The Twin Thrones

“Still pouting?”

The words were filled with mirth and that was just wrong. Noberu knew he didn't have the right to be amused, but he'd tried to talk to the kid before and it was a disaster. The kid was still mad at him. Why? He'd tried to apologize. Didn't that fucking count for something? He was sorry.

The kid's face was pinched and his ears were red now. The redness was slowly progressing to his jaw. Really, a chair could make the kid blush. He could see the the kid vibrating with the effort not to rush him again. Neither wanted a repeat of the bedroom scene from weeks ago. He didn't want to hurt the kid, but the silent treatment was going to end. He had had enough. He was a man and there was only so much groveling he was capable of.

“Fuck you,” hissed the kid, his voice low and angry.

Kato started towards his bathroom, intent on slamming the door in Noberu's face. Noberu didn't give him the chance. He followed the kid into the bathroom and tore the door out of the kid's hands. He slammed it behind him and met the kid's shocked eyes.

It didn't make him feel better to see fear in Kato. Actually, it made him feel like shit. He never wanted the kid to be afraid of him. He wanted him to mind him. To be respectful. He loved the kid's fire, his stubbornness. Noberu didn't want to change him. He watched Kato step back away from him and Noberu suddenly wanted to grab the kid, fold him in his arms and murmur safe, slow words of comfort to the youth. Instead he narrowed his eyes and just stared.

Wringing his hands as if they hurt, the kid stepped away from Noberu and went to the basin. He stood in front of one of the wide low baskets, filled with crisp, white hand towels. His back was to Noberu now. His hand followed the weave of the dark brown basket. The kid reached into the basket and moved some towels around and murmured, “You embarrassed me.”

“I know.”

Kato's shoulders stiffened, but he didn't turn around. He leaned against the counter top, bending at his waist. The silence was awful. Noberu wasn't normally someone bothered by silence, in fact, he usually enjoyed it.

Why was this so hard for Kato? Why was he so angry? It was just embarrassment. It's not like anyone could die from it. Noberu was smart enough to keep those thoughts to himself though. The kid's emotions were all over the place since his surgery and the hormones.

“Why? Why do you do that? You're supposed to protect me.” The kid raised his head to the long mirror. He met Noberu's eyes briefly before looking over Noberu's left shoulder. The kid's hands were gripping the hand towels, twisting them and knocking a few to the floor. “...If I can't trust you,” Kato said hollowly into the mirror and looked down at his hands. He was frowning, his forehead crinkling in thought.

Was anything lower than shit? Noberu didn't know he could feel worse, but he was wrong.

Gods, he was a stupid fuck! He knew this. He'd thought it himself. It was always about trust. What was he supposed to do now? The kid had no choice but to put his trust into Noberu. Noberu and his detail were responsible the kid's life. By letting their relationship progress to something that was so much less than professional, Noberu had become so much more to Kato. More was expected of him.

The kid put his trust into Noberu. All of it. And Noberu failed him again. He felt his head connect to the door behind him. Why was he fucking this up so badly? He rapped his head against the back of the door welcoming the pain. He hated being honest and opening himself to rejection.

Crossing the space quickly, he settled his body behind the kid. He reached forward and wrapped his arms around the smaller body. He felt the kid stiffen, but he didn't draw away. He watched the pale face slowly rise until the kid's eyes met his own. He took a deep breath and let it out shakily.

“I was jealous. I didn't want that bastard touching you,” Noberu added in a harsh voice and cringed inside when Kato tried to shy away from him. “I'm sorry. I didn't want to embarrass you, just...stop him,” Noberu murmured, lost himself. He really didn't like this kind of honesty. It left him open, bare. This is why he avoided getting close to people. He didn't want to admit he was fragile, weak, just like everyone else.

The kid was quiet, just watching him carefully through the mirror. He knew his face was fierce and he was holding Kato a little too tightly.

Did he look desperate?

He liked Kato's tight, hard body against him. It was strange. He saw the kid as soft, young. But the kid was male. His body was lean, lacking the heavier muscle of age, and tight against his chest and thighs. The kid was warm and not fighting him. It felt right, but he didn't have any right to touch the kid. He waited for the explosion that never came. He felt the kid squirm in his arms and loosened his grip a little.

It wasn't right. Noberu never had a chance.

The kid was irresistible even when he wasn't trying to be. He was pale and delicate. The kid's bottom lip was red and plumped out. He watched the flash of white as the kid chewed on his lower lip again, his lips fuller now. His dark hair was longer than when Noberu first met the kid. It curled over his ears now. He leaned in and smelled the crisp, clean scent of Kato. The kid frowned. Sniffing him was probably the wrong thing to do, but screw it. He'd probably never get the chance again.

Kato's face was still pale. Kato wasn't good at lying, being deceptive. Noberu waited for the lie, knowing the kid's facial expressions betrayed him every time.

“How are you going to handle it when I'm married to one of them?” The tone was serious, but the kid looked pleased. Warm eyes glittered with amusement.

Noberu blinked.

“I'm a professional,” he said stiffly, not quite offended.

A perfectly arched dark brow met his indignant glare now. Noberu didn't try offering any more “truths.” Admitting he acted not just like a jealous ass, but a fifteen-year-old, jealous ass was embarrassing as hell. He didn't need to add anything else.

“Really, so the hard log in my back is a professional perk you give every client?” Kato laughed, pushing his bottom back for emphasis.

And Noberu was suddenly reminded of his surroundings. He could see the lowered bath with the tall columns flanking it and remembered Kato's flushed cheeks while he jerked off in the bath behind him. He remembered Kato's thin form, warm and submissive and unconscious, laid out on the long counter top in front of him. This is where he embarrassed Kato this first time, well the first time that meant anything to either of them, even if Kato didn't remember it anymore.

He was hard. Kato had to feel Noberu's hard and aching length against him, thrumming with need.

It wasn't embarrassment that colored Noberu's cheeks. He thought the room was just too small and too warm. And doesn't everyone's face feel like it's burning up when you miss breakfast and you're in a room too small with a smart ass, who keeps rubbing his smart ass against you?

Kato needed to stop chuckling now because the vibrations were creating too much friction and the hardness at the kid's back was just getting harder. Almost painful now. Noberu started to back away and was stopped by Kato's thin arms. He could have easily shaken them off, but Kato's grin kept him pinned.

Why wasn't the kid embarrassed? Noberu's hard dick was pressing into his back for gods' sake. Everything embarrassed the kid. Why wasn't Kato red and saying stupid stuff?

“It's kind of sweet,” Kato said, through a growing grin. “You being jealous, but if you ever embarrass me like that again,” he finished with a grunt when his elbow connected with Noberu's gut.

Damn, the kid has one hell of a bony elbow,, thought Noberu, rubbing his stomach. He backed off towards the door and followed Kato with his eyes as the kid turned and stood in in front of him. He quickly adjusted himself. Kato's eyes dropped to Noberu's crotch for a moment. He searched Noberu's face and stepped closer. Noberu felt his dick twitch.

When the kid poked him in the gut with his finger, Noberu stared at him in surprise. The first poke was hard. The second, harder. He had no idea where the kid was going with this. The kid wasn't smiling now. Hormonal, much?

“You don't get to have breakfast with me,” Kato said. “Still,” he poked Noberu again, “Mad,” he finished with another hard poke. He gestured for Noberu to move out of the way with an inpatient flick of his wrist. Noberu moved out of the way and opened the door for the youth.

Was he forgiven or wasn't he? Thankfully his cock was starting to soften. He'd walk funny for a little while longer. Too bad he couldn't just walk off the embarrassment as easily or forget the need to get Kato to forgive him.

He knew he should leave it alone. He was a man, but he was not above begging after all. “Hey, I said I'm sorry,” he grunted out, not quite angry yet.

Kato passed through the opening of the wide door. “I know. You still suck though,” Kato yelled back through the doorway. His head turned to Noberu, a huge grin split his face and his eyes beamed. He gave Noberu a single finger salute, turned his head away, and moved down the hallway. His light laughter filled the hallway to the dining room.

Noberu chuckled. Hell yes, forgiven. He didn't realize how much the kid's forgiveness meant to him.

Noberu smiled. He was still walking funny and didn't care. He felt his smile move to a grin as he walked lightly the entire way to greet the replacement detail. His day was certainly looking up. He was free of Redaku and had the kid's forgiveness, all before breakfast. Hmm, what could he accomplish by mid meal?

____________________________________________________________________

Kato pushed his spoon into the thick, pasty-white cereal, watching as the thick substance quickly squirted like cottage cheese around the edges of his spoon. It was hot and should have tasted better with a whole lot of sugar. It didn't.

He didn't care for the new diet Bankuson prescribed. He speared a small piece of cooked egg white or what he hoped was egg. He missed salt. He missed fat. He missed food that actually tasted good. He chewed the rubbery egg, knowing it was still better than the sweet chunky cement congealing quickly in front of him.

Redaku lectured him about his eating habits. He nodded when appropriate. Kato followed the man's hand pointing at Kato's bowl and back to the plate covered in food Kato wanted to eat. He watched the older man's lips as he bit off another large bite of crispy bacon. Kato nearly groaned. He really missed bacon.

Redaku's bottom lip was healing, but the puffiness was still noticeable. Last night, it looked like he lost a fight to a cheese grater. Bankuson's treatment did wonders to the abused tissue. It looked like a week of healing had passed. In another day, the swelling and redness would disappear.

It wasn't unreasonable to ask what happened. He was only concerned about the older man, who was like an uncle to him. He was shocked at the man's injury. They were supposed to have a security detail. How could it have happened? It worried Kato. He might have overreacted and shouted something embarrassing. That wasn't a good reason for Redaku to suddenly get pissed off at him. He didn't deserve the cold look or the “Not everything is about you, Prince Kato,” the man stressed through gritted teeth. Kato grumbled about the unfairness of “it” all, but finally settled on silence after the annoyance leaked through all of Redaku's glares. Not knowing was torturing Kato.

It wasn't a coincidence that Redaku looked like he was in a fight and then less than ten hours later Redaku has his own security detail, fresh from Radekoun. Kato wasn't stupid. Obviously, no one wanted to share the information with him. It would upset him since he was so delicate now. Damn them!

Tipping the cup up, he drained the last of his juice and immediately stood to leave the room. He wasn't surprised when Redaku raised his eyes and gave him a frown. He turned and took two steps before Redaku called him back to the table. Kato stopped after he stood in front of Redaku and waited.

“What's wrong?” the older man asked quietly.

Kato tried to look unconcerned, well-adjusted and said simply, “I'm not eating that,” he gestured to the cold lump of cereal. “I'm done. I'm going back to read or something.” That came out a little snotty. He turned away. He stopped when the older man wrapped his hand around Kato's wrist. He thought about pulling free but settled on making fists.

“I don't want to talk about it, so you're starving yourself?” Redaku asked tiredly.

“No,” Kato said evenly. “I'm leaving because I'm tired of you treating me like a child.” He pointed to the cereal again, “I'm not eating that because it's awful.” He shook his wrist free. He waited, but Redaku just looked at him blankly. Kato whirled around, made it to the door and stopped with his hand on the handle, listening for Rato to follow. Fuck him.

“It was a misunderstanding,” Redaku said into the silence. He turned in his chair. It squeaked loudly. “I was an ass,” he said and grimaced. “I'm sure we can find something you can eat that will keep your physician happy.” He gestured to the chair across from him. “Please sit down, Prince Kato.”

As tempting as it was to just leave, Kato forced his anger down and returned to his chair. Redaku gestured to one of the servers and gave him directions for the kitchen. Kato was silent.

Redaku finished off his coffee and set it down loudly. The circles under his eyes were always darkest in the morning. The older man didn't look like he was sleeping well.

“There was a difference of opinion. It led to some unpleasantness,” Redaku said, gesturing to his face. He wouldn't meet Kato's eyes.

“Who?”

“It's not important,” Redaku murmured, shaking his head. He smoothed his napkin in his lap. He gestured to the same man standing against the far wall. He held his cup, raising it to chest level. They watched the steaming, bitter-smelling liquid rise. Redaku murmured his thanks, inhaled and sighed.

Noberu and Redaku were seen by most of the palace occupants arguing even back on Radekoun. The two stubborn men were quite vocal about their differences. Noberu was the only person, besides Kato, who could get on the older man's nerves with just a look. His caveman was the most annoying person Kato knew. He didn't need to make a wild guess.

“What did Noberu not agree with?” The man's eyes jerked to Kato's face, confirming his suspicion. Kato frowned. He looked at the man's lips again and his eyebrows strained downward almost comically. “How could he?” Kato breathed. He could feel his face heating up.

Kato nodded to himself and jerked to his feet angrily. He forgave the bastard. Had he known about this.... He knew the man had no tact, no boundaries, but whatever might be between them didn't give the caveman the right to beat on Redaku.

He remembered feeling empowered when he actually embarrassed his caveman earlier this morning. He had no idea the man was capable of blushing. It was sweet and weird and he found it endearing. Kato couldn't stay mad at him. Now he just felt stupid.

Now that he knew he could embarrass the overbearing ape, Kato was already planning his next conversation. With witnesses – so it was humiliating, too. No one had the right to hurt Redaku. He'd show that ass he couldn't push everyone around, even if the big man was scary and kind of sexy in big caveman kind of way. He lost himself in thought until he heard Redaku murmur something into his cup. He shook himself, berating himself for being so easily distracted.

“What,” Kato growled, inpatient to be off now

“I threatened him,” the older man whispered into his cup again.

Kato snorted. It was too ridiculous. Kato barked a laugh, slapping the table so suddenly Redaku jerked away, spilling some of his coffee. Kato's eyes narrowed. Redaku looked ashamed, embarrassed. He wasn't laughing or smiling. Kato felt his eyes grow wide.

What the hell? Kato thought, he's not kidding! Kato's bottom hit his chair before he was even aware he was sitting down. He stared at Redaku in disbelief.

“I was angry. I didn't mean it. He's an ass,” Redaku growled and dropped his cup. It rattled. They both watched as it rolled on its base, nearly tipping over. Redaku steadied it. Kato watched the older man's hands as he wiped the hot liquid off. They shook slightly. Redaku pinched his lips tightly. “I had to let him know I was serious,” Redaku said, frowning.

Kato looked at the man. Really looked at him.

If the eyes were a window to the soul, Kato was very worried. The older man's orbs were buried deep in his pale face. The circles were so dark, they looked like badly applied koal. His eyes were pale gray, but they lacked the heat Kato always associated with the man whom he thought of as an uncle.

The older man was wearing different clothes today, but Kato remembered him wearing the same outfit two days in a row. He meant to say something. He knew something wasn't quite right, but he chalked it up to nerves or something. Redaku had always been a nervous person, and he had plenty of reasons to be nervous now. Didn't they all?

Since the procedure, Kato wasn't spending as much time with Redaku. He wasn't sure who was avoiding who lately. Kato was so worried that the older man now saw him as weak, he missed all of the obvious signs that Redaku needed him.

He was being stupid. Self-absorbed. Selfish. The world didn't revolve around him. In seventeen years, he had never seen disappointment swimming in Redaku's eyes. Unlike his father, Redaku never acted like he didn't care. He never ignored him...like Kato had been doing to Redaku lately. Shame filled him.

Redaku wasn't like his father. It was always easier to avoid his father. Easier to keep his distance because distance meant he didn't have to care each time his father's face fell in disappointment. He didn't take his studies seriously. He didn't try most of the time. He put enough effort so no one would suspect – if he didn't really try, he couldn't fail.

Of course, Redaku always noticed and always pushed him. He realized that being treated like an adult meant acting like one. Something was terribly wrong and now Kato was willing to admit that not everything was about him. Redaku needed him even though he wasn't willing to admit it.

His eyes returned to Redaku's damaged lips. Redaku threatened the caveman. This nervous man, who's left eye was twitching, threatened the UP's, go-to guy. It was just...weird, almost funny. Kato was staring. Redaku squirmed, gripping his cup tightly.

Noberu was physically intimidating. Having sat in the man's lap and rutted against him, Kato knew from experience that Noberu was big and bulky, heavy with muscle. Who would threaten a man who leaked controlled violence?

It made Kato shudder to think what Noberu had to have done to become the UP's, go-to guy. Kato's wasn't naive or stupid. He trusted the man to keep him safe because it was in the UP's best interest. Even though Kato knew the man wouldn't hurt him, Noberu had scared him before. Redaku had to be desperate to do something so incredibly stupid.

“What have you done?” Kato breathed, without thinking. This wasn't the right way to get the man to tell him anything.

“What?” gasped the older man. He released his cup too quickly and it shattered against the surface of the table, sending hot coffee across the table towards Kato.

Kato ignored the mess. “You're going to tell me.”

“Prince Kato,” Redaku said quietly, letting a server help sop up the mess he created. He moved backward in his chair and shook his head. “Not everything is about you.”

“I know,” Kato said, nodding.

Redaku looked surprised and then relieved when Kato remained quiet. They both moved back farther as the mess was cleaned up. It was silent, only the clatter of broken porcelain echoed in the large space. They were both given new napkins. A hot fresh cup of steaming black coffee was set in front of Redaku. He wrapped his hands around the cup and watched Kato stare at his meal.

Toast was always an easy thing for Kato to get down, but toast with some weird thick brown substance slathered all over wasn't. Kato took a bite and was mildly surprised at the meaty flavor. It was a little salty and creamy. Meat spread? The crunch of the toast made it even more palatable. He looked at the small bowl filled with a bitter-smelling, white chunky mess. If he wouldn't touch the other white crap, why would he try another? He pushed the bowl back.

“You seem to like that,” Redaku said quietly, gesturing with his free hand to the meat slathered toast. He blew on his coffee and sipped a little.

Kato nodded and made small noise in the back of his throat. He set the toast down and wrapped his own hands around his cup and blew on it. The tea was hot and a little sweet. Kato would have preferred more sugar. He watched Redaku, trying to decide how to approach the man.

“You haven't had a meal with the royal family yet,” Redaku murmured.

Kato nodded, sipping his tea.

“Did you know you wore the same outfit two days in row?” Kato watched Redaku frown. He didn't like to be ignored either. “Have you been getting some action,” Kato asked through a smile that showed too many teeth. “Your wife is going to be really pissed when I tell her.”

Kato set up his cup down as Redaku choked and started coughing. When Redaku stopped choking, he moved his chair closer to the man and leaned into the man's personal space. Redaku's eyes grew wide and he leaned backward.

“Are you wearing makeup?” Kato squinted at Redaku.

“What!?” Redaku choked out. “What has gotten into you?”

Kato leaned back and looked at Redaku critically. He leaned in again and squinted. “You aren't pulling this look off.” He turned his head to the side, as if considering something. “You're wearing too much eye makeup,” Kato murmured to himself, nodding.

The older man sputtered, “What is wrong with you?!” His voice moved higher and squeaked. “I would never cheat on my wife and,” he said too loudly and leaned in, covering his mouth while trying unsuccessfully to be discrete, “I''m not wearing makeup!”

“Really,” Kato drawled out in disbelief. He frowned. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms across his chest. “Maybe you need to, because you look like shit.”

One way or another, Kato was going to get the man to talk. It was time he understood Kato wasn't a child any longer. Besides, even though Redaku wouldn't admit it, it was okay to ask for help.

Redaku made a face as if he'd eaten the most bitter food on this planet. Kato smiled indulgently. “You haven't been sleeping.” Redaku shrugged. Kato chewed his lower lip. He smoothed the fabric on his sleeve nervously. “I'm worried about you.”

Redaku froze. He looked over at Kato's pinched face and groaned, “It's just stress. Nothing to worry about,” he murmured, waiving his hand as if that was enough to shrug off Kato's concern.

“If I looked like you do now, what would you do?”

Redaku looked into his lap and took a shaky breath. When he looked up his eyes were glassy. He was silent for so long Kato wasn't certain where to start again to get the man to just talk to him.

“Do you remember the day my son died?”

Kato's breath caught. How could he forget?

“Yes,” Kato's voice was small. Redaku never talked to him about Resu. Not after he died. Everyone knew it was a sore point between Redaku and his wife. No one spoke openly about it, especially in front of Redaku.

“Weeks before that, there were threats on your life, on Resu's life,” Redaku finished the sentence in a sigh. He stared off for a moment. Kato's nervousness got his attention. “Your father and I weren't willing back a bill before the Counsel. It would have released most of the restrictions on intergalactic trade on military technology. Three houses were pushing the bill.” Redaku looked at the wall over Kato's head. He pursed his lips.

Kato waited. He didn't really understand where this was going.

“I can't help but wonder if Resu would be alive if we had...come to some kind of agreement with those three houses,” the older man said still staring at the wall. His eyes were distant.

“Resu...he was murdered? It wasn't an accident?”

Redaku's eyes cleared. They were bright with unshed tears. His eyes softened when he looked at Kato. “Your father would have looked weak if Resu had been murdered.”

My God, that must have been eating at the man for years! No wonder his relationship was so strained with his wife. Did she suspect? Did she blame him? All of those years, never to see justice. Kato wondered if the price was worth it.

“I'm so sorry,” Kato whispered miserably. He reached for Redaku's warm hand. He squeezed it and felt the older man's strong grip. It was comforting. “Risu was a good man.” He didn't need to say it to comfort the older man. It was true.

“Thank you.” Redaku's voice was so soft, Kato wasn't certain he heard him correctly. They sat in silence for some time before Redaku whispered, “I learned something that day.”

Kato met the man's clear gaze, feeling uncomfortable and bare. He didn't know what to expect. He tried not to squirm and leaned forward.

“I was willing to sacrifice my own son to keep power out of the wrong hands...,” he whispered, his hand tightening painfully around Kato's smaller hand, “And it wasn't worth it.” Redaku's voice broke and closed his eyes shuddering. When he opened them, that look reminded Kato of the pain he remembered in Seshimora's eyes. He tried to pull away. Redaku released his hand. He cupped Kato's face and breathed, “I am not your father, Kato.”

Kato blinked.

“I don't understand,” breathed Kato, feeling the incredible heat from Redaku's fingers along his jaw and neck. He didn't pull away.

Kato remembered the awkward moment when he expressed sympathy to Redaku and his wife after news of their son's death circulated. It was hard facing their pain while guilt gnawed at him for being alive. Of course, at the time he thought it was a freak hunting accident. And now? Now he really felt like shit. Why was he alive and Risu wasn't?

Redaku gripped Kato's face tightly, too tightly. Kato grimaced and was relieved when Redaku released him. The older man looked around the room briefly, and seemed satisfied with something. He leaned in and whispered, “Your father believes bearing the heir of the Twin Thrones is enough to protect you.”

Kato glanced around himself. There were several servers, kitchen workers, and their guards along the walls of their over-sized dining room. It was a large octagonal space with doors leading to the small kitchen, a sitting room and a hallway that lead to the main bedrooms. Two walls held long tables with serving supplies and heating containers for meals. It was a well lit space and had enough seating for all of them. Though he knew this staff was from Radekoun, he realized the need for discretion. “And you don't?” he whispered.

Redaku shook his head, “Bearing Shinko's heirs will.”

“What?” squeaked Kato, pushing away from the table. How in the hell was that supposed to make a difference? What the hell did Redaku do? Now he felt nauseous.

The chair squeaked abruptly. Kato didn't resist or complain when he felt Redaku's hand wrap around his wrist and drag him through their rooms. He was quiet when he felt himself being pushed into the plush couch in the sitting room. He was beginning to hate this room. Kato watched Redaku push several guards out of the room and slam the door. He sat down next to Kato and took a deep, shaky breath.

“I know you already like him. It makes this easier,” Redaku said unsteadily, taking another shaky breath.

“What does that have to do with anything?” Kato hissed, pulling his feet up and settling them underneath himself. He glanced over at the huge screen and was tempted to put a hole through it. The screen slid to a huge picture of himself and Shinko.

Perfect. He didn't even bother denying he liked Shinko. The huge grin, the joy in his eyes were pretty loud. Never mind that it had more to do with what he was doing, not who he was with. He turned back to Redaku with a frown.

“I'm sure you've realized Princess Fusako will not ascend the throne,” Redaku said quietly, watching Kato's lips thin. “Prince Seshimora is very much like your father.”

Kato blinked. He waited for Redaku to explain himself, while the older man just stared. Kato waited. And waited.

“What in the hell are you trying to say?” Kato finally ground out, frustration bleeding into his voice. He was probably the last person to realize Princess Fusako would not take the throne. It made him sick. He didn't want to think about what would happen to her. Would Seshimora...? He shook himself and glared at Redaku.

“Prince Seshimora will do whatever it takes to avoid civil war, anything to protect the throne,” Redaku said, bringing his legs up and tucking them under himself. He turned towards Kato and lightly wrapped his hands around Kato's shoulders. “There is no line he will not cross,” he said, gripping Kato's shoulders tightly as if to emphasize his point. He stared into Kato's face and grimaced, apparently not satisfied with something and added, “He would kill Takimore again if he had to, to protect the throne.”

Kato shook his head and shook off Redaku's hands a little more roughly than he intended. No, he wouldn't. He remembered the pain he saw in the large man's eyes. Who would live through pain like that again? Kato forced himself up and started to push away from the couch

“Prince Kato, your own father killed your sister...to protect the throne,” the older man said quietly, watching Kato freeze.

Kato's breath caught, stuck deep in his throat. It was true. His father could have abdicated. He could have tried to change things. He could have done so many things, but he didn't. He did the one thing that secured his throne. Kato remembered the pain he saw in Seshimora's eyes, but he never saw regret. He never heard regret. Kato dropped onto the couch as if his legs weren't working. He stared into his lap at his hands. How could he miss the similarities?

“Maybe he is like father,” Kato finally conceded in a quiet voice. He pressed himself into the corner of the couch, away from Redaku's larger hands. He didn't want anyone touching him right now. Redaku dropped his arms, nodding his head.

Even if the older man was right about Seshimora and Kato's father, how could Shinko be better? That freaking family not only rewarded fratricide, it required it. Maybe he hadn't killed any family members yet, he probably hadn't had the opportunity. Weren't they all the same?

“How is Shinko better?” Kato asked tiredly, still looking into his lap.

“He will not sacrifice what he values the most,” Redaku said with conviction.

Kato jerked his head up and glared. He wasn't stupid. “You don't think power and position are important to him, too? How can you know that? Besides wasn't he the one that no one knew much about?” Kato asked in exasperation.

Redaku pursed his lips and hesitated a moment. “Your father's greatest supporter was murdered. Now that man's son is free to wield his father's money like a weapon. You have been told of the bombings?” Kato nodded. He knew things weren't stable on Radekoun. “Did you question why Counsel Member Botan participated in talks with the Kitsurin family and not Counsel Member Totsurine? He was next in line.”

“What?” Kato couldn't wrap his mind around how this could prove Shinko could be trusted. He tried to switch gears. He hadn't given it any thought at the time, but it did seem weird that Counsel Member Botan was present. He didn't have powerful families backing him. Unless Hitoruson's only son shifted his support before his father was murdered. He shook his head for a moment. “So Botan is in charge of the Counsel now that Hitoruson is dead. How does that make any difference?”

“There is a great deal of commerce involved in wormhole trade. Immense revenue, especially if the Twin Thrones were to overlook or even sanction certain trade practices,” Redaku said., watching Kato intently. He obviously had more to say but he was going to make Kato work for it.

“Are you saying that Shinko is that kind of man?” Redaku shrugged. “How is that better,” he asked with a groan. He shook his head. “It doesn't sound better. Besides there's no guarantee Shinko will even Ascend.”

Rolling his eyes, Redaku sighed. “You're not listening,” Redaku stressed each word in exasperation. He straightened and watched Kato carefully while he said, “The bombings and Hitoruson's murder were quick, efficient. No incriminating evidence. Kato....”

Kato stared at the older man in horror. There was only one way to guarantee Shinko the throne. These plotters, Botan's backers, would have to murder Fusako and Seshimora. It made him think less of Shinko, but more importantly, less of Redaku.

Why would he do this?

Tightening his hands in his lap, Kato gritted out “No, just no. It's wrong.” He dropped his head into his hands abruptly. He hunched forward, rubbing his temples. Why would Redaku do this? How could he? It couldn't be about money, could it? “No...” he muttered to himself, wanting to just shrink and disappear.

He felt small circles being rubbed on his back. He wanted to pull away, but he was already wedged into the corner of the couch. He was cold all over and he couldn't stop imagining all the awful things that would happen to Redaku if anyone found out about this. Feeling tears gathering, he scrubbed his eyes and hated himself for being so damn weak. Fucking hormones!

“Why would you do this?” Kato breathed into his lap, unwilling to look at Redaku. “Father would never approve.”

“Probably not, but he'd be willing to do whatever it takes to protect the throne, to protect your offspring. It galls him that he could not protect your sister,” Redaku sighed.

“What the hell are you talking about?” Kato's head snapped up. “He was the one who killed her!”

Redaku ignored his anger and asked, “Kato, why are you the one to carry the heir to the Twin Thrones? A surrogate could have been used.” Kato blinked, his anger momentarily forgotten. “You won't take the Radekoun Throne, Kato. No matter what happens to your father, you will never take the throne.”

Kato's eyes narrowed. His father turned him into a girl. He didn't demand his male parts, but he castrated him all the same. Of course, he'd never take the throne. How could the man dislike him this much? How could he be this disappointed in him? Was this because he didn't trust him? It hurt. And it really pissed him off.

He should have been given a choice.

Women didn't have any real authority on Radekoun. They didn't get the education men did. They didn't have the opportunities men did. They were cared for, cherished but never allowed to do anything except give their men children. But they were protected. They were precious. Without them, there would be no male children. He understood. In some stupid, fucked up way, his father was protecting him.

And yet, it still really pissed him off. He should have been given a choice.

The only people who might have reason to harm him didn't want the planets to merge under one crown. That's another reason Noberu was called in. Of all the parties, the UP had the most to gain if this union was successful. Kato had the support and protection of the UP. The Kitsurin siblings didn't. They only needed one to survive and it didn't matter if it was Shinko or Seshimora. Hell, if it came down to it, even King Yoshi could donate sperm.

It was almost ironic. His father couldn't protect his daughter by making her male, but he could damn well protect his son by making him female. In a fucked up way, it all made sense. It didn't make it any less stupid. And it still hurt.

“I know. I'm not stupid,” Kato said tiredly.

He dropped his head into his hands again. He was starting to get a headache. He rubbed his temples. It was still early, having just finished their first meal. And yet Kato felt a tiredness that he'd only felt after being drugged. He tried to shake it off, but it became difficult when Redaku started to rub small circles on his back again. Kato cocked his head to the side and glanced at Redaku out of the corner of his eye.

“So, he turns me into a girl and you help murder people. Both to protect me?” He tired to not let the bitterness fill his face or voice.

Redaku stilled for a few seconds. “I am not your father, Kato,” the older man murmured softly, continuing to rub Kato's back. It wasn't clear if he was trying to soothe himself or Kato. A single tear ran down Kato's smooth cheek. Redaku caught it and wiped it away. “I will not sacrifice someone I love ever again.”

Oh, god. This is why the man was willing to murder two people and put everyone at risk by letting people who only wanted to get richer off the wormhole in charge?

He loved Kato.

It was the kindest, most endearing act anyone had ever done for him and it filled Kato with dread. He promised himself when his mother died he wouldn't let himself feel like that ever again. It hurt. It hurt to watch her die. It hurt watching his grandfather fade. He couldn't let Redaku do this. He couldn't. Kato drew in several painful, ragged breaths.

“You can't do this,” Kato choked out. “Please,” he begged.

It was getting harder to breathe. It was getting harder to even see. Kato pushed Redaku's warm hands away and forced himself backward. Redaku frowned but dropped his arms. He watched Kato sadly.

“It's already done.”

Kato shook his head and nearly leaped at Redaku. The man's eyes widened, but he didn't react otherwise. Kato grabbed the man around his shoulders and dug in with his nails. “Take it back,” he choked out, shaking Redaku. “I can't....Please,” Kato sobbed out.

“I told you, Kato,” Redaku said, watching Kato with soft eyes. “Nothing is worth losing the people you love. Your father's noble gestures,” he barked an angry laugh and ground out,”have led him to nothing but loneliness and heartache. He only has you left, Kato. He's managed to sacrifice everyone he loves for his sense of the greater good.”

Warm hands cupped Kato's heated, wet cheeks. Kato met Redaku's easy smile and watched warmth filling the older man's eyes. “I love you, Kato,” the older man murmured and Kato jerked his arms away as if he was burned. Redaku's smile widened. He held his arms out to Kato, welcoming the youth, and offered comfort.

Kato didn't hesitate again. He thew himself at Redaku and wrapped his arms around the man's waist and burrowed his head into the man's chest. Redaku rocked back a little with the force of Kato's smaller body. He wrapped his arms around Kato and rubbed soothing circles on Kato's back. He slowly dropped his chin to Kato's head and sighed.

“I will sacrifice everything to keep you safe, Kato.”

He froze, watching Redaku's chest rise and fall. “I love you,” Kato said quietly into the older man's wet chest.

The older man chuckled and Kato felt the little tremors. “I know,” the older man said, his chin rubbing against the top of Kato's head. The small comforting circles never stopped. “It'll be okay, Kato.”

Kato shuddered and shut his eyes, squeezing them tightly. He clenched his hands in the back of Redaku's shirt and hung on. He lost himself in Redaku's slowing heartbeat, soothing and steady, and tried very had to believe everyone lived happily ever after like he did when he was small and young and too little to know any better.

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Author's Notes: This is the Prince For Peace. Got to the forum at http://www2.adult-fanfiction.org/forum/index.php?showtopic=16179 for notes. Thank you for your patience.