he 
wrapped his arms around Ken's torso, his head back on the grass, his breath coming out in 
slightly increased intervals.  He loved the feeling of Ken on him, and shifted his hips,
pressing them together.  "Mmm."  He breathed, pulling his arms up, running fingers through 
Ken's dark hair. "I like this." He said with a sensuous innocence, then swallowed and clung to
Ken tighter.
	The old boy shivered a little and looked down at Van, green eyes bright with passion. 
"Van, are you sure . . . you want to do this now?"
	"Do what?" the king murmured, craning his neck to look up at Ken, his face cool and 
calm.  "You haven't even kissed me yet, why would I let you do anything else?" He muttered, 
trailing his hands along Ken's back, voicing his one disappointment.  He shifted his hips 
again and his eyes half closed at the feelings it induced.  "Aahnmm, laying like this won't 
hurt anyone." He added, intending to remain fully clothed.  His hands tightened on Ken's back.
	Ken made a face.  "It could become extremely painful for -both- of us if we aren't 
careful." he blinked, realizing that Van's right, he -hadn't- kissed him yet. Oops.  "Um . . .
should I kiss you?" he smiled a little, faintly nervous.  "I want to, but I don't know if you
. . . want me to."
	Van fell back and sighed, knowing Ken was right, but unable to stop the throbbing in 
his groin.  Rubbing it into Ken helped.  It felt so good.  He clenched his teeth and looked 
back up to Ken and shook his head.  "I'm not going to ask you to kiss me."  He muttered, 
exerting control to keep his hips steady.  "Of course I want you to."  He breathed, taking a 
deep breath to control his breathing.  He wasn't going to tell Ken how -much- he wanted him 
to.  "But I'm intending for you to just do it."  he released Ken, letting his arms flop to 
the side of him, like he were making a snow-angel.  He spoke again, softly.  "I want you to do
it when it's the right time.  Not before.  I'll wait for that." And without saying it 
directly, it became obvious he'd never even been kissed before.
	Ken looked down at Van and smiled a little.  "I don't know . . . I think now would be a 
good time . . . since we're here and all." he chuckled, to relax himself.
	"You're the one on top." Van said in a mutter, but it's not coldly said.  He -wanted- 
Ken on top of him.  However, he also didn't sound overly eager.
	Ken blinsed, then nodded.  "Yeah, but I don’t want to kiss you if you don't want me 
to." he repeated.
	"Stop with that," the boy chided, looking up at him, eyes harder and annoyed with how
delicate Ken was taking everything.  "I want everything you do."
	Ken smiled softly.  "Okay, then . . . close your eyes." he softly commanded and moved 
down, gently kissing him, just barely pressing his lips to Van's.  Van hesitated a moment and
then closed his eyes.  At the touch of their lips his body seemed to just go numb and dead. 
There was a hollow ringing in his ears and he remained beneath Ken, motionless until the other
pulled back.  He opened his eyes and almost looked startled.
	Ken blinked at him and tilted his head seeing Van's expression and lack of response. 
"Wha . . . ?   Did I do something wrong?"
	"No . . . I don't know."  he moved to get up, gently pushing Ken off him.
	Ken rolled off and looked at him, startled.  Hadn't Van -wanted- that?
	Van sat for a second looking a bit confused and then got to his feet, shaking his legs 
a bit to work off his uncomfortable erection and disperse the grass on his hair and back.  He
 took a breath to control his breathing and started for the horse. Ken watched him go, 
totally stunned, and just kind of sat there.  Van stood by the horse, petting the giant beast 
and then untied it and looked at it's back skeptically.  He knew he couldn't mount without 
the stump.  He finally looked back over his shoulder at Ken, and then lead the horse over. 
"Ready to go back?"  The words fell flat in the cold glade.
	Ken blinked dully.  "I . . . I think I'll walk . . . thanks, though."
	Van met Ken's eyes flatly and held the reins in one hand. "Get on the horse, Ken."
	Ken shook his head and got up.  "No, I'll be fine. Go ahead."
	"Then you ride.  I'll walk." He stated, staring at him.
	"I don't like horses and my legs hurt.  I'm walking either way." he knew he was being 
stubborn, but he -wanted- to walk.  Especially after . . . whatever had just happened.
	"Then we'll both walk." Van stated as he gritted his teeth and started walking, pulling 
the reins, Midnight teetering after him.
	Ken sighed and shook his head.  "Fine." he started off after them, wondering what on 
Earth or Gaea he could have done to change Van's mood so quickly.  He'd said he wanted Ken to 
kiss him, so . . . what'd he do WRONG?!
	Van knew it'd be nightfall before they arrived back at the Kingdom if they kept up this
walking pace.  It seemed simply a waste to have the beautiful roam clomping a long beside 
him at a snails pace.  He sighed, watching the path as he walked, trying to think what he was
doing over and over in his mind.  Perhaps Earth's customs were better.  He still felt like a 
foolish child, even if technically he was an adult.  Such a foolish child with his head so
filled with childish dreams and notions.
	Ken, biting his lip, said.  "Let's ride . . . I changed my mind.  I think I'll be okay."
	Van halted and looked around, not even answering the other. There was nothing that 
would help them mount, so he just started walking again, and only them spoke.  "We'll have to 
walk until we find something to use to mount."  It was said almost cold and unfeeling.
	Ken winced at Van's tone and looked up at the sky, suddenly wishing he had Youji here 
to talk to.  Youji could always give him good advice.  "Well . . . I could help you up."
	"Then how would you get up?" he muttered and kicked a rock that was along the path.
	"I dunno.  I'll find a way.  Or we can just go back to the stump."
	Van stopped walking, his back to Ken.  His free hand clenched.  "You're not making any 
sense."  Ken looked away and bit his lip at those words and then looked back. 
	"The stump that we used to get off in the first place."
	He sounded tired and almost hurt when he answered.  "That's not what I meant."  he 
started walking again, pulling the horse after him.
	Ken followed him.  "What did you mean, then?"
	"Nothing.  Forget it."  Van grumbled and kept walking.  He was being as stubborn as Ken 
had been, but he didn't care.
	Ken bit his lip more.  "You mean about what happened." it wasn't a question, it was a 
statement.  He HAD to know what had gone wrong back there.
	Van kept walking, silent for a long time, then a soft:  "Aa." was admitted.  He paused, 
but them started walking again.
	Softly, Ken said.  "I thought you wanted me to kiss you . . ."
	Van's reply was curt:  "I did.  But it didn't work."
	Ken blinked at that.  "What do you mean, it didn't work?"
	"I don't know.  It just didn't."  Van stopped walking again, closing his eyes, inhaling.
	Ken looked down, stopping too.  "I . . ." he bit his lip again.  "Gomen."
	Van sighed, feeling guilty at Ken's apology finally.  "It just wasn't the right time." 
	Ken glanced up at him.  "Oh?"
	"Aa.  That must be it." the king said with a sigh.
	Hesitantly Ken asked.  "Should we try again?"
	Van's hands tightened into balls and rounded on him, the horse reins dropping, and faced 
Ken in the path.  "Why do you keep -asking-?!"  he shouted, flinging his arms through the air,
slicing down.  "You're a man, aren't you?"  he stalked toward Ken, crimson eyes on fire.  
"You don't need my permission!  I thought you were the one who was supposed to know these 
things, not me."  he stopped in front of him, breathing heavy from having gotten himself 
worked up.  "Just because I'm the King doesn't mean you have to put me on a pedestal and 
dance on eggshells around my feet." He took a breath and grabbed Ken's hands, putting them on 
his hips.  His voice was softer then, looking right at the other.  "If you want me, then take 
me."   Ken blinked at him, kind of in shock at being dressed-down like that. 
	"Hasn't anyone ever told you how this -works-, Van?  I would be this way even if 
you WEREN'T a King.  I don't care who or what you are!  I don't want to do anything -you- 
don't want me to do!  I've said that!" he looked hurt that Van assumed he was being this way 
just because Van was a King.
	Van stared at Ken flatly, and the look in his eyes spoke that of -course- no one had 
told him how it worked.  He lifted his chin, staring down his nose at the other, his dignity 
suddenly getting in the way.  Levelly, he replied.  "I said I wanted to do everything you do."
	Ken frowned.  "And then you jerked away from me when I went to kissed you like I'd 
turned into a bug."
	Van gritted his teeth, looking back at Ken.  "Because I'd just gotten through saying
I'd wait for the -right time- for you to do it.  I didn't mean -then-."
	"I thought then -was- the right time!"  Ken cried, looking confused, exasperated, and 
hurt all at once.
	Van released Ken, torn between ignoring him and just turning away and walking, or 
pulling him close and holding him.  He wanted to do both.  He compromised and pulled back and 
then sat down in the middle of the road.  He sorted his feelings out and finally decided to
explain his reasoning.  "I've . . . just always had an idea of what my first kiss would be 
like." he hunched his back and rested his chin in his hands, half-closing his eyes.  "That 
wasn't how I'd imagined things."
	Ken turned away and hugged himself, looking down and feeling terrible.  "Sorry . . . I
. . ."  he swallowed, tightly. 
	"You didn't know." he finished for Ken and titled his head.  "I know.  I just thought 
it'd all fall into place."
	Helplessly Ken cried.  "It was supposed to"
	Van felt his chest tighten, and he turned around, twisting to look at Ken.  -He- felt 
bad now.  He got to his feet and walked over to Ken and put his arms around him, pulling him 
close.  "It's okay."
	Ken stood still for a couple seconds, then hesitantly hugged Van back, not knowing what 
to say or even what to think.  Van didn't let the embrace last too long and pulled away 
sighing.  "It doesn't matter anyway.  It's over now."  he said, trying to sound optimistic. 
He just walked to where Midnight had wandered to and picked up the reins again.
	Quietly Ken just murmured:  "Aa." for the time being, he wondered if it was over 
for good.  He'd read Van wrong and acted too soon, and had ruined any chance of making it 
better for now.  He just walked along quietly, kind of withdrawing into himself.  Not too much
further down the road they came to a fallen log and were able to mount.  The pace picked up a 
lot more, but they still road in silence.  Ken just wished they were back at the palace so he 
could run off and find some place to hide for awhile.
	It was dusk before they arrived back and Van dismounted at the stables and started 
inside not waiting for Ken.  He wanted to bathe, and while the idea of inviting Ken occurred, 
he didn't voice it.  "I'm going to bathe, do what you like." He muttered, and then glanced up,
realizing that'd been harsher sounding than he'd intending.
	Ken bit his lip and looked away.  He nodded and walked away quickly, wanting to get far 
away from Van in hope that the feeling that choked his throat would go away before he started 
to cry in public.
	Van thought about going after Ken, but then decided he really didn't want to.  He headed 
up to the bathing rooms and undressed and soaked, feeling a little guilty and wondering how 
Ken felt.  "What's he doing?" He asked himself, a loud. "What's he thinking . . . ?"
	Ken was sitting in the far corner of Van's room, on the side of the bed opposite the 
door.  He had his knees drawn up and his arms resting on them, and his forehead resting on
his arms.  He knew he'd completely botched things up..
	It was dark several for hours before he finally came into his room, looking around a bit
worried.  "Not here either."  He said with a sigh and closed the door, walking to his closet 
and beginning to undress.  He pulled on something to sleep in and then went and leaned out 
the window, not realizing Ken was in the room with him.  He sighed, looking up at the moon 
and the Earth.  "Who'm I kiddin'?" he muttered and buried his face in his folded arms.
	Ken had fallen into a light doze, and he started awake when he heard Van's voice.  He 
looked up at him, and when he spoke, his voice was soft.  "I don't know."
	Van whirled around and it took a while before he could pick out Ken's dark shape on the 
far side of the bed, near the wall. He felt guilty instantly.  "Have you been there all this 
time?" he asked, pushing away from the sill, padding towards him.
	Softly Ken answered.  "Hai, I have."
	"You missed supper." he knelt by him, in the dark, but not too close.  "Should I have 
something sent up?"
	"No . . . I'm not hungry." he lied and sighed quietly, hugging his legs, gazing 
ahead at the wall across the room.  Van sat back on his heels, watching Ken's vacant stare 
and put a hand to his own chest.
	"You're mad at me?"
	Ken shook his head.  "Not at you. At myself."
	"Don't be.  It's not worth it." the boy king stated, and rested his hands on his knees. 
He didn't want Ken to be like this.
	Glumly, resting his chin on his knees Ken replied.  "If you say so."
	Van breathed and crawled on the cold floor toward him, trying to put his arms around 
him, and draw him close.  He hissed upon touching him.  "You're freezing!"
	Softly, sounding half dead, he said:  "I didn't notice . . ."  he let Van pull him 
close, closing his eyes.  Van felt heavy hearted and rubbed the warm side of his palms 
against Ken's shoulders and arms, trying to warm him, pulling him close. 
	"Forget about this afternoon, Ken.  Just forget about it."
	Ken shivered a little and opened his eyes again, looking up at Van, green eyes darkened
to a rich emerald color and filled with sorrow and worry.  "I'll try . . . but . . ."
	"No buts."  Van interjected and moved to stand, hoping to pull Ken up and get him on 
the warm bed.  Ken let Van get him settled in, then looked at him with mournful green eyes 
	"I'm sorry for ruining your first kiss.."
	Van paused a little, feeling his heart cinching and looked back to him, running his
fingers through the other's dark hair.  He shook his head.  "It's all right.  It's . . . it's 
not that important, anyway." he smiled a little, then.
	"It -is- important." he looked away, feeling really guilty.
	Van stood there, looking down at Ken and then placed his hands on his hips, sighing. 
"What do you want me to do, Ken?  What can I do to make you not have that frown on your face?"
	Ken blinked, then looked back at him.  "Well, nothing, I guess.  Just let me kick 
myself for a little longer and I'll be fine." he smiled ruefully,
	Van smirked at the smile Ken gave and roughed up the others' hair.  "You're hopeless."
He muttered and started towards the door to his room.  He opened it, just stood in the doorway
saying something to the page stationed there and then closed the door and started towards the
fireplace.  It was a fright cold in the room -- they just didn't have the excess wood to keep 
it burning all the time -- and he bent putting in fresh wood in and got a cozy fire going.
	Ken sat up, letting the covers fall to his waist, and laughed a little, running a hand
through his hair to smooth it out.  "Yeah, probably so."
	Van dusted his hands off looking back at him, back lit into darkness by the orange fire.
What'm I gonna do with you?"
	Ken grinned.  "I dunno.  I'm the dark mage lord, so you can't very well knock me off."
	"Of course I can." He chuckled and put his hands on his hips again.  "I just don't want
to.  Yet, anyway."
	Ken grinned more, feeling better.  "Careful, I might curse you and change you into a 
toad or something."
	Van titled his head, the smirk still on his lips.  "I can't imagine -you'd- want that."
	He matched Van's smirk.  "Oh? You must have a poor imagination."
	Van jerked and made a face.  "Disgusting."
	Ken laughed at the look on his face.  "But you'd make too cute of a toad, and a 
princess wouldn't have any problem with kissing you.  Maybe I should turn you into a
cockroach."  he laughed.
	"I'd make a cute cockroach, too."  Van defiantly stated and then started towards the 
bed and Ken sitting in it.
	Ken broke into a grin again.  "No cockroach is cute, but I think you might be 
considered very cute by -their- standards."
	Van sat on the edge of the bed and snickered  "I'll stay human, thank you."
	Ken laughed at him.  "As you wish, then, you're the King."
	Van chuckles and nodded.  "Glad you see things my way."
	Ken started to say something, but his stomach growled and interrupted him.  He blushed 
a little.  "Eheh.  Maybe I should take you up on your offer and get some food."
	Van chuckled and nodded to the door.  "I already sent for some."
	Ken smiled tightly.  "Either you read my mind or you were gonna force-feed me."
	Van chuckled at the idea of force feeding Ken and patted his knee.  "I knew that once 
you stopped mopping, you'd be hungry."
	Ken pouted at him.  "It's -your- fault." but he was teasing.
	"I know, which is why I'm trying to make amends." the king said, lightly, but seriously.
	Ken smiled gently.  "As long as you aren't mad at me . . . or upset with me . . . then 
I'm fine.  Really."
	"Aa.  I'm sure you'll make up for it in other ways, anyhow.   You have lots of 'firsts' 
of mine to break."
	Ken laughed a little.  "Okay then." he wondered if it would be a good thing to kiss Van 
again, and pondered on this for a second or two.
	Van looked at Ken, smiling lightly, the fire still back lighting him, eyes glittery, one 
hand on Ken's knee, the other on the bed.  He just looked at Ken, as if reading his mind and 
didn't say anything.  Ken looked at him for a moment, then leaned forward a little, his face 
about three inches from Van's.  He waited to see what the other boy's reaction would be.  He
wasn't going to replay this afternoon.  Van leaned forward a bit, up-turning his face, eyes 
lowering a little to close, tilting his head as he moved to close the gap between them.  That
very second a loud rapping occurred on his heavy oak doors and his eyes flew open and he turned
his head to look, gritting his teeth.  He'd have to have that policy change.  "Enter!" He 
shouted and then looked back to Ken, apologetically.
	Ken blinked his eyes open, then chuckled and grinned at him.  "No big deal."	he looked
at the door to see who was coming in.  Van wasn't as easily cooled as Ken was.  The page 
entered, carrying a tray of food.  Van sighed and got up to go get it.  It would figure.  He
took the tray and sent the page off without a word.  The boy who had brought the food had 
wide eyes, as if there was something more he wanted to tell, but Van slammed the door in his 
face.  
	"Suppers here." He stated, crossing to him and the bed again.
	Ken laughed.  "Aa.  Well, are you going to eat with me, then?"
	Van sat on the bed and rested the tray in his lap, looking at him.  "I had a big supper
before coming here."  He explained and looked at the food that had been brought up.  He 
smirked and picked up a small sliver of meat and held it between two fingers, towards Ken.  
"But I've no objections to feeding you."
	Ken blinked, then grinned wickedly.  "And I have no objections to being fed, but could 
I, like . . . eat a sandwich myself first?" he pointed at the strawberries and what looked 
like whipped cream.  "You can feed me that later." he grinned. "And I'll fed you too."
	Van laughed and nodded. "Starving boys have to eat, I suppose."
	"Arigatou!" he cried and wolfed down the sandwich and a roll, and drank half the glass 
of fruit juice.  Afterward, he smiled innocently at him.  "Okay, I'm not starving anymore."
	Van snickered all over again and looked at what was left.  "You take all the romance 
out of everything."  He nudged the plate, then picked up he they called a tangore, but it was
basically the same thing as a strawberry, just a little more juicy and sweet.  He rolled the
tip in the custard sauce and lifted it, looking through a veil of ebony hair up at Ken.  "Say
'Aaah' for me."
	"Aaah~ . . ." Ken opened his mouth.
	Van laughed and inserted the fruit.  "Mmm?"
	Ken chewed it thoughtfully and swallowed it, then gave Van a big grin.  "It's great."
Grinning while he picked up another piece of fruit, coating it as well he spoke to himself. 
	"There he goes again, acting all amazed." he shifted, turning more, offering the 
second tangore.
	Ken chuckled and took it, and after he swallowed it he grinned again.  "Your turn, now."
He picked one and dipped it in the sauce, still grinning.  "Say 'aah'!"
	Van smirked and said:  "I don't really like these, but," he opened his mouth anyway, 
letting Ken feed him.
	Afterward, Ken put the tray on the floor next to the bed and flopped down again, 
laughing, feeling much better.  "Wow, I'm stuffed.  Your cooks are great, Van."
	Van crawled onto the bed, laying on one side of Ken, but with his arms still straight 
out, propping him up.  "Mmm. I'm glad you think so." he said, looking down at him.  "I like 
everything they make, generally, too."
	Ken grinned and rolled onto his side so he's close again to Van.  "Mm. Well, they're 
great." he smiled, seeing if Van wanted to continue what had been interrupted by the page.
Van lifted one hand, running it through Ken's hair and started to lower himself, looking with
ruby eyes down into Ken's.  He paused, as if waiting for something to happen. 
	"If someone comes through that door this time, I'll cut their head off."
	Ken chuckled.  "I wouldn't go that far, but I think it'll be safe to be 
annoyed . . ."  Van chuckled too and moved down further, until they were just inches apart 
again.  He didn't want to appear nervous, but he was. He closed his eyes and titled his head,
brushing his lips to Ken's.  The muscles in his arms relaxed, but before he could move to 
deepen the kiss, there was shouting down the hall and someone came banging on the door.
	Ken growled softly.  "Can you ignore it?"
	Van was about to reply: 'If only I could.' when the door swung open and one of his 
chamberlains came in.  He jerked upright, off of Ken and almost fell off the bed, his eyes 
were angry.  "I didn't say 'Enter!'"  He shouted and the chamberlain looked instantly
terrified, eyes flickering from Van to the other man in the King's bed, and then back to Van 
again.  The old man was sputtering saying: 
	"Ye-yes, but I know, but . . . but I thought you were sleeping and this is of dyer 
importance Your Majesty."  Van looked mean, eyes almost glowing.  His words came from 
clenched teeth.
	"-What-?" He hissed.
	Ken looked rather embarrassed and sat up, running a hand through his hair.  He wondered 
what could possibly be so important that someone would barge in on the King.
	The chamberlain began talking again, and while he did, Van's face changed from enraged
to shocked.  Much of the man's words were lost on Ken, but the meaning was clear. The man 
spoke:  "Word has just gotten back from Trill that Zaibach has attacked and burned the city 
to the ground."  At that, Van was on his feet but the other man continued before Van could 
voice the 'WHAT?!!?' that was on his lips.  "We don't know how accurate their reports are 
Your Highness, only that the city is burned down.  We have many eye witnesses who say they 
saw Zaibach guymelef’s though."  He was cut off as Van grabbed the man's shoulders and shook 
him. 
	"Where's Merle?!" He shouted, his heart pounding.  Trill was where she'd been sent to 
help pick out castle adornments.
	Ken got up too, only understanding 'attacked and burned the city to the ground', 
basically.  But that was enough for him to be rather alarmed by the news.
	The chamberlain sighed and instantly said:  "She's safe.  The scout rider who came 
ahead said the Fanelian survivours are about an hour or two back yet.  They'll becoming in in 
the middle of the night."  Van relaxed visibly, but he still looked shaken, and angry.  He 
felt sick.  To have survived Fanelia's destruction and then to be killed by another Zaibach 
raid in a neighboring country.  It was just too much. 
	"Ready my horse." He stated gravely and the man bowed and left.  He just stood there, 
shoulders slumped, looking pissed and depressed.
	"Van . . .' Ken murmured as he went to him and put a hand on his shoulder.  "Maybe you 
should wait here for them to return."
	Van sighed, his hands balled into tight fists.  His voice dripped with emotion.  "I can't
do that, Ken."
	"What good will it do if you ride out like this, angry and upset?"  Ken pressed, not
wanting to loose the other again tonight.  "You said yourself that dragons are attracted to 
emotions like that.  Besides, it's getting dark.  You can't see as well, and your horse could 
trip and throw you, and you could be hurt, or even killed!"  he was trying to keep his voice 
level, but the worry shined through clearly.  "I'm worried too.  Please, wait here."
	Van shook his head, starting for his bureau.  "Those people need me now more than ever."
He said and pulled out the first things he found.  "I can't stay here.  I'm not the King to 
stay inside the safety of the castle walls."  He pulled his shirt on and shook his head. 
And . . . and Merle's out there."  He looked back to Ken.  "I have to see her." He moved 
aside, grabbing his sword and clipping it on, his shoes still on from earlier.  He started for
the door and then turned around, looking back at him.  He went back and touched Ken's face. 
"Try to get some sleep, I'll be back before dawn.  I promise, I'll be careful."  He moved to 
leave again.
	Ken reached out and caught his hand.  "Then I'm going with you."  he smiled tightly. 
"You can't leave your mage lord behind."
	Van smiled a fleeting moment but then his brows curved up.  "We'll be riding like the 
wind, Ken, you'd only slow us down." He moved to his toes and kissed his forehead.  "I wish 
you could come." He knew that he'd probably not be greeted with the most loveliest of sights
upon finding the survivours.
	Ken grinned.  "I can hold on, don't worry.  I promise, if I fall off, you can just 
leave me behind.  I'll be okay.  I'm not fragile, Van."  his smile softened.  "Besides, I 
want to be there with you."
	Van's eyes darted back and forth, looking up at Ken. It was a foolish thing to weigh 
the success of something on just one person: he knew if Ken fell, he'd go back for him, but at 
the same time, he found himself already too attached to the man to leave him and deny his 
wishes.  He shook his head, sighing.  "A good mage lord would listen to his King the first 
time." He pulled away and went to grab something from his chest again.  "Get your shoes on." 
He was out the door within seconds, jogging down the dark corridors.
	Ken grinned and puts his shoes on, then pulled his sweater on over his T-shirt and ran
after Van, following him to the stables.


--end part four--