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

an Escaflowne / Weiß kreuz crossover
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Warning: This part contains a lemon scene. Just skip by it if you don't want to read it. 
However, if you disregard this warning and flame us, be warned that we (or at least I, Tiga) 
bite back. ^.^
 
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        The stablehouse was a mess with people, and Van had to make himself known by 
yelling. It was one disadvantage to being the King at sixteen -- he was still a head or two 
shorter than everyone else, and he didn't dress like a king, so it was easy to look over 
him. He had two horses called and was up on his within seconds. He looked at Ken, waiting to 
see what the other would do.
        Ken swung into the saddle of the horse he presumed was his and held onto the reigns 
like Van had done, giving off the air of utmost confidence. He winked at the other boy. "I 
think I can handle this one."
        "Good." Van replied, and without further adieu he flung the cape he'd pulled out of 
the closet upstairs around his shoulders and kicked his horse and he was off in a cloud of 
dust. As if letting out a dam, other people took off too, seeing him taking the lead. Ken 
followed him, urging the horse on until he'd caught up with Van. It was a rough ride, but he 
eventually learned how to move with the horse, and that made it better for him.
        Van stood in his stirrups, hunched close to the neck of his horse, his hair rippling 
behind and around his head as he bobbed to the beat of the animal beneath him. He would have 
made an excellent racing horse jockey. He knew riding this hard for an hour or more wouldn't 
be good for his horse, but he knew he could do it, and change out horses later. He just 
wanted to get there. Ken just followed him, mimicing his actions. He found that it wasn't 
all that bad; in fact, it was kind of fun.
        The young king looked up as in the far distance, through the blackness, came a faint 
light of a slowly moving train of people. He couldn't judge how long they'd been riding, but 
it'd been a long time. This was undoubtedly the group. He slowed, but only enough so he 
could sit straight and put his fingers to his mouth, whistling shrilly. Somewhere up ahead a 
voice faintly cried, "It's the King!" and a few cries went up. He kept going and when he 
reached the first person he met them with hard eyes. Wordlessly, the man point to the orange 
blur streaking down the road in the distance towards him. He pulled his horse hard to a 
halt, swung off numbly and ran. "Merle!" He yelled. She plowed into him, almost knocking him 
off his feet. "Yokatta," he murmured, stroking her hair.
        Ken stopped his horse and jumped down, nearly falling over. He looked at Van and the 
girl, feeling a slight pang, wondering if this was a girlfriend of some sort. Pushing the 
thought aside, he went to tend to the injured, always having had a knack for calming hurt 
people down and knowing how to treat most injuries from two years as an asassin. He was 
always patching himself or his teammates up.
        Van nearly forgot Ken as he checked Merle over for injuries and listened to her 
whine about how awful it was and how she thought she'd never see him again and let her sob 
into his shirt for a long time. He just held her and stroked her head until she was a little 
more rational, shrugging his cape off and draping it around her shoulders. She purred 
happily and then lead him to some of the people he personally knew who were injured. He bent
to assist someone when he remembered Ken and looked up, feeling regret. He'd been riding so 
hard he hadn't even noticed anyone else -- Ken could have fallen off and been trampled for 
all he knew. His eyes scanned the people arriving -- he'd gotten there faster than many of 
the others carrying the medical supplies.
        Ken was cleaning and bandaging the wounds of a little girl whose parents were killed.
He sang to her softly while he patched her up, being incredibly gentle with her. She was the 
fifth person he'd helped so far, and he had no intention of quitting, even though his own 
muscles were screaming at him and he was exhausted. Others before self. He knew that from 
soccer. That was another place he'd had to patch people up. He finished tying the last 
bandage and told her to wait, that he'd come back, and moved on to the next person.
        Van's eyes softened and flooded with relief seeing Ken tending to a young child. He 
gently shook the clinging Merle off his arm and knelt to deal with the old woman at his 
feet. He wanted to introduce Ken to Merle, but he knew there'd be time for that later. 
"Merle, go get me some gauze." he said, kneeling and begining to tend to the womans cuts. 
When the old lady realized it was the King himself at her side, her eyes filled with tears.
        Ken worked his way over to Van and gave him a tired but charming smile. "That takes 
care of the ones the Healers aren't tending to. Do you need help?" he asked.
        Van shook his head. "No, I'm almost done here." he said and looked up as Merle 
bounded back over, pushing past Ken with a polite "excuse me", not really paying attention 
to him and handing the gauze to Van. Her tail peeped and swayed from under her little dress 
and her ears swiveled about. She really was half cat. "Aah, thank you Merle." He knelt and 
applied the stuff to the lady and glanced at them as he worked. "Merle, I want you to meet 
Ken." She blinked and turned, looking at him.
        Ken blinked and looked at the girl, then smiled wearily at her. "Yo."
        "Nyaaaaao." She looked at him suspiciously, resting her chin in her hand and then 
leaned closer, sniffing at him. He smelled like Van. She didn't like that one bit. She 
turned around and squatted by Van again "Van-samaaaaa." She latched to his arm and rubbed 
her head against it, looking out the corner of her eye to see Ken's reaction. Van laughed 
and held her.
        Ken ignored her completely, too tired to be jealous and too concerned about the 
injured to care about anything but them. For now, he'd done all he could do, and he was 
dangerously close to collapse. His face was stark white, and his eyes were glazed over a 
little bit.
        The king finished with the lady and stood up, shaking Merle off gently, starting 
towards Ken. He looked at his face, ignoring Merle trying to get between them to see what he 
was doing, and touched his cheek. "You look sick," he murmured and looked around." Go ahead 
and sit . . . try to sleep. We'll probably not get out of here for another hour or two."
        Smiling a bit, Ken tilted his head into Van's touch. "I think I'll be okay. Others 
before self."
        "Don't be foolish," Van replied, putting a hand on his chest, pushing him down. 
Merle moved out of the way, watching them with large eyes.
        Ken let Van push him down, but protested weakly. "People will need my help soon!"
        "Shut up Ken." He said, and let Ken sit. He straightened again, refusing to feel 
weary himself.
        "You're as badly off as I am," Ken replied, reaching up and grabbing his hand. "Rest 
with me."
        He looked around, not wanting to, especially since he knew they'd be easily seen 
together, and that he'd probably fall asleep in Ken's arms if he went down. Merle, eyes 
wide, interved herself. "Don't be so familiar with Van-sama!" She stated and wrapped herself 
around his arm.
        Van bit his lip, realizing just how badly Merle'd take his feelings for Ken. She'd 
only just been able to accept his feelings for Hitomi. "Merle." He said, his voice serious. 
"Go see if there's something else you can do." He added, looking at Ken and not her. He 
turned to look at her as she started to whine another "Van-sama" and then looked hurt and 
disengaged herself, backing off. She glared at Ken and then dropped to all fours, running 
off.
        Ken watched her go, then closed his eyes and sighed. "Sorry, that was rude of me," 
he said.
        "A little," Van replied, dropping down next to him.
        "I'm not thinking straight. I'm sorry. I'll apologize to her later." Ken said, 
yawning a little in the process.
        Van drew his knees to his chest and rested his chin on them. "Hai," he replied.
        Ken wanted desperately to hug him or lean on him or have Van lean against him or 
something, but he didn't dare do any of those things. He wasn't sure how Van felt about 
other people knowing yet.
        Van glanced at him, holding tighter to his legs. "Doing alright?"  He asked.
        Ken nodded. "Hai," he responded, drawing his legs up like Van had and resting his 
chin on them, closing his eyes.
        Van's voice dropped softly, so only Ken, hopefully, could hear. "I'm sorry for all 
the interuptions."
        Ken glanced at him and grinned a little. "I'll live. It's okay, Van, don't worry 
about it."
        Van smiled tightly. "I know, but, with this afternoon and now this . . ." He sighed,
closing his eyes again. He was tired. The ride here had been really draining and his legs 
felt weak.
        Ken spoke gently. "Can we move somewhere where people can't see us? I don't want 
to . . . do anything . . . I just want to give you a hug and maybe fall asleep." He chuckled
a little. "It's kind of noisy here."
        Van lifted his head and felt a bit dizzy but nodded. He felt the same. He got to his 
feet, went and talked to a man who seemed to be in control of things and pointed to the 
trees not far from where they were. He headed for the trees. Within a few steps inside, it 
was almost pitch black on three sides. The noise was nicely muted and the ground was covered 
in moss.
        Ken followed him and sighed in relief when they were away from everyone. "Arigatou, 
this is great . . ." The other didn't reply, he just collapsed. Ken blinked and knelt down 
next to him, alarmed. "Van?"
        "I'm fine." Van replied, rolling onto his back. "Come lay with me." He said, heavy 
lidded.
        "Gladly." He layed down next to him and curled up to him, putting an arm around his 
waist. He was so tired that his vision was blurred.
        Van nestled into him, not caring that he smelled like dirt and sweat and blood. He 
was just grateful for the strong arms. "You should've stayed home."
        Ken hugged him close and sighed. "What would you have done without me?"
        "I'd've managed." Van responded, yawning and snuggling, barely still awake.
        "Aa, you'd have worn yourself out and made yourself sick." Ken retorted.
        Van nuzzled the underside of Ken's neck. His next line was almost random. "Merle's 
going to hate you."
        Ken smiled a little. "She won't be the first, or the only one."
        Van sighed and his voice slurred a bit. "I wish everyone . . ." he yawned, tucking 
his arms under him. "I loved . . . got along."
        "If wishes were fishes, we'd all walk on water," Ken murmured in sleepy response.
        Snuggling closer, Van murmured a soft reply and fell fast asleep. Ken was not far 
behind.
        A little while later, Merle sniffed around the forest a bit and romped over, 
spotting Ken and Van. She froze seeing them asleep together in a mutual embrace. "Van-sama." 
She softly murmured, disbeliving. He . . . was laying there like that . . . with some *guy* 
she'd never even seen before. She stalked over and grabbed Ken's ear between her fingers, 
pulling him up.
        "ITTAAA!" Ken yelled, waking up only halfway. "Lemme go!" Not fully awake, he batted 
at her arm angrily. Something told him not to hit too hard, though, and he was careful 
nonetheless.
        "Nyaaaaao!!!!" Yelled Merle. Her voice sounded very upset. "Who do you think you are 
taking hold of Van-sama like that?" She proceeded to bat him in the face with her paws.  "I 
ought to have you arrested!"
        Van groggily opened his eyes, a lingering headache still bothering him, and looked 
blearily at Merle. "Mou, Merle, yamete." He groaned, sitting up.
        Ken fell backwards and raised his arms to protect his face, trying to fend her off. 
"Stoppit!!  Crazy girl!!"
        "Van-sama!" Merle cried, falling into him, arms around his neck and hugging him. He 
instictively held her back.
        "Merle, you can't do that to Ken." He said sternly. She buried her face in his 
shirt, her ears flattening.
        Ken glowered at both of them and rubbed his ear, tired and annoyed and feeling 
-very- much like a bratty twelve year old. He kept his mouth shut for fear of sounding like 
he was whining.
        "Iya, I don't wanna hear it Van-sama." She said, holding to him tightly. She was on 
the verge of tears. "I don't want to lose you, Van-sama. Make him go away."
        Van sighed and pulled back, looking at her. "Merle, stop it, you're being selfish." 
That broke her heart, and she burst into tears.
        Ken winced and immediately felt bad. He just wanted to curl up and go back to sleep, 
but instead he sat there, blinking owlishly and not saying anything.
        Van sighed again and held her tightly. "Mou, Merle . . . you won't lose me. I'll 
always love you, too, you know that." She shuddered at the implication that he loved Ken 
already, too. He stroked her hair gently. "Please don't cry."
        Ken got up slowly and stretched, then looked at them again. He decided to go back 
and check on the injured, and turned to leave. He certianly wasn't doing anyone any good by 
sticking around.
        Merle wasn't even thinking rationally anymore. "He's terrible, Van-sama!  You can't
love a *man*!" She sniffled, trembling. "What about Hitomi!?" She pulled back, looking at 
him. "Van-sama!!!" She slapped him across the face. "Are you drugged?!"
        Ken winced again and started walking faster. He didn't need or want to hear any of 
this. He was tired and over-emotional, and he figured that getting away from them might make
it easier for Van to calm the girl down.
        Van took the slap and looked to the side, feeling heavy hearted. He knew it was 
foolhardy to love Ken, but denying it wasn't an option. Certianly not around Merle. She 
could read through him like he were glass. Mournfully, he watched Ken leave. He started to 
say something, but then decided to just let him go. Why was everything conspiring to keep 
them apart?
        Ken just walked for a long time, and then realised that he'd gotten himself 
hopelessly lost. He looked around, blinking, wondering where he was. When he turned one more 
time, he found himself eye-to-eye with an Earth dragon. His eyes widened and he took a slow 
step back, then another, then another, not knowing how to alert Van that he was in trouble, 
not even knowing where Van -was-, and not knowing how to -fight- it. He didn't even have his 
bugnuks!
        Back in the clearing, Van finally calmed Merle down. She lead him out into the 
sunlight again, saying the injured were taken back and they were ready to bring the rest 
back. He blinked at the sun and looked around for Ken. He felt the hair on the back of his 
neck stand on end, remembering when Ken had walked off that he'd gone the opposite 
direction. "Shit!" Suddenly, he was very awake and he ran back into the forest. "Ken!"
        Ken, on the other hand, was being backed up farther and farther by the dragon, and 
suddenly he had no place else to run, because two more appeared on either side of him. He 
gulped and calmed his racing heart, thinking of Earth and his friends and concentrating on 
-not- being afraid. Maybe then they'd leave him alone . . . or at least kill him quickly and 
painlessly.
        Van got back to where they'd been laying and then took off in the direction Ken had 
been walking. The forest had become unnaturally quiet. He panted, running on stamina alone 
and kept shouting. "Ken!!"
        Ken heard Van's cry and felt elated, and then immediately dismayed. He tried to will 
Van to stay away. He knew there was -no way- Van could fight them off. If he was going to 
live, the dragons would have to decide to leave him alone on their own.
        The young king skidded to a halt, seeing a dragon directly in his path, but it was 
facing away from him, apparently cornering something. To his shock he saw not only one other 
dragon, but TWO . . . and he had the sinking sensation that Ken was their center of 
attention. He jerked his glove off and whistled with his fingers, loud and clear.
        The dragons turned to face him, interested. One lumbered his way, but the other two 
continued to stalk Ken. Ken gulped, but figured that two was better than three, and tried to 
think up a way to fight them without a weapon. Maybe he could win. And then again, maybe 
Hell would freeze over.
        Van didn't dare draw his sword. He'd probably be killed instantly if he did. He 
turned his attention from the one coming towards him to the two going after Ken. He needed 
to distract the other two away from Ken. What good was having a calm heart if three hungry 
dragons wanted to eat you? "Ani-ue!" He cried to himself and then decided to make a run for 
it. Ken was weaponless. He charged past the first dragon, towards the other two and Ken.
        Ken cried out in dismay. "Stay back, Van! It's too late!! Run away! RUN AWAY!!!"
        Van didn't waste breath answering and just kept running. He had fast reflexes, so he 
hoped he could dodge an attack if one came. Otherwise, he'd keep running until he got to 
Ken.
        Ken gritted his teeth and gathered all his willpower, trying to force the dragons 
-away-. "GO AWAAAYYYYY!!!!!" He screamed. The dragons turned and looked at him oddly, and 
then at each other. Ken kept trying to will them away, and, miraculously, they turned and 
lumber away, heading in the totally opposite direction that he and Van would have to go. He 
stared at them, watching them go, shocked.
        Van stumbled right when Ken screamed and fell to a pile at the older boys feet. He 
winced, as if sensing they'd claw him right in the back and then looked up as he felt them 
-leaving-. "Ee?"
        Ken watched them go until they were out of sight, then his legs gave way and he sat 
down hard on his backside, still staring in the direction they went. He turned to look at 
Van, his eyes still wide.
        Van was breathing hard and his head was throbbing. He finally looked back to Ken and 
coughed, winded.  "Ama . . . amazing." He panted and then coughed again.
        Ken stared at him for a moment longer, then suddenly reached out and embraced him, 
holding him tight and trembling. "Idiot! You idiot!  Were you trying to get yourself 
KILLED?!"
        Van let himself be held, weakly holding Ken back, realizing just how reckless what 
he'd done was. He shook his head, tightly shutting his eyes. "No . . . I just . . ." He 
tightened his grip on the other. "Better me than you."
        The other shook his head, holding him tighter. "No, no, no!  You're a King, Van! You 
have people counting on you! I'm just an Earth boy, I have -no importance- here 
-whatsoever-!!"
        "You're important to -me-!" Van cried and clung to him, still shaking a little. "I 
couldn't . . . I just couldn't STAND there!"
        Ken buried his face in Van's hair, shaking. "You're important to me too! . . . but 
if one of us has to die, I'd rather it be -me-!"
        "Don't talk like that." Van said forcefully.
        "You're worth more here than I am, Van, and that's -all there is to it-!!" Ken 
growled in response.
        Van bowed his head, knowing the other was right and just shut his mouth. It still 
didn't mean he wasn't going to try to save him if need be.
        Ken let out a shaky breath and just held him, closing his eyes. "God, I've never 
been so scared in my life."
        Van shuddered once, imagining how close Ken had just come to being killed. He would 
have been devestated if his quarrel with Merle had cost the other his life. He pulled back 
and took a deep breath to steady himself. "Let's go back, I don't want to stay here."
        Ken nodded slowly, getting himself under control. He got up and offered his hand to 
Van, wanting to help him up. Van accepted and stood, closing his eyes and taking a deep 
breath to control himself. "It's this way." He murmured. and began walking stiffly.
        "Hai," Ken replied, following him, still holding fast to his hand. He found that he 
didn't want to let go at all.
        Van felt numb and hollow inside and he just wanted to take a long hot bath and sleep 
for a week. Their journey out of the forest was uneventful the rest of the way, but they 
were met with curious stares when they emerged together late, hand and hand. Van released 
Ken's hand regretfully and tiredly mounted his horse.
        Ken mounted his horse as well, that being one of the last things he wanted to do. He 
wanted to get to a bath and -quick-, and then sleep. And then eat. In that order.
        
        Once they got back to Fanelia and got everything settled down, Van was trudging up 
the stairs, exhausted, not sure if to sleep or to bath first would be better. He couldn't 
imagine sleeping as dirty as he felt, and so when Ken started up the second bought of stairs 
to his room, he grabbed his hand and pulled him towards the baths.
        Ken stumbled a little and turned, going with him. He spoke blearily. "Right. Bath." 
He tried to wake up some so he didn't drown himself in the tub.
        Van decided a fast bath was best for now, and that they could soak later after 
they'd slept more. He closed the doors, still not wanting to be bothered and undressed, 
slipping with a sigh into the hot water. What bliss. Ken followed suit, gasping a little at 
the hot water. But it felt -nice-. He relaxed for a few minutes, just gazing up at the 
ceiling, letting the hot water do its magic on his tired and sore muscles.
        Van dunked his head under, letting the hot water turn his face red. He scrubbed his 
head and resurfaced, sighing. "I feel better already."
        The other just looked at him sleepily deciding belatedly that it'd be best to do the 
same thing. He grabbed a bar of soap and does so, scrubbing his hair until it's clean, then 
doing the same to his body. When he was done, he sighs in relief and puts the soap back. 
"Ah . . . clean at last . . ."
        Van relaxed more, content to just sleep here, were drowning not a danger. He opened 
his eyes and looked at Ken across the way, smiling sleepily at him. 
        Ken smiled back, weariness clouding his emerald eyes. "Let's get out 'fore we fall 
asleep here."
        "Mm." Van agreed, getting out and just slipping into a robe, since their clothes 
were filthy. There was plenty others too, for Ken. They stealthy managed to avoid anyone on 
the trek back to his room and he shut the door with a sigh. "I'll kill any one who comes in 
this time. I just want to sleep." He walked to the bed and fell onto it, moaning.
        "So do I." Ken replied, doing the same thing and burying his face in a pillow. He 
managed to get the strength to crawl under the covers with Van, hug him close gently, and 
pass out.
        Later, Van awoke to the odd sensation that something was wrong. He sat up and felt 
he was moist, and that it was completely dark. Memories of his shower, sleeping in his robe 
and crashing aroud noon flooded back. It must be the middle of the night now. But he was 
wide awake. He blinked as his eyes adjusted and then looked to his side at the man who still 
slept beside him. He reached a hand out to curl around his bangs.
        Ken woke up when Van sat up and yawned slightly, looking up at him and blinking 
cutely.
	"Wassamatter?" he asked, his voice deep and somewhat husky from sleeping.
        Van smiled down at him, speaking in very much the same tone. "Just a bit 
disoriented, s'all."
        Ken smiled back at him and sat up as well, stretching. His robe slipped off of his 
shoulders and fell to the mattress, but he didn't notice. "Hmm.. I feel so much better 
now . . ." he murmured.
        Van's eyes fell to Ken's broad shoulders as the robe slipped off him and he smiled, 
looking along his chest and torso and what wasn't covered by the sheets, and then back up to
his face. "Aah, so do I."
        Ken blinked at him, then looked down and blinked again. "Where's my . . ." he 
trailed off, catching sight of the robe and blinking again, then laughed. "Whoops."
        Van smiled, seeing Ken all sleepy-eyed in the bed beside him, robe around his hips. 
It was nice to wake up with someone you liked in the bed next to you. He moved, placing a 
hand on Ken's exposed chest, leaning forward and grinning. "Maybe you should go put some 
clothes on."
        Ken grinned back, still sleepy-eyed. "Are you sure you want me to?"
        Van chuckled, tracing his hand along the other's smooth skin, marveling over the 
tight muscles he felt beneath the soft skin. "I'm not sure."
        Ken tilted his head a little and chuckled. "Mm . . . that's nice . . ." He scooted 
closer to him and closed his eyes halfway. He was about to kiss him, when he blinked and 
made a face. "Now would be the time for someone to barge in."
        "It's the middle of the night." He breathed as he tilted his head, bending down, 
closing his eyes, finally kissing him. It was light at first, but then he pressed into him 
more, eagerly, aware no one was going to bother them this time.
        Ken wrapped his arms around Van and returned the kiss, having come to the same 
conclusion. The other boy murmured softly, but the sound was muffled. His hand on Ken's 
chest slipped to his waist, holding him tightly to him and he shifted on the bed, sititng up 
more so he could better lean down and kiss the Earthling.
        Ken reached up with one hand and tangled it in Van's hair, kissing him gently for 
another minute and then breaking the kiss for lack of air. He breathed somewhat hard and 
looked up at him, smiling a little. "Well . . . nobody interrupted us . . ."
        Van kept his eyes closed, breathing hard over him, his face turning into Ken's hair,
looking as if he's trying to savour every moment. His robe hung on his shoulders, opened at 
the front, the sash long since untied. "Mmm." He murmured, letting his body react.
        Ken hugged him close and closed his eyes, feeling himself react as well. He stroked 
Van's hair gently and tried to get his breath back. His head was spinning.
        Van let Ken hold him to him, his hips and legs still on the side of the other, but 
his torso pressing against the man beneath him. His hand cluched Ken's arm, stroking it, 
inhaling his clean, soap-scented skin, and finally opening his eyes. "Much nicer." 
        Ken opened his eyes and grinned a little. "What is?" He asked.
        "Everything." Van stated, nuzzling the warm, slightly damp skin under his cheek. 
"The setting, the mood, the kiss." He raised his head to look at the other.
        "Sou ka.." Ken responded with a smile. He tilted his head so he could nuzzle Van in 
return.
         "I want it to always be this nice." Van said, nestling down onto his side, draping 
his arm over the other's chest, cuddled in the crook of Ken's arm.
        Ken held him gently and kissed his forehead. "So do I."
        Van yawned, but not because he was tired. "I wonder what time it is." he mumbled.
        "I'm not sure," Ken replied. "But, I really don't want to move to find out."
        "My legs are still stiff from riding." Van said, turning his head into Ken's 
shoulder, lips resting on the warm skin as he spoke. "I don't want to move either." His arms 
tightened around the other.
        Ken tightened his grip as well. "I'm warm and comfortable . . . I just want to stay 
here . . ."
        "Then that's all you have to do." Van murmured, kissing his arm lightly. "Just lay 
here and hold me."
        With a playful grin, the other mock-bowed as best he could while laying down. "Hai, 
your majesty." he teased.
        "Knew you'd see it my way." Van breathed. Truth be told, he wanted to pull the 
clingy wet robe off, but he wasn't sure how good of an idea that'd be, and he didn't want to
move. It just felt uncomfortable.
        "I don't want to insult you.. but your robe is very wet and very cold." Ken said.
        Van sighed in relief. "I was afraid to takeit off, and move you." He replied, 
pulling back and sitting up, shucking it off his shoulders and lifting his hips to pull it 
out from underneath him. He dropped it to the floor and turned back, looking at him, just 
barely visable by the last embers in the fireplace.
        Ken fished his robe out from under the covers and tossed it over the bed as well, 
yawning a little and stretching.
        Van smirked, watching him, not sure exactly what he wanted to do. He wasn't tired 
enough to go back to sleep, and Ken looked delicious laying there, nude up to the blankets.
        Ken put his arms over his head and smiled, looking at Van, his eyes glittering a 
little. "Nani?"
        "It's erotic." Van stated simply, looking down at him and still smirking.
        Ken just grinned. "Thanks. So're you."
        "You're probably used to it." He muttered, turning back, leaning over Ken again. 
"I'm certainly not."
        Ken blinked up at him. "Used to what?" he asked.
        "This.. being intimate with someone," Van replied.
        Chuckling a little, Ken said, "I'm not, actually. Not like you think I am."
        "Oh?" Van tilted his head, looking down at him curiously. "I thought you'd be."
        "Iie." Ken replied, shaking his head and looking up at him.
        "Then I guess we get to fumble along together, mm?" He bent, kissing him again, 
lightly.
        Ken chuckled and kisses him back. "Aa, we do."
        "Mmm." Van rested his head on Ken's chest and nestled in. "I hope you at least know 
more than I do."
        Ken hugged him close. "Maybe."
        Van sighed and just held him, shivering a little as his bare legs brushed against 
Ken's.
        "Are you cold?.." Ken asked, pulling the blankets up over them.
        "No, just tense." Van replied, letting the blanket pull over his arms, lending 
warmth to the other.
        Ken grinned. "Shall I give you a massage, then?"
        Van bowed his head, imagining Ken's hands on his body and flushing. "I . . . I'd 
like that."
        "Okay then!" Ken replied, shifting around. "Roll over."
        "Hai." he replied, pulling off Ken and pushing his pillowed up, laying on his 
stomach on the feather matress, head to one side.
        Ken straddled his hips and leaned forward, placing his hands on Van's shoulders. 
"It might hurt, but it's supposed to.. if it's too bad, let me know and I'll lighten up." 
He started the massage gently.
        Van just tensed more as Ken moved to straddle his hips, feeling his legs around him, 
and then his hands on his back. It was almost too much sensation at once. He closed his 
eyes, trying to keep his breathing calm. Ken moved down lower to his sides, taking care to 
work the knots out as gently as possible. 
        The young king let out soft grunts at times when Ken found find a knot and worked on 
it for a while. It hurt, but it also felt nice. He tensed a little as Ken touched his tender 
sides but forced himself to relax and enjoy it.
        Ken moved back up to his shoulders and rubbed them gently, knowing it would feel 
good to him. He smiled. Before long, Van was just a puddle of massaged boy beneath Ken, his 
breath cool and even, completely relaxed.
        The other laughed and finished up, moving off of him and laying next to him, 
spooning him into his arms. "Feel better now?"
        "Mphgaaah." Van mumbled as Ken lifted and manipulated him, not moving a muscle, 
muchly resembling a wet noodle.
        Ken laughed. "Wha-at?"
        "That means yes," Van murmured.
        Ken chuckled and cuddled him. "I thought so, but I wasn't sure."
        "I can't feel my body anymore." Van said, his breath deep, totally relaxed.
        "Is that good or bad?" Ken asked with a grin.
        "It just is." He moved to lift his head, but flopped down again, nuzzling him. "The 
Dark Mage Lord should corrupt the White King like -that- more often."
        Ken laughed again. "I'd be glad to." He replied, hugging the other close. Van just 
layed there, not asleep, but in a total state of bliss. After a few minutes, Ken asked, 
"Well, your Highness, are you hungry yet?"
        Van licked his lips and thought about it for a bit. "Only slightly."
        "Good, I am too." Ken said, nudging him. "Let's get something to eat."
        "Mou!!!" Van cried, dismayed. "You -just- ate!"
        Ken blinked. "We ate about a day ago, Van, we were on the move all day yesterday and 
helping people, and then slept all day today and now it's midnight -tomorrow-!!"
        Van groaned and lifted his head. "You're right." he said and flopped down again. 
"But I still can't move."
        Ken grinned. "Well, maybe we can find something else to do."
        "Something else?" he questioned, trying to turn to look at the Earth boy.
        "Aa," Ken replied, bending and kissing him gently.
        "Mm." Van kissed him back, turning more into him.
        Ken smiled into the kiss and moved closer, enjoying everything thoroughly. The only 
bad thing was that it was a tad cold in the room. Van tilted his head more, lifting himself 
up finally, to reach better and not strain his neck. Ken tasted like salt and cinnamon and 
grass. He loved every bit.
        Ken broke the kiss a moment later to breathe and chuckled softly. "Like that."
        Van moved closer to him still, eyes closed, mouth near his and softly breathed, 
"Don't stop now."
        Obligingly, Ken wrapped his arms around Van and kissed him again. Van moved a 
little, raising up, getting to his kness. He kept his head down to kiss Ken. He wanted to 
move on top of him, but he was afraid to, because they were both naked. Ken pulled on him a 
little, showing that he -wanted- him there. He returned the kiss with equal enthusiasm.
        Van let his breath out in a soft almost-gasp and moved, pulling himself on top of 
Ken, brushing against him and likewise, and his kiss grows more fierce as passion rises in 
his body.
        Ken pulled him down, kissing him back fiercely and clinging to him, tangling one 
hand in his hair. Van turned his head more, and opened his mouth, licking Ken's lips 
instinctively with his tongue, squiming a little on top of him as his knees dug into the 
matress on either side of him, supporting him up some.
        Ken gasped and opened his mouth, his eyes fluttering open in surprise. Van pushed 
Ken back down futher, slipping his tongue in and kissing him harder, exploring the warm 
moistness of the inside of Ken's mouth. Ken made a soft sound deep in his throat and 
explored back as much as Van would let him. He pulled down on his waist, trying to get Van 
to lay on top of him, knowing it'll be a little more comfortable that way.
        Van groaned a deep throated consent as Ken pulled him down on top of him again, 
stopping the kiss for one second to exhale at the feeling of being pressed like that before 
kissing him again. He was cold because of the chill from the windows and the deceased fire, 
but he was burning on the inside.
        Ken pressed up against him, letting him do whatever he wanted. He'd wait until Van 
got over the initial curiosity/shyness to show him what he knows from reading manga and 
such.
        Van finally broke the kiss, panting now, dropping his head, burying it into Ken's 
neck and shoulder, rubbing his hips into him. He wasn't shy at all, and his curiosity was 
running thin. He wanted to just know what to do. He'd do it, if he knew how.
        Ken's eyes widened and his vision blurred. Instinct took over and he tentitavely 
thrust upwards, letting out a soft whimper. He wasn't quite sure -he- knew what to do, but 
his body certianly thought -it- did.
Van groaned, lifting his head again, kissing him once more butnot as friecely, his attention 
was elsewhere, rolling his hips back, then forward. It only served to heighten the feelings.
He felt the unmistakeable desire to thrust, but he had nothing to thrust into. He 
tossed his head a little, breath heavy, panting, and moaned a bit at his frusteration.
        Ken sensed Van's hesitation and smiled up at him, breathing hard. "Let me . . . be 
on top . . . okay?"
        If that made it feel different, he'd let Ken to whatever he wanted. "Aa." He 
murmured as a reply and pulled himself off, rolling onto his back, his lanky arms proving to 
be quite powerful as he pulled Ken on top of him.
        Ken grinned down at him and bent over to kiss his neck, thrusting against him 
gently. Bursts of white hot pleasure sang through him, and he swore to himself that -Van- 
would be the one to finish first. Van's vocabulary resorted to a muffled array of long 
breathy: "haaahaaa's" as he rocked under Ken. The other felt so wonderful on top of him, 
pressing down, inclosing, pressing into him, covering him. He thrust up, hips rocking, but 
finding little more than frusteration at the empty action.
        Somewhat annoyed, Ken looked down at him, eyes bright. Okay, time to try something 
else. He moved off of him a little and knealt next to him, leaning over to kiss him. He let 
one hand trail down Van's chest and stops at his hipbone, looking down at him, silently 
awaiting permission to touch him.
        Van's eyes opened some and he craned his neck to look at Ken, not realizing his 
hesistation was to see if Van was willing. He drove his hands into the bed and slid up the 
bed so that he brought -himself- to Ken's hand, moaning softly as the other's fingers 
touched his length.
        Ken blinked, then grins a little at the other's eagerness. He wrapped his hand 
around Van's length gently, running up and down it rhythmetically. If this didn't work, he 
didn't know -what- would.
        Van's hands came up and he fell back, partinally propped by the headboard of the 
bed, his hips thrusting into Ken's hand. He did nothing to mask his sounds of pleasure, 
moaning as he felt fit, and not exactly quietly. His hands grabbed Ken's shoulders, 
clutching him tightly. Ken leaned over him to silence him with a deep kiss, realising that 
the windows are open. He really hoped none of the guards decided to come investigate. He 
kept moving his hand, driving Van to the edge.
        Van kissed him fiercely at first, but as Ken worked him more his kiss became less 
and less pronounced as he clung to Ken's broad shoulders more, thrumming with the other's 
hand. It was what he needed. The warmed hand emcompassing him, holding him tightly, working 
against him as he drove into it. He let out a deep groan that cracked half-way and punched 
through the wall with one finally thrust. His nails dug into Ken's shoulders and he let out 
a loud cry as he came, shuddering, into Ken's hand.
        Ken smiled down at him and moved his hand out of the way. He reached up and brushed 
Van's bangs out of his face, leaning to kiss him once more. Eyes lightly shut, Van kissed 
him back weakly, panting heavily still, his chest heaving. In a whisper, Ken asked, "You 
okay, Van?"
        "Aa." He said and swallowed tightly. He finally opened his eyes, rubicund eyes 
glittering magnificently with a fulfilled pleasure. His hands loosened on Ken's shoulders, 
just barely holding him. "That was better than the massage," he breathed, closing his eyes 
again to bask in the afterglow.
        Ken chuckled softly and hugged him. "I'm glad you liked it."
        Van tensed, feeling Ken's still erect manhood as it rubbing into him and he opened 
his eyes again, kissing him lightly. "Putting the King first again, I see." he breathed, 
trailing his arms along his back, woking towards his rear. "Just like that?" He asked, 
making sure it was the same.
        Ken shivered a little and nodded, closing his eyes. "Aa . . . like that . . ."
        "I want to be on top." Van said, gently pushing him, wriggling out from under, his 
legs still weak from the horse back riding and his recent orgasm.
        Ken stretched out flat on his back and looked up at him, green eyes bright with 
passion and curiosity. "Okay."
        Van mounted him, still having to brace himself with one arm, above his head on the 
bed and smiled down at him, noting his expression. "You look like you're eager." He joked, 
trailing his hand along his flat abdomen, and down his leg, bending down to him. "And you 
look curious, like you've never done this before." He breathed, brushing his thin fingers 
against the hardness between Ken's legs.
        The earthling gasped softly and closed his eyes, his breathing irregular. "I . . . 
haven't . . ."
        Van grins into Ken, kissing him lightly, wrapping his hand around him, beginning a 
gentle pulling and pushing with him, his hand sliding up and down, holding him tightly. 
"Then this is your first, too." He added, kissing him again.
        Ken gasped again and moans softly, thrusting into Van's hand. He couldn't answer, 
coherant thought was beyond his reach then. All he could concentrate on was the feeling of 
Van's hand on him, and the pleasure corsing through him like fire.
        Van held his head up, his am bracing himself quivering with his weight but he didn't 
let let up with his minsitrations, having a moments pause to match rythms with Ken's 
thrusting, watching the other's face intently, loving his expression. Pure -rapture-. Ken 
tosses his head a little, whimpering and trying to keep quiet, but not being very 
successful. It didn't take a whole lot longer than it took him for Van, and he tossed his 
head back and let out a keening cry, finding release at Van's ministrations.
        Van blinked as Ken released and released him, pulling his hand out from the covers, 
sitting up to look at the layer of seed Ken'd released onto him in fascination. He glanced 
to Ken, not entirely sure what to do with the mess and almost appeared frightened. "Was 
that supposed to happen?"
        Ken took a moment to recover and nodded. "Aa . . . happened with you too." He smiled. 
"Just wipe it on the quilt or something . . . 's what I did."
        "That's gross." Van murmured, pushing the blankets aside and slipping out of bed. 
He walked towards the wash basin on the far corner of the room and washed his hands. He 
made a mental note not to wash his face later before getting the bowl rinsed.
        Ken blinked at him, feeling slightly offended. "Gee, thanks."
        Van looked at him, heading back towards him, feeling instantly guilty, seeing he'd 
offended him. His brows curved up, crawling back onto the soft bed. "Suman, I did't mean it 
that way. It's just . . . you sleep in the bed." He moved to kiss him. "We'll get a towel 
next time."
        In a dry voice, Ken replied, "You get to sleep in the wet spot, then, because it's 
-yours-."
        Van cast him a disapproving glare. "You wiped it there."
        Ken shook his head. "I moved my hand out of the way and wiped what was on it there, 
the rest is your fault." And, on top of that, he felt REALLY stupid for arguing over 
something so trivial. 
        Van frowned and sat up, miffed. "Well I didn't know it was going to happen, 
otherwise I'd've prepared for it! Take some responsibility!"
        Ken glared at him. "I am. You could have asked or something, but you didn't!"
        "I don't believe you! I've never done this! You're supposed to be teaching me! How 
can I ask questions like "Does funny white stuff come out afterwards?" if I don't know it?" 
He sat back on his heels, crossing his arms.
        "And you think -I've- done this?!" Ken grumbled, looking annoyed. "How am -I- 
supposed to know you don't know how your own body works?!"
        "I'd assumed you had!" He growled, getting off the bed, stumbling over the robes on 
the floor that nagged at his feet and starting towards his bureau.  "It's never happened to 
me before." He growled, pulling out a shirt, and then another, not really thinking. "You 
should've warned me!"
        Ken frowned at him. "Don't be such a child! Like I said, I didn't know that you 
don't know how your body works!"
        "That's not an excuse!" He shouted and finally settled on a shirt and pulled it on.
        "Oh?" Ken replied sarcastically. "So it's my fault you didn't know that? Dammit, 
Van, I'm not going to just -TELL- you everything! You can experience some of it for 
yourself!"
        Van stood, facing him, pointing a finger, his bottom half still exposed. "Then don't
act like such a jerk when I respond the way I do!"
        "YOU'RE the one who said it was GROSS!!" Ken yelled, looking offended and pissed 
off.
        "I don't want to sleep in it!" Van retorted. "I said it was gross to wipe it on the 
quilt!"
        "Fine, then!" Ken snarled. "Say whatever you want to! It was supposed to be 
-romantic-! Don't be such an arrogant bastard!"
        "It was romantic until you got offended! I'll wipe it on your back next time, and 
see how ungross you think that is." Van hissed, turning back, looking for his pants.
        Ken stared at him. "I can't believe you just said that."
        Van yanked a pair out, ignoring the others that fell too. "What?" He didn't look at 
him.
        Ken just sat there, and when he spoke again he sounded hurt. "I didn't want any of 
this to happen. It was supposed to be fun . . ."
        "You think I wanted it to happen?" He pulled his pants on and slammed the doors to 
his bureau shut. They popped back open from the force of the slam. It was still pitch black 
outside. He turned but didn't leave, waiting for Ken to reply.
        When Ken spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper. "Gomen, Van . . ."
        Van heard part of it and clenched his teeth, his hands balling into a tight fist. 
"Ken." He sighed, and finally turned his head, to look over at him. His eyes were just 
barely visable in the darkness, but they looked sad and not angry. The other was sitting 
kind of crosslegged, looking down.  His hair hid his face from view.
        Van looked at the door. "Let's just drop it.  We're both to blame."
        "Aa," Ken replied softly.
        Van stood there a moment longer and then walked to the door, not opening it. "Go put 
some clothes on. I'm hungry now."
        Ken looked up, surprised at Van's tone. Annoyance flared up in him, but he bit it 
down severely. "No thanks, I'm not hungry. I want to sleep more."
        Van's voice had an edge to it. "You just said you were before all this." He narrowed
his eyes more. "Don't lie to me."
        "Drop it, Van," Ken said, his voice slightly sharp.
        Van straigtened as if Ken'd slapped him. He looked at the door stubbornly. "I want 
you to come with me."
        Ken sighed, exasperated. "Why? Are you afraid of the dark or something?" He blinked,
and mentally smacked himself. "Sorry, that was totally tactless of me."
        Van's teeth gritted at the comment and he forced himself not to retort and ingore 
the "afraid of the dark" part of the question, only answering to the "why" half. "I like 
being with you." It seemed like an odd thing to say at the moment, but it was true. Ken 
looked at him sharply. First he was saying that it was disgusting, then yelling at him about 
not taking responsibility, now saying he wanted him around. What a swing. Van bristled, 
taking the silence as defiance. "Fine! Then just stay in bed for all I care!" He swung the 
door open, not caring if Ken was still naked, and stalked out.
        Ken gathered the quilt around him and walked to the door, shutting it. He tossed the 
quilt aside and dressed quickly. As he pulled his shoes on, he nodded to himself, thinking 
he'd just go for a walk. It would clear his head and make him feel less bratty.
        Van moved all the way to the kitchen in anger, hating the fact he was barefoot and 
the stone floor was ice cold. He stood near the stove in the big room, warming himself, 
brooding on Ken, wondering if he should go back and apologize. Everything had been perfect 
until he had made the comment about Ken's ejaculation. He just didn't know it would have 
offended Ken so much. He sighed and moved to talk to the cook, to see what he could get. It 
was only four in the morning, so breakfast wasn't ready yet. He settled on leftovers.
        Ken wandered outside, the night air a bit brisk. He pulled his sweater on as an 
afterthought and wandered down a random pathway, heading for the city, lost in his own 
thoughts.


--end part five--