[i]~A low ripple of relaxed delight tumbles through the guardian's body as his love descends from the sky. Seishu's eyes remain on the man as he lands, the slight breeze from his descent making him shiver lightly. Not out of cold, but from the pure joy of being with the man he loves again. He smiles softly at what Enasi has to say, but he does not reply aloud. Without a word he drifts forward and slips his arms around the smaller male, his embrace strong and comforting. A slight tremble goes through his body as he is finally able to hold his lover once more, but the magic of Their World keeps him from reliving the pain that had kept them apart.

For a long moment he simply holds his lover, taking comfort in his presence and trying desperately to convey just how much he's longed to do this since he was spirited away over a week ago. Eventually however, he pulls back ever so slightly, his half lidded eyes gently caressing Enasi's face until at last they land on the red head's own and he lets out a soft sigh. Leaning forward so that their lips are barely touching he whispers, “I've missed you, so much. . .” And instant later his lips press gently over his lover's, his right hand coming up to cup Enasi's cheek while his other settles in the small of the shorter male's neck pulling them flush together, eliminating every bit of space between them as he conveys as much love and longing he can with lips alone.~[/i]

~*~*~*~*~

They decide it's best to use Cho's room, Crios' in a permanent state of dissary as he only really uses it for sleeping and doing the occasional bout of paperwork, leaving the bed a mess and the floor strewn with loose sheets of paper and scattered folders. As they step into Cho's relatively neater abode the scarlet haired male prances off to make some tea for them while Crios makes his way over to the bed in the corner. All the heads in the palace have their own room, the rest of the staff having places in the town, but despite starting with a standard room, each head's room look very individual.

For Crios, it's always been standard sheets and blankets, very clinical looking, messiness aside, and only a single picture as decoration. The same picture hangs on Cho's wall. His eyes fall on to it as the foxy doctor takes a seat on the edge of the bed. It's from their bonding ceremony. The chef had just jumped playfully into Crios' arms, much to the tailed man's surprise, and planted a kiss on his cheek. A friend of Cho's had snapped the photo and sent it to them as a gift. Cho had requested a second copy so that they both could have one and even helped Crios hang it so that he had no excuse for not doing so. He was always forgetting things like that, and still does in fact.

[i]'The only bit of color in that place. . .'[/i] he thinks softly, feeling slightly ashamed at how little care he takes of his room, and how little time he actually dedicates to the man he loves. His eyes drift about, taking in all the images of the two together littering every surface and with a pang Crios can't help but think that not only are most from before they were bonded, but also that each one likely represents each time they've gotten together just to spend time together over the years. Given the time they've been friends, then lovers, the number is saddeningly low.

Cho reappears to find Crios holding one of his bedside picture frames, gazing down at the image. It's from their training days. He'd convinced Crios to join him at the lake, and one of the others had snapped a photo of Cho having a tug-of-war with Crios, trying to get him to stop running around hidden under a bath robe. The robe is open, but it's clear how hard Crios is fighting, the flush on his cheeks quite adorable as he tries to desperately hide himself. Cho smiles at the memory, sighing softly.

Moving further into the room he sets the tea tray on the bedside table and gently wraps an arm around his lover's shoulders. Crios continues to stare at the picture, but the red head can tell that he's not really seeing it. He's lost in thought, in some far off place, and Cho just accepts it, waiting for his lover to return to him with the same patience he's always shown with his dedicated, deep thinking lover. It doesn't take long and with a hum, Crios sets the picture back where he found it. Then, in a soft voice he murmurs, “I don't deserve you. . .”

Cho is shocked, but rather than responding, he waits, knowing Crios has something he wants to say and interrupting would make him shy away. With a deep sigh, the doctor goes on. “I spend all my time caring for others, and when I do see you your first thought is 'what task does he need of me now', not 'oh yay, my lover's come to see me' as it should be. . . .” He bites his lip, hurt by his own words. “I love you, but I feel like I never show it. I never seem to have time for just [i]you[/i], and when I do come to you, it's always for m-” His next words are cut off by a pair of soft lips on his own. Cho's heard enough.

The kiss is light, but insistent, and when at last Cho pulls back he is smiling, but with a serious glint in his eyes that is normally absent from the happy-go-lucky cook. “I am happy Crios, and as long as you are too, that is all that matters. . .” He kisses Crios' forehead gently. “Silly man, you give me everything I could ever want from you.” He smiles a little wider, a new glint in his eyes. “I knew what kind of man I was binding myself to when I did it. I knew since before then what kind of man you were, are, and will continue to be, and I am happy with all of that.” 

Kissing the tip of the doctor's nose he slips around behind his lover and begins massaging his shoulders and back, his fingers finding skin aase he carefully pulls down the top of Crios' kimono. Kissing his freshly exposed neck he smiles at the shiver that raves through the foxy man, holding back a chuckle as he watches that fluffy tail poof out in delight. Sliding his hands down his lover's chest he hugs him from behind, kissing his temple before whispering into his ear, “Now, let's see to doctoring the doctor. I prescribe vigorous relaxation. . . .”

~*~*~*~*~

In the garden, Finn lay sprawled out on the ground, just soaking in the sun and energy coming from the plant life around them. The medic had patched him up and ordered him to rest, so while his sister tends to the garden around him, he does his best to comply. Starla glances at him every once in a while, but for the most part she tries to complete her task quickly so she can return to his side. After half an hour she at last makes her way to his side and she finds him quite unconscious. She's begins to worry, then reminds herself that he's [b]suppose[/b] to be resting and lets out a grumpy sigh. She starts a bit as a moment later she feels a hand on her leg. Looking down she realizes that even in his sleep, he's trying to comfort his little sister. With a slightly wet smile as his foolishness she scoots closer, laying down at his side and using his shoulder as a pillow. A little nap wouldn't hurt, and right now, she doesn't want to leave him alone.

~*~*~*~*~

Rasha drags his feet to follow Crios' order. [i]'I don't really have anywhere I can go. . .It's not like I have family up here, or friends really. . .And that's never been a problem before, but now. . . .'[/i] He lets out a little kitty sigh, wandering around outside town, wondering how many dreams and minions would shoo him away because of the negative energy he's currently wrapped in, and how many would just shoo him away for simply being “Rasha the Trickster”. He isn't left wondering long however when suddenly a shadow looms over him. Before he can look up his feet leave the ground and he, mewling in confusion, curls around trying to see who's got him. Then the buzzing hum finally registers and he calls, “Rue?”

With a chuckle the fairy murmurs, “Yup, it's me.” He carefully turns Rasha in his arms so he's carrying him more comfortably. Rasha looks up at him curiously, but the winged youth remains silent until they find a good tree a little ways from town to settle in. Rue continues to hold the feline dream, petting him slowly.

Finally, Rasha has to ask. “So. . . .Weren't you basically ordered to go home? Why aren't you there, resting up like Crios told you to?”

Rue continues looking out over the field dotted with trees just like the one they are resting in, his eyes fixed, staring. He doesn't look sad, but when he speaks Rasha can't help a pang of sorrow. “I planned on it, going home. But then I remembered. . .Last time I was there, they all got kinda uncomfortable around me. I don't think they meant to, but they did. . .And now, I'm. . .I'm even [b]more[/b] different, and I know they still love me, but. . .I just didn't want to see it again. Not just now. Every thing's turned out, every thing's good. I didn't. . . .I didn't wanna ruin it. . .” Glancing down at the cat in his arms he murmurs, “What about you? Why were you wandering about rather than resting?”

Rasha lets out a short laugh, looking away. “I'ma trickster, remember? I got. . . .i got a house, somewhere, but I'm rarely every there. It's never felt like home, and. . .,” he lets out a sigh, “and all my friends are currently elsewhere. I don't. . . .I don't have any friends outside you guys, nor anything resembling family, so. . .” He shrugs his little kitty shoulders. “So, I really had nowhere in particular to go. . .” Looking up at Rue, the two share a long moment, then with a purr Rasha licks the fairy's cheek and settles in to rest.

In a soft voice Rue murmurs sleepily, “You may have a family soon though, if. . . If Kaila ever catches on.” He smiles, his ears flush pink at the memory. Rasha mewls happily, not replying. He's no so sure. He definitely likes the violet haired man, but a part of him in convinced that a mixture of his clulessness and Rasha's very nature will kill any romance they could ever have. He knows he's being pessimistic, and that it's likely all the negative energy swirling around them, but for now, he can't help the feeling. Instead, he settles in to rest, relaxing in Rue's arms and letting himself drift off to sleep, the fairy following right after him.

~*~*~*~*~

Stretching out on the ground Jentou stares at the starry sky overhead, wondering if Master Seishu is getting any sleep this day. The full moon is high overhead, flooding the lands with glittering blueish light and as he watches a few clouds pass over, marking the passing breeze. He rolls this way and that, trying to find any way to get comfortable, but in the end he knows what he's missing, an how to get it.

Rolling on to his front he quickly scopes out the camp. He doesn't really need to, he can sense his target a mile away no matter what, but it still helps to have a visual. When at last his eyes lock on he slowly begins creeping through the sleeping masses. Despite his stealthiness, he is rather easy to spot in his fresh, clean, gleaming white robes, but none the less he does his best to become one with the ground as he stalks his target. He's ten feet away before it notices, but bu then it's too late. With a giggling yelp the blond flies through the air and lands on the Nightmare Realm's second in command, tackling him to the ground with a giggle, forcing a grunt out of the pounced male.

Kaila, kinda expecting something like this, only puts up a small fight before stilling on the cool ground with his brother still laying on top of him. The alabaster clad man snuggles in close, seeming not to care that his win is being forced to lay on wet, cold ground, but after a few seconds Kaila finds himself pulled to his feet and in moments is being dragged off away from the meeting he'd been having with his team. “Jentou, I need to finish. . .” he starts, but Jentou just shakes his head, leading his brother to the pile of furs and skins the lighter haired male had gathered to lay on for the night. Without so much as a 'by-your-leave' he tackles his brother to the ground once more and cuddle up to his warm body.

“Your guys and gal are smart, they know what they are doing. Let them be, and sleep with me. . .” The white clad male already sounds half asleep and with a long sigh Kaila stops all objections. Before he drifts off however he decides to make an observation. Looking up at the violet haired man with a sly smile he murmurs, “You know, that dream really has a thing for you. And he's cute, for a dream. . .”

Kaila looks down at Jentou, bewildered. “What? You mean Rasha?” His mind goes to the repeated touches and kissing but his mind immediately files those away off into the same folder as the one he puts the affections from his brother and Master Seishu in. “He and I share a passion for Master Seishu. We both admire him. That's all. . .” he says softly, gazing down at his brother with a certainty in his eyes.

The other shakes his head at his silly sibling. “No, Kaila, that's not “all”. He really, really likes you, I can tell.” Sitting up a little his kisses his brother softly, then pulls back. “Did that feel the same as when he kissed you?”

The second returns the kiss, then listens to what his brother is saying. Closing his eyes he recalls the feeling in his chest when Rasha had kissed him. The flutter, the warmth, and he has to admit that it [i]was[/i] different. [i]'But that was just because it was a surprise. . . .Right?'[/i] He recalls the second kiss, the same flutter, and he furrows his brow slightly. [i]'I suppose it was different, but that doesn't mean. . .He's a dream after all, and at my level that kiss alone likely made him sick. Having a thing for me would imply he wants something more, but that would. . .'[/i] 

He feels faintly flustered at the idea, his mind jumping to what it actually felt like to be kissed like that. To have someone look at him that way is a new concept for Kaila and as his mind goes on to mentally admire Rasha's face and scolds himself silently. [i]'He is a low level dream. I can not think like that, and next time we meet I will have to let him know that. . . .That is if he really. . . .Not that he does. . .'[/i] Glancing down at Jentou as he get re-settled he murmurs, “Anything he has for me must be forgotten. It just wouldn't work.” He jumps slightly as his brother gives him a pinch. “What was that for!” he cries, irritated.

“If it's really, really real feelings, and you don't hate it, you shouldn't just dash it on technicalities.” He glowers up at his brother cutely. “After all, look at Master Seishu! Look who [i]he[/i] fell for. Do you really think you're more special than he and can't make a cross realm relationship work?”

“I don't even know if I like him back, or if her really does like me. . .” Kaila grumbles. Jentou lets out a long sigh and nuzzles in close to his sibling.

“Then I suggest you figure that out before you two are making babies and you start running around wondering where the father is. . .” he murmurs wistfully and Kaila simply gives him another look of utter confusion before letting out an exasperated sigh and settling in for a good day's sleep.