Final Fantasy - All Series Fan Fiction ❯ A diamond in the rough ❯ Half Blood ( Chapter 2 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Raven sighed as he saw Carby following him out of the corner of his eye "Go home." he said as he saw the castle come into view "You have followed me all the way home Im ok now get back to Otori before I feed you to by chocobo." Raven turned and motioned for Carby to go home "I have to sneak in as is I dont need a glowing ankle biter following me inside drawing attention to me."
Carbuncle looked at Raven and jumped up into he air and vanished. It popped back into existance in the air above where Otori lay and landed with all four paws on his stomach. He groaned and his eyes flew open as the carbuncle jumped off. "Why do you always do that?" He said after he got his breath. "Raven, why did you let him jump on me?" When he didnt get any answer other than Carby's head butting his hand demanding scratches he looked up. "Where did he go? Dammit!" He surged to his feet only to stagger backward a few steps when he forgot his own weakness. He closed his eyes for a moment until his balance returned, then pulled on his tunic. Carby followed him around waving its tails like it was proud of itself for something. Completely forgetting about his pyshical appearance he left his house and headed by a back way to the manor where Raven lived. He was too preoccupied and ill to notice that he was being watched. Not that he was hard to miss in his current state. How often did someone who was clearly half elven and ill walk thru the streets followed by a glowing blue weasel?
Raven stood there staring at the castle his dark scanning it taking in every detail and sighed.He was damn sure his father knew he was gone by now so it didnt matter one way or the other if he sneaked in or strolled right up to him and said hello.Raven turned and started walking back towards town "To late now." He muttered "Might as well go back and get Otori so at least someone will miss me at my funeral when my father skins me." Raven kicked a stone that laid on the path way and watched it bounce along the cobblestones "I should have just stayed there he was ill and I ran off trying to save my own neck." Raven growled at himself "How selfish could I be?!" He began running back towards Otori's hideout .
Otori was halfway down an alley when he felt his stomach turn in a way that meant whatever was in it was shortly going to make a reappearance. He staggered against a wall and rested his head against the cool stone. Carbuncle rubbed itself against his legs and squeaked at him. It darted out of the way fast enough when his lunch did make a reappearance. When he was done he drew back from the wall and ran the back of his hand across his mouth. He was about halfway between his house and the palace, the way he felt at the moment he doubted he could make it to either place. He took he few steps back into the street and sank down on someone's front stairs, seeming to collapse in on himself. Carbuncle curled up beside him and rested it's head on his leg.
Raven walked down the street of the city making sure to keep watch of the people around him.He tilted his head as he noticed someone sitting down.Dark eyes scanned him for a moment before walking over to him and sitting down next to Otori "Honestly you should have stayed where I left you.You are in now shape to be out galavanting around while sick."Raven reached out and ruffled up Otori's hair "What are you doing up and out bed anyway?" Raven asked trying to seem totally oblivious to the situation.
"Could say the same for you." Otori mumbled and reached out a shaking hand to grab the front of Raven's shirt. "I have a job to do. How I feel doesnt matter." Carby raised it's head from Otori's leg and made a small worried whimper. Then it abruptly leapt to its feet, tails stiff and its fur sticking out. It was staring past Raven to a familiar trio and by the looks of things they'd brought reinforcements.
Raven brushed Otori's hand from his shirt as he turned his attention to where carbuncle was looking "Oh great the welcome wagon." He stood up and walked out to the middle of the street looking at the men and began to do the math.A grin crossed Raven's face "Seems like fair enough odds to me." He said as he put a hand on his hip "Well dont I feel loved looks like my friends from the tavern are throwing me a coming out party how cute." One of the nobles stood there rubbing his backside "You owe me a new pair of trousers!" He yelled .Raven couldnt help but laugh "Lick my boots and maybe I will consider it." He held out his hand "Or I could I just roast you to a crisp ."
Otori looked up and shook his head, his eyes didn't seem to want to focus properly. He reached into his pouch and pulled out a small hand crossbow and slid a headless bolt, like one used for hunting small birds with into the groove. He leaned back and took careful aim. Overly careful since he couldnt seem to focus well. Carby pressed itself against his side ready to attack anyone who came near.
Otori waited for someone to make the first move, he knew he was in no shape to stand, let alone fight.
One of the nobles rushed Raven taking a swing .The prince grinned as he easily ducked the punch "You missed me." He said as he brought down an elbow to the back of the mans skull knocking him out cold to the ground .Raven silently thanked his guard friend for the secret training looks like it was going to be put to good use now.Another ran forward only only to get knocked back by a wind spell "You guys just suck." Raven said looking as if he was bored out of his mind.One of the nobles snuck around the back way and jumped Raven from behind .A ring of fire appeared around the prince and the man jumped back suffering from thrid degree burns "Never touch something that doesnt belong to you!" Raven snapped as he looked at the man rolling on the ground whimpering over his injuries.
Otori raised his crossbow and fired striking one of the nobles' flunkies hard enough in the shoulder to make the arm go numb, even as the bolt bounced off.He didnt notice or didnt care that two of the flunkies pulled away and headed in his direction as he bent to reload his hand crossbow. He raised it again just as carby leapt out at one of the attackers and the other slapped the crossbow out of his hand and grab him from the front of the shirt with the other. He glared wearily at the dark haired galka that had a hold of him. "It would have to be a galka, just my luck. " His hands came up and grabbed at the galka's hand while a booted foot delivered a painful blow, far enough below the belt to send the galka to the pavement. He was just getting his balance when someone grabbed him from behind and something cool and sharp bit lightly into the side of his neck. "I got one, sir. Filthy half elven scum by the looks of it." Otori went frozen his shaky legs threatened to give out on him before his attacker noticed and grabbed him with the other arm. "'He looks sick."
Raven knocked another one of the attackers out with a punch to the face .He spun around on his boot heel and vicious look on his face a he saw that someone had their hands on Otori.He raised a hand sent out a large fire spell on the man "Hands off ." Raven snapped as the man fell to the ground.The prince towered over the man "Touch him again and I will kill you." He said in a dangerous tone and dug the point of his sword into the tender flesh of the mas neck "Believe me I can do it and no one will dare question why I killed you." Raven turned to lok at all the scattered men on the ground .The ones that weren't knocked out were now running away.He drew his foot back and kicked Otori's attacker in the face sending the man sprawling onto his back out cold.Raven sighed as he rusehd to Otori "Are you ok?" He asked as he helped the thief steady himself "Are you hurt?"
"Considering the current situation, I'm fine." There was a man's scream not to far away and Carbuncle came bounding around the corner, looking wholly pleased with itself. "I think it's just a little scratch." He looked deathly pale and seemed not to be able to hold his head up. "I think I need to sit down." He said and he abruptly went limp, his eyes rolling back in his head.
Raven tossed Otori over his shoulder and began running towards the castle .He never knew he could run so fast but it was an emergency so it was really no great surprise.Raven snuch in the back way , the same way Otori got him out of the castle grounds .Raven scanned around as he darted for the door to the castle and bolted for the stairs to get to his room ."Guards around here suck too." He said as he shoved the door to his room open and quickly shut it.Moving quickly he carried Otori to his room and laid him down on the bed covering him up.Raven pulled the rope summoning a doctor as he pulled a chair up next to the bed and stroked Otori's face "Come on now stop the drama and wake up." He joked.The prince didnt realise he was still in his gear and probably wouldnt care he already knew he was in trouble anyway so it wouldnt matter.
Otori woke before Raven spoke and chuckled, dryly at the comment. His eyes opened slightly and he looked over at the prince. "Change your clothes, you'll only get into more trouble than you already are." Carbuncle had followed Raven and its master here and was busy sniffing around the room, before it jumped onto the bed and curled up against Otori's head, licking at his ear meditatively.
Raven nodded and got up from the chair and went to his room .He changed over into a set of red robes and pulled his hair down from the braid.Raven pulled on his circlet and made sure it was centered correctly on his forehead before walking back into Otori's room.He took up his postion in the chair again and looked at the man on the bed "You feeling ok?" He asked as he reached out a hand and touched Otori's face "You scared the life out of me back there." He said as tears began to spring into his eyes but smiled through it "Maybe you should hire me for your body guard."
"I'll be fine tommorrow. This happens sometimes." He replied. The door was abruptly pushed open and a veritable swarm of people pushed into the room. The Doctor didnt look at all pleased by the crowd of people that had followed him and his assistant. The look on his face got even sterner when he saw that his patient was clearly a half elf. He sighed and took his annoyance out on the rest of the room. "All of you out! I dont need your whining distracting me or overly stressing the patient. Take your foolishness to the Prince's chambers." He glared at all of them, very much like he was the king and not Raven's father.
Raven stood up and moved away from the bed straightening his robes as he did so "Hello ." He said greeting the Doctor "Seems my companion has a special condition as you see." He said as he motioned to Otori "He is rather ill and collapsed earlier.I was wondering if you could do something for him." Raven smiled gently "Since you are the best healer in all of the kingdoms I figured you would know exactly the remedy for his situtation." Raven said stroking the Doctors ego a bit.
The white haired elven doctor's face softened a bit. "I will see what I can do. Take this crowd of onlookers away so I can work in peace." Abruptly as if the crowd of nobles had ceased to exist for him he walked over to Otori and began looking him over, making notes out loud to his assistant. The younger elf bent his head and began to furiously scribble down what the doctor said. "Remarkable that a half breed should live to adulthood. I've never heard of such a thing." He said as he bent and pressed a hand against Otori's neck feeling his pulse. Before peering thoughtfully into his eyes while continuing to make verbal notes to his helper.
Raven herded the on lookers out into the hall "He will be fine now go on about your business." He said as he started to close the door "But prince you have an injury to your lip." Raven sighed 'Damn I forgot about that .' He thought to himself as he placed a smile on his face "Its nothing you know how clumsy I am .I fell out of bed this morning and hurt it when I hit the floor its nothing."
Everyone began to laugh they all knew how clutsy the prince was ."Thank you though for your concern." Raven said as he closed the door and turned his attention over towards the bed "So Doctor is he ok?" He asked walking towards the bed looking at Otori.
"Too soon to tell yet, he looks as if he's been poisoned by something." Otori closed his eyes and turned his head away. His breathing was ragged as if he'd just run until he dropped. He didn't say anything merely wishing the pain and weakness would leave. "Has he been taking anything? Or did he eat something?"
Raven sighed "He has been taking these brown pills." he walked over to the dresser and began to dig around in it."Found them." Raven said as he pulled out a vial of pills and looked at them "Wait these have another kind of pill in them." He muttered looking at the white pills "What are those for ?" Raven asked as he handed the Doctor the vial "He said the brown ones helped with his condition he never spoke of the other pills."
Otori turned and looked at Raven as he pulled the bottle of pills out. He blushed and made a feeble attempt to grab the bottle. The doctor easily lifted it out of range. He pulled a white pill out and crushed it, dabbing a little powder on his tongue. He laughed and brushed the rest of the powder in a slip of paper. "At least you are considerate of others." He said and pulled out one of the muddy brown pills. He sniffed one and recoiled in horror. "Do you know what these are made with, you fool?!" The doctor turned to look at Raven, "When you first saw him what did he look like?"
Raven looked confused at the Doctors considerate of others comment but shook his head and looked at the Doctor "He was human.I say about a foot or so shorter than me." Raven said as he sat down in the chair "Someone was making it to control his condition for him." He folded his hands into his lap "Why whats wrong? The pills not working anymore?"
The doctor's face took on an even sterner look and he dumped the pills out into his hands. The white ones he put back in the vial and handed it to Raven. "Does he have any more of these?" He looked as if he badly wanted to throttle someone. "Oh they are working all right, just not the way he thinks." He gestured to Otori. "It's suprising that he's lived this long or is still able to move."
He barked out a list of strange words that the assistant jotted down, his eyes widening at some of them. "I'm going to grant him the benefit of the doubt that he didnt know what was in them. Only the desperate or a fool would chose this."
Raven took the white pills and nodded "He got a new vial today." He said as he reached over and dug in Otori's pockets pulling out a vial of brown pills "I dont think he knew what was in them to be honest ." Raven said handing the pills to the Doctor."But what do these do?" Raven asked shaking the vial of white pills "And what is in those?" He asked pointing at the brown pills.
Otori looked chagrined but didnt resist as Raven dug into his pockets. "Whether he knew it or not he was taking Mimic poison. Fairly easy to come across, for his sake I hope he wasn't taking it long. " The doctor took the pills and reached into his bag and pulled out a bottle of pinkish white pills. He handed them to Raven, make sure he takes one a day, if he appears to be getting worse make him another. If that doesn't seem to help send for me." He leaned forward and placed his hand against Otori's brow. "I can't say that taking that was a good choice but I can understand that you wanted to live a halfway normal life. Unfortunately for you the next few days will make you wish you hadn't." He turned to Raven. "Those are Mandragora root and few other herbs, commonly used for birth control. It may be that Half elves, like other half bred animals are infertile, but it's nice to know he is considerate on the off chance that he can have them."
Raven's eyes widened as he looked at the vile and then to Otori as he closed his hand tightly around the vile "Yes...I will make sure he takes his medicine and if it doesnt work I will send for you." Raven muttered back what the Doctor had said "Considerate yes." He said as he sat down in the chair looking as if he was in shock.Raven shook his head as he looked at the Doctor "Are these really that affective? " He asked holding up the vile of white pills "I didnt really think you could control such a thing or would even want to for that matter."
The doctor spared Raven a pitying look. "That particular mix is the most effective and the easiest on the body. Usually it's females that take it. It works the same for either sex, but males generally don't care." The doctor reached over and patted Raven on the shoulder. "He will be fine." He turned and packed up his things and left. Otori watched the Doctor leave then turned and buried his head in carby's glowing fur. At the moment he felt like a rather stupid child, it didn't help any that he was ill either.
Raven placed the vile of pills on Otoris pillow "Theres your pills." He said as he poured Otori a glass of water and handed him a pill that the Doctor had given to him "Sit up and take this." Raven said sounding a bit off as he handed the medicine and the water to Otori "I will have someone bring you dinner. Do you need anything before I go?"
Otori picked himself up and managed to sit up. He took the pill and the glass of water without comment and swallowed both. "Thank you he said." He didnt look at the prince. "I know you want to say something, go ahead and say what you are thinking." He said softly staring down at his noticably elven hands and hating them, hating himself for being born like this.
Raven stood there "If I had something to say I would say it." He looked at Otori and noticed the look of disgust that crossed his face as he looked down at his hands.He turned to go to his room he placed his hand on the heavy wooden door frame and wondered if Otori thought of him being disgusting.Raven closed his eyes and let out a heavy breath that he had been holding for what seemed to be forever "If you need anything you know where to find me." He said as he opened the door and entered his room closing it quietly behind him.
Otori sighed and laid back down. He wasnt so blind as he couldn't see something was bothering the prince. He didnt really think that the pain could get any worse than it was. He picked up the bottle of pills and dropped it into the drawer. "Why does this happen to me?" He asked aloud. Carbuncle merely looked at him then licked his cheek before curling back up against him.
Raven leaned against the door and slid down to the floor slowly "Figures something like this would happen ." He muttered s he wrapped his arms around himself and lowered his head letting his hair hide his face.Dark eyes lifed after a few minutes and he got up from his position on the floor and moved across the room and picked up his hat fingering the feather lightly as a tear rolled down his face "I am better off by myself."
Otori heard what Raven said and sighed. He tried to move but his body felt like lead. Even though he had only know Raven for a few days, hearing that tore him up inside. He looked toward the door and his eyes filled with tears. "This isn't fair to you." He said softly. "I'll go as soon as I can move." He knew what he felt but if the prince wanted to be alone than who was he to judge?
Raven dug around in his desk drawer until he found a small dagger he kept hidden there for a just in case situation.He removed his circlet and tossed it on to this desk and raised the dagger as he grabbed a hold of his hair .Raven froze as he heard someone knock at his door and the dagger clattered to the ground just as he was about to cut his waist long hair off.He took his foot and shoved the dagger under his desk as he went to the door and opened it."Dinner is ready my prince your father would like your company this evening." Raven sighed "Tell him I dont feel well maybe another time." The woman bowed and was about to walk away before Raven stopped her "Make sure Otori gets dinner and that he eats it." She nodded as she grabbed a dinner tray and took it to the mans room.Smiling she entered placing the food on the bed next to Otori "The prince said to eat and get better."
Otori looked at the food and turned faintly green. "Thanks, I'll eat it in a bit." He closed his eyes and looked away. If he ate anything it would just make a sudden reappearance. He knew that for a fact. His body started making a strange sensation that was both tickle and itch. He couldnt lay still but he knew what would happen when this started, It would hurt if he moved and hurt far more if he didn't. He got up as a shudder ran through his body and began to slowly pace. He looked over at the girl. "You don't need to see this, tell the prince thank you for his concern and I will eat later." The tickling sensation grew worse as he walked, it set his teeth on edge and made him wish for pain, at least it wasn't as annoying.
The girl nodded giving the man a concerned look before walking out of his room and over to the princes knocking once more.Raven answered the door "Yes?" He said as he looked at her.She squirmed under his gaze "Your friend seems awfully ill my prince maybe you should go and check on him."Raven nodded "Thank you I think I will." He said as he dismissed her.He closed the door and headed over to Otori's room and opened the door and crept inside."I heard from a little bird you appear to be on your death bed."He said as he moved to the bed and moved the tray of food to a side table "Is this true?" Raven asked as he slipped off his boots and crawled into bed next to Otori and wrapping his arms around him .He leaned down and placed a kiss on Otori's forhead "I rather hope not."
Otori gritted his teeth as the muscles in his legs seized up. "It's not. Too stubborn to die." His voice was somewhat strained and he reached a hand to touch Raven's face. His hand seemed almost uncomfortably hot. "Just can't eat now." Otori closed his eyes and relaxed as much as he could into the elf's embrace. He put his arms around the prince and would have done something else if his arms hadn't chose that moment to lock up. His arms unconsciuosly tightened around the elf as Otori closed his eyes, and took a hissing intake of air. "I'm sorry. ."
Raven lowered his head and placed a kiss on Otori's lips "Dont be sorry you didnt know what those pills were made of." He said as he laid there acting stupid "To bad your not well I may be convinced into a little fun if you were." Raven began to kiss on Otori's neck trying to distract him from his pain "If youre scared of getting...you know then I wont mind if you take me next time we do." He nibbled on thiefs ear and grinned "You feel so warm are you running a fever?"
Otori moaned softly as his arms finally relaxed. He felt strung out. "It's not that I'm scared, it's like the doctor said. I might just be a mule." He winced as his back muscles seized up and his back arched against Raven's body. He was silent a moment, teeth bared and his eyes held tightly closed. If it wasn't for the look of pain on his face it could have been considered as something else entirely. "I probably do have a fever, or maybe you just need warmed up?" He said after a long moment.
Raven felt Otori's forehead "Its not me. You feel as if youre burning up." He bit back a groan as the man arched back against him.Raven laid his head on Otori's shoulder "You dont want kids?" He asked quietly "I mean if you could have some would you? You dont have to answer if you dont want too Im just curious." He reached down and pulled the blankets over them trying to keep the man warm as he hugged Otori tight.
"I do, but what kind of life would they have?" He asked as the spell passed and he went limp in the prince's arms. "Who would want me like this? Most would as soon kill me as look at me." He didn't mean to include Raven in that, but he wondered if the elf was just being nice to him because of the night before and felt responsible for what happened to him now that he knew his lover was half elven and not wholly human.
Raven gnawed on his lower lip "Oh." Was all he said as he burried his face into Otoris tunic "That shouldnt matter though love doesnt make exceptions so why should we?" Raven asked hiding the look of hurt on his face "If you asked me I would." He muttered barely above a whisper "But I dont count do I?"
Otori's arms tightened around Raven. "You count more than anything, even the breath in my body." He said softly and freed a hand to force Raven to look at him. He kissed the prince deeply. "It does matter and it doesn't." He said when he pulled back. "We are free to love, but what we are makes all the difference to how people will see us." He knew he wasn't making much sense but he had to try at least. "I would love nothing more than to make you mine, but our positions make it difficult to do anything more than in private."
Raven groaned as Otori kissed him .He pressed himself close to the thief "So you wouldnt want a child with me if we could?" He asked looking up at Otori with a strange expression on his face "I dont care what people think and the differences arent that much." He said with a smile as he propped up onto his elbows "Maybe with time or when ever you feel comfortable all you have to do is ask.Besides you might be sterile and even so its fun trying anyway." Raven said with a wink.
Otori laughed and nuzzled against Raven's neck. "I would like a child, but the time isn't right." He said with a certain wistfulness. He met the Prince's eyes and smiled softly at him. "Trying would be fun, I will admit. I think I remember someone saying he thinks he was addicted to it?" Otori raised an eyebrow and laughed.
Raven blushed and nodded as he looked at Otori "Yes I recall saying that." He settled down next to thte thief and yawned closing his eyes "I know the time isnt right but everything cant be put on a schedule either ." He said as he wrapped his arms around Otori ."If everyone planned everything life would be rather boring and there would be no surprises to be sprung." Raven yawned again as he started drifting off to sleep.
Otori smiled softly and closed his eyes, aware for the moment of how safe and protected he felt. Carbuncle climbed back up on the bed and curled up into a softly glowing ball behind Otori's head and dropped off to sleep. One of it's long ears rested on the edge of Otori's nose almost as if it were monitoring his breathing.
Raven woke up right before the sun came up.He looked around realising that he wasnt in his room.He yawned and stretched as he pulled away from Otori's warmth"Damn I slept in my clothes." He muttered to himself as he tugged at his robes "No wonder I feel like I havent had a wink of sleep." Raven looked over at Otori and placed a kiss on his cheek and then it hit him full force of what the had talked about the night before and blushed "He wouldnt mind having a child with me. Actually he wants to ." He thought to himself and blushed even brighter as he continued to stare at Otori wondering what their child would look like if they did decide to try one day.
Otori roused when Raven kissed him. He took a breath, or rather tried, but his throat closed up on him. His eyes opened widely and he made a faint gasping sound and clawed wildly out of the sheets. Carby made a sound of alarm and leapt off the bed. Otori reached a hand to his throat as he started to panic while his lungs screamed for air. His eyes teared up and he bucked against the bed,trying to get a breath of air, and heedless of anything around him.
Raven almost fell off the bed as Otori began having his attack.He sat there froze for a moment but recovered quickly and reached for the man infront of him .He pulled Otori up into a sitting position and began to his on his back trying to get his lungs to open up "Relax the more you panic the worse it will become." Raven said as he drew back his hand and slapped Otori a good one across his back.
As soon as Raven smacked his back he drew in a huge rattling breath and began to wheeze as he gasped for air. Then it turned from wheezing to coughing for what seemed like a small eternity before he managed to get his breath back.
Raven sighed in relief as he hugged Otori to him "Gods scare the life out of me why dont you?" He said as he placed an ear to Otori's back to listen to his breathing "Your lungs sound strange. Are you sick ? Sounds like you have an illness settled in them." Raven pulled his head away from the mans back and tilted his head looking at Otori "Are you going to be ok? Should I get the healer again?"
Otori just sat there, with his eyes closed his fists knotted in the sheets. As he kept taking huge ragged gasps of air. "What was in those pills?" he managed after a moment. "If he can make it stop hurting call him." He shivered as if he was cold even though his body radiated heat.
Raven sighed "I dont think its the pills he gave you. I think its the poison working out of your blood." He gently made Otori lie down on the bed and looked at him "I dont think he can make the pain stop it has to go away as does the poison." Raven placed a hand on Otori's chest and closed his eyes "Maybe I can do something for you." A bright white light appeared from under Raven's hand as a look off severe concentration cross the elf's features "Dont move lie very still." He said as the light grew brighter.Sweat beaded on Raven's brow as there was a bright flash and he fell back onto the bed completely drained "Better?" He asked breathless.
Otori coughed experimentally then took a personal inventory. He appeared to be fully healthy. Which was suprising, considering how he had felt moments before and what the doctor had said. He turned to look at the elf and kissed him deeply. "Hai, thank you, love." Right after that slipped out, he turned as red as his hair but he didn't pull back.
Raven gave Otori a tired smile "I love you too." he said as he pulled Otori down for another deep kiss.He groaned as he ran his hands into his lovers hair "Kinda cute when you blush like that." Raven said as he placed a kiss on the mans nose "I am glad you feel better." he closed his eyes and rubbed his face onto the cool sheets his hair a complete and total mess from where he was asleep earlier.
Otori smiled and kissed along Raven's neck. "How long until you get called for breakfast?" He asked, his breath warm against the prince's neck. His hand held him only a few inches from the elf's chest far enough away that they weren't touching but close enough that Raven could feel the heat from his body.
Raven's breath caught in his throat "A couple of hours yet." He said as he opened his eyes to look at Otori.He groaned and arched his back pressing himself up against Otori "Have plans for me?" Raven asked with barely open eyes "Feeling that good ?" He laughed as he settled back down onto the bed "A little excercise never hurt anyone and I need it because of all the sweets I eat."
Otori smiled and sat up pulling his sweat soaked tunic off over his head and taking the oppurtunity to grind his hips against the elf. "Might as well take advantage of it while it lasts." He said and leaned down to kiss Raven again with an almost bruising force.
Raven gasped as Otori ground his hips up against him he was on he verge of letting out a scream if it hadnt been for the man kissing him and silencing it. Raven matched Otori and rubbed his body against his as he broke the kiss to catch his breath "Youre so evil." Raven muttered as he face became flushed and his started untying his robes "These robes are thick and heavy you have to make me hot dont you?" He asked as the robe opened showing his chest .Raven proped up on his elbows causing the robe to slide off of his shoulder and hair to fall into his eyes "Evil." Raven muttered and bit onto Otori's earlobe.
Otori moaned and ran his hands lightly along Raven's chest. He reached over and pushed the robe fully open. "Let's let you cool off a bit while we play. shall we?" He really wanted to make Raven happy while he was feeling well. He knew that poison wasn't contagious but from what the doctor said, he'd come to the conclusion that his chances of living through the poison leeching out of his body were slim. He wanted at least to live what hours he had left to the fullest and for some reason wanted his elvaan lover to know that there were people that would like him for who he was not what he was.
Raven sat up and pulled the sheets around him his body groaned with every movement he made but he had a smile on his face "I should get dressed but its tempting to just stay here like this all day." Raven leaned over and gave Otori a kiss and slowly got up from the bed with the sheet wrapped around him .A knock boomed on Otori's door and Raven froze "Otori" A womans voice sounded from the other side "Have you seen Prince Raven?" Raven mentally cursed as he grabbed his clothes in a hurry and crawled underneath Otoris bed to hide trying not to have a panic attack.He slapped a hand over his mouth trying to control his breathing.
Otori groaned like he was asleep and had been woken up. He didnt have to hide the way his body ached in that particular way as he bent to pull on his pants. "I haven't seen anything other than the inside of my eyelids." He opened the window as carby ran over and began to paw at the door. He opened it slightly and looked out at the woman. The poison in his system had eaten through most of the cure spell so he looked tired and deathly ill. "Is he not where he's supposed to be?"
The woman shook her head "I went to go wake him and his bed hasnt been slept in."She began to look paniced "Last time Prince Raven got missing his father ripped the whole castle apart looking for him.Thats his only son if something happenes to him the King will have a fit." Raven laid under the bed a hand still clamped over his mouth as he closed his eyes praying that no one saw him like this in Otori's room "You cant see me you cant see me." Raven kept chanting to himself in his mind .
"Did anyone check the hot springs?" He asked after a moment. He knew the spell was wearing off, the longer he stood there the worse he felt. Carbuncle pawed at his leg and squeaked. He turned to look down at Carbuncle and lost his balance grabbing onto the door handle in a poor attempt to keep from falling. "Give me a second to get dressed and I'll help look for him. He dropped heavily to his knees and rested his head against the door.
The woman's hand flew to her mouth "No no youre ill please go back to bed I was just wondering if he told you where he was going." She helped Otori up to his feet "Please rest I will find him."Raven's eyes widened as he felt a sneeze coming on.He moved his hand and covered his nose trying to fight it off but lost the battle when it broke through.Raven sneezed and then mentally cursed himself .
Suprisingly Carby sneezed at the same time and Otori's legs locked up, sending him crashing to the floor almost pulling the maid with him. "He just said he'd be back to check on me at dinner. I'm just going to lay here for awhile, until my legs decide to work again. I do think I would like something to eat, whenever someone gets a moment. He managed to roll onto his back and half closed his eyes with unfeigned pain.
The maid nodded "I will go get you something right now." She said and rushed off.Raven made a hissing noise and motioned to Otori "Close the door close the door ." he whispered in a panic "If they find me here we are in some serious trouble." Raven peeked his head out from under the bed and began to crawl as fast as he could towards his room so he could get dressed .
Otori hissed and forced his foot to kick the door shut. He pulled himself toward the bed as the pain in his legs faded He reached the foot of the bed and leaned his chest against it and his head on top of it. He grunted and pulled himself onto the bed and just lay there on his back simply breathing.
Raven came back into Otoris room dressed a few minutes later looking like the prince yet again.He looked at Otori and tilted his head "Feeling bad again? " Raven asked as he knelt down by the bed "Do you want me to do my little trick again ? I dont mind as long as you dont.
"It's fine for the moment." He said and reached out a hand toward Raven. "If I worried the woman that much and she returns and I don't appear sick. There will be questions."
Raven knew Otori was right but he hated to see him in so much pain it made it feel like someone was trying to rip his own heart out at the same time "Alright but after she comes back and leaves I will do it again so you can feel better." He smiled as he leaned forward and kissed Otori he debated on asking for one of his pills but was to embarassed to ask .A blush crossed Ravens face as he sat back onto his heels "I will make sure to run her off as fast as I can."
Otori kissed the elf back and smiled softly. "It would be better spent time to use a sleep spell. I can't hurt if I'm asleep." He reached over and fumbled in the drawer of the bedside table. "Did you want one of these?" He asked pulling up the right vial. "You better have an excuse as to where you were before the maid comes back."
Raven eyed the vile of pills as if they would bite him if he touched them."I will tell her that I went to the stables to visit my chocobos.He reahced a shaky hand out and took the vile of pills from Otori "So you want me to take one of these?" Raven asked as he looked up at Otori. He quickly pocketed them as the maid came back with Otori's dinner "Prince Raven where have you been I have been looking all over for you." She said as he set the tray of food onto the table.Raven smiled "I went to the stables to check on Rain." The maid smiled "Ok good thats fine we worry when you get missing." Raven nodded "Lets leave Otori alone so he can eat and rest." He said as he led the maid out of the room by her elbow.
Otori watched Raven and the maid leave and propped himself up. He began to slowly and patiently decimate what was on the tray, then propped a pillow behind his back and waited for Raven to return. Carbuncle hopped up on the bed, licked his fingers a few times then leapt down and crawled under the bed.
Raven walked back in making sure to lock the door as he closed it.He walked over and sat dow next to Otori "Still feeling bad? " He asked as he touched the mans cheek "Want me to make the pain go away for a little while again?" Raven asked as he cuddled up close to Otori.
Otori put an arm around Raven and smiled softly. "It would be more useful to just put me to sleep while you went about the business the king's sole heir needs to do. I hate to make you, but don't forget to take one of those pills and leave the bottle." He sighed regretfully, "I dont think I want to find out what your father will do if we are found out."
Raven nodded as he opened the vile of pills and carefully shook one out "Im not totally the sole heir I do have a sister Im just first in line since I am the only son." He capped the bottle and handed it to Otori.He slipped the pill into his mouth making it look like he swallowed it but really hid it under his tongue."Lets put you to sleep" he said quietly and gave Otori a kiss "I love you." Raven raised his hand and snapped his fingers casting a sleep spell on Otori.
Lord Corvine walked down the hallway of the higher nobility. He stopped at the door that was the room where the guards or wife traditionally slept. He looked around and eased the door open, Raven was occupied and he'd heard that the thief was sick. He stepped inside the room and walked over to the bed and stared at the sleeping human. He stopped when he noticed that this was no human in the bed, it was a half elf. "Disgusting. I knew something wasn't right about you. I will see you dead for disgracing me."
A woman a bit younger than Raven walked in to check on Otori for him.Her blue eyes narrowed "Corvine you back stabbing snake what are you doing in here?" She asked with a hiss "You get away from him right now." Snow said pointing a finger directly in his face "Raven asked me to come check on Otori for him why are you in here?" She lifted her gown up as she walked towards the bed to make sure Otori was ok "Why dont you go crawl under the rock you came from?" Snow sneered at him she hated the low life noble he always made her brothers life hell "Or better yet take a long walk off a short pier and make everyones life around here alot happier."
Corvine turned and looked over at Snow with a look of quickly shuttered suprise. "Don't you find you brother's choice of companions to be odd? He's a thief, he was caught red handed. To top it off he's a half breed. It's a miracle he survived to adulthood, your brother only brought him here to die."
Snow raised a brow and looked at Otori "I see the reason why he wanted to keep him here but I suppose you are to ignorant to realise it." She sighed and turned to look at Corvine "Otori wont die under our watch and anyone who tries to hurt him will pay for it." Snow shoved the sleeves of her gown up above her elbows and shook a fist at Corvine "So let that be a warning and spread it around if Raven doesnt get the ones who tries to hurt him I will." She grinned "Im a bit less forgiving than my brother."
Corvine looked vaguely suprised and bowed to her. "As you say." He turned and left the room. Carbuncle peered out from under the bed where it had hid from Corvine. It squeaked and peered out at Snow. Otori still was sound asleep and didnt appear to be aware that anyone was in the room.
Snow looked down at the squeaking and smiled "How adorable ." She said as she knelt down and scratched behind carbuncles ears.Raven walked in shortly after and walked over to check on Otori.Snow stood up "He is cute no wonder you want him to stay." The prince stumbled back not knowing Snow was still in the room "God I do believe you shortened my life by fifty years." He said with a hand on his chest.Snow smiled "Always the dramatic one Raven ." She said as she walked around the bed and gave her brother a kiss on the cheek "We might have a problem though.Corvine was in here looking over Otori before I arrived."A look of fear crossed Raven's face "I have no clue what he waanted but he seemed awfully interested in you and Otori." Snow said as she looked at her brother. "He is up to something and it isnt good. "
Otori's eyebrows knitted together in pain and he whimpered. Carbuncle slowly crept out from under the bed and leaned into Snow's hand. His eyes flickered open and he looked over at Raven and a strange girl. "Who? He propped himself up on his elbows and looked from her to Raven and back again. Snow grineed and laughed "Raven I think I scared him." Raven sat down next to Otori "This is my younger sister Snow." The girl bowed to Otori "Nice to meet you." She had a michievious look in her blue eyes as she pulled her silver hair back into a pony tail "I have to run Raven I was suppose to meet Tsuzuki a while ago and Im running late." Snow placed a hand on her brothers shoulder "Remember to keep an eye out for Corvine." She said and left the room almost tripping on her long dress as she left .Raven laughed and turned his attention back to Otori ''I had to take care of somethings and well I had Snow stop by and check on you."
Otori nodded slightly. "That was considerate of you." He looked at Raven and smiled. "Corvine was here?" He asked after a moment and began checking himself over to make sure nothing had been done to him. He twisted and put his feet on the floor. "I need to move, I dont think spending all day in bed would be all that good for me. Have you finished with your duties?"
Raven nodded "Everything is taken care of ." He smiled "Besides youre sick you need to rest so lay back down if you want there is nothing to worry about." Raven sat down in a chair and folded his hands into his lap "Besides we cant really go anywhere with you in this state. Either which does not matter." He closed his eyes and leaned back into his chair "If you want I can run to the library and bring you up a few books to entertain yourself with."
Otori stared blankly at Raven and shook his head, looking slightly chagrined. "I can't read well. I had more important things that I needed to do to survive." He shook his head. "Unless they were picture books, I'm afraid it would do me no good." He laughed, "A grown man looking at picture books."
Raven laughed and leaned forwards toward Otori "Well you have no worries now no need for struggle I will teach you how to read and write if you wish." He rubbed the back of his neck "I have free time over the next few days so it will be no problem and I have arranged for the kitchen to bag up all left over food so we can take it to your little friends in town." Raven looked at Otori "Im not giving them pity just a little bit of help."
Otori looked over at Raven as if he were being teased. "You don't need to. Its not like it's important for me to read, is it? It's nice of you to feed the children for me." He managed a smile "At least they recognize you enough that they might come to you." He pushed himself to his feet and began to pace slowly. He was starting to feel ill again as well as stir crazy.
"Well Im soft hearted when it comes to kids." Raven said as he watched Otori begin to pace around "Whats wrong ?" He asked as he leaned forward leaning onto his knees "Restless bored or in pain?" Dark eyes stayed on the man "Maybe you should sit down you dont look so well actually you look rather pale and sickly."
Otori looked over at Raven. "Maybe what the doctor and Corvine said were true. The only way I survived this long was with a mix of drugs no sane person would take." He walked a few steps toward the bed and his eyes rolled back in his head and he dropped like a stone.
Raven looked out his bedroom window as a cold breeze came through he sighed and pulled the blankets up around him "Summer just flew by." He muttered to himself .Raven sat in bed propped up by pillows the past few weeks he felt almost deathly ill and had spent most of his days in the bed."Wont be long Otori will be coming for his lesson." Raven said as he pulled the books from the table near his bed over onto his lap.His hand ran across his stomach noticing that he put on a little bit of weight in the past couple of weeks and grinned some what .He yawned and closed his eyes waiting for Otori to come "I might fall asleep if I wait much longer."
Otori knocked on the door to Raven's room, before slipping inside. "Raven are you doing all right?" Over the last few months, he'd actually began to enjoy reading. He was concerned with Raven's illness. He walked over and sat on the edge of the bed within touching distance of his love. He found it relatively suprising that no one seemed to notice their secretive relationship.
Raven smiled as he leaned forward and gave Otori a kiss on the lips "Im fine ." He said as he started sorting through the books "You have a choice I found three good ones." Raven's eyes scanned the books if anyone looked close they would notice that his face appeared to put on a bit of weight not alot but some "So how were the ragamuffins today?" Raven sked like he did everday since he had taken to his bed ill "I will go and see them soon." He said as he reached over to the table and poured himself a cup of herbal tea for his stomach "Want a cup?" Raven asked Otori.
"What's in it?" He asked lightly even as he reached for the pot and poured himself a cup. "Same as usual, managed to get a few to take up wearing warm clothes and worn out shoes. He smiled, "If anything else there will be less children this winter coming down with colds. I might have a few more bruises, Miranda doesnt much like this change even now, and the kids have gotten good at their mob tactics." He laughed. "I'd be worried, but they are good kids at heart."
Raven laughed "Well I have special treats lined up for them next visit." He said "I had the cook make up special cakes for the little buggers." Raven eyed Otori "Same thing I always drink lately herbal tea." He finished off his tea and set the cup down on the table and smiled as he touched Otori's face "I liked you either way whichever but I love it that youre not sick anymore." Raven adjusted his pillows and got comfortable and handed Otori a book "Get to work." Raven said teasing as he reached for a roll and began to eat "Oh that reminds me I found a vendor out in town that said he could donate a few pairs of shoes and coats if I wanted him to."
"I'd need to look for a few that actually need them." He hated to try to tell Raven that even with their help it wasn't long before even the most innocent seeming child was forced to take on demeaning jobs or outright criminal acts in order to survive. He took the book from his lover and began painstakingly to read out loud. He was getting better, even picking up a bit of polish. Since he'd recovered he'd taken to his post so well that he might have been considered nothing more than a shadow. Most of the time he seemed invisible even when people were specifically looking for the half-elvaan bodyguard. If Raven's father had anything to say about it, he hadn't heard of it.
Raven closed his eyes as he listened to Otori read .He rubbed his stomach absent mindedly "You are learning really fast Im proud of you." He said with a yawn "Sorry keep going just a bit tired." Raven turned towards Otori and cuddled up to him "Youre so warm." He muttered wrapping his arms around his lovers waist.Ravens eyes shot open and a hand flew to his mouth as he clammored to get out of bed and over Otori to get sick in a waste paper basket.
Otori blinked and dropped the book as Raven all but shoved him out of the way. For lack of anything better to do he patted the prince's back until he was finished. "Did you want me to call a healer?" He gently pulled the elf's hair back and looked at him with concern. He raised his head as he heard a knock on Raven's door. Giving it a look of annoyance and chagrin. "Did you want me to send them away?" He asked quietly.
Raven wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and shook his head as he got up from the kneeling postion he was in .Raven straightend his bed clothes as he climbed back into bed and pulled the blankets up over his waist "Let them in .If you dont they will just come back in a few minutes." Raven wiped some sweat from his face and straightend his hair trying to look presentable "Come in."
Otori bent and retrieved the book then went to stand in the shadows on the left side of the bed, only his eyes seeming to glitter with restrained suspicion. He didn't even twitch when Lord Corvine swept into the room with a slender young elven man in tow. This new guest had shaggy hair he color of molten gold and an easy smile on his face. "I heard you were sick, My Prince so I brought it on myself to find you some company. Allow me to introduce Oisin. He comes from the Lord Marshal's family. As he is new to court, I had hoped you'd be interested in introducing him around. I'm sure its more entertaining than teaching the hired help to read." Corvine looked pointedly over at Otori who seemed not to notice his presence. Oisin looked over at where the half elf stood motionless in the shadows. "Now then, Lord Corvine, there is nothing wrong with showing kindness to one's employees, having an intelligent bodygaurd makes them more alert and aware of certain social niceties." Otori still didnt move, what could be seen of his expression didnt change.
Raven smiled at Oisin "Its very nice to meet you." He sighed and looked at Lord Corvine "Yes I am ill and I mean no offense to you or your very kind guest but I will not be able to be his guide."He ran a hand across his brow wiping away sweat "I have been ill for a while and I am very weak it would be almost impossible for me to walk around the grounds as I am right now." Raven nodded to Oisin "Exactly there is nothing wrong with me teaching Otori to read and besides he is good company since I have been ill.He takes very good care of me and does a wonderful job. Me teaching him to read is showing my thanks." Raven yawned and looked rather tired "If you dont mind I need my rest.Im pleased to meet you Oisin please accept my apologies for not being able to show you around." He turned and looked at Otori "Otori would you mind escorting them out please?"
Otori turned and bowed slightly, going into his role of silent bodyguard easily. "As you wish, mi'lord." He turned to Lord Corvine and Oisin. "This way please." Oisin looked at him with a look of mingled curiousity and suprise. "Oh I say, the rumors are true." He came dangerously close to Otori and stared him in the eyes. Otori stared blankly back at him and took one slow deliberate step backwards as the young elf reached a hand toward the half elfs ears. "Forgive my rudeness, but I've never heard of a half elf surviving birth let alone growing to adulthood. How is it you did?" Otori looked up at him with a face that was almost masklike in it's blankness. "No one killed me." He said softly, "Now if you will leave, the prince needs his rest." He actually held his temper in check as the two elves took their leave, somewhat taken aback by his answer.
Raven folded his hands together as he sat there looking straight ahead as the two elves left "He thinks he is a match maker." He muttered ."He is always doing this to me always trying to match me up with some noble that he thinks would make a trophy mate for me." Raven grimaced as his stomach began to cramp up "Otori..can you pour me a glass of tea please?" He asked as he rubbed his stomach " It aches again." Raven sighed as the pain passed "After I have my tea I think I will get some rest maybe I can go so the children tomorrow. "
Otori walked over and poured Raven a mug of tea and handed it to him. "You really do like children don't you, love?" He sat down on the edge of the bed and looked at the prince. He smiled softly, "Why don't you pick up some of the more naive children that aren't doing well and hire them as pages? Anyone can be a page if they are the right size and age, and no one really cares where they come from as long as they can do what they are told." In fact he had a few children that were newly orphaned when their house burnt down with their parents trapped inside. They'd been staying at Miranda's but it was putting too much a strain on her and the others. "I happen to know of a few that I think would suit."
Raven took a drink of his tea as he smiled "Yes I love children and I could do such a thing .We could always use more help around here." He finished off his tea and set the mug down on the table "Otori there is actually something that I have to talk to you about and to be honest I dont know how you are going to react." Raven sighed as he sat up straight looking down at his lap "About me being ill and all." Snow burst into her brothers room and bounded onto the bed with Tsuzuki hot on her heels "How are you feeling today ?" She asked bouncing on the bed.Raven's eye twitched in irratation "Snow...have you ever heard of knocking?" His sister smiled sweetly "No." Tsuzuki laughed as she set a package of sweets for Raven on the table "I brought you a get well gift." She said leaning over giving Raven a kiss on the forehead "So now you have to get better ." Tsuzuki said swatting him with her tail "I have no one besides Snow to get into trouble with."
Otori's head jerked up as the door opened and people rushed in, his eyes narrowed and he reached for a dagger. He stopped with the blade poised to throw when his brain caught up with his reflexes. The half elf frowned slightly and slid the dagger back into it's sheath.
He shook his head and stood letting Snow and Tsu mob their brother. He looked vaguely strange as if slightly guilty at the sudden violence of his reaction and touched a hand to his forehead. Suddenly he didn't really wish to be around anyone. He slipped silently into his room, almost as if he were a ghost.
Tsuzuki's ear twitched as she heard Otori sheath his dagger but didnt think anything of it because she knew he was on edge since Raven had been ill.She took a seat on the bed "So." She said looking at her brother her tail twiching back and forth "Raven how are you really feeling ? Dont put up and act for us." Snow fluffed up her brothers pillows "You know we can always tell when you are faking or lying to us." Raven sighed as he looked around them noticing Otori gone "I feel like hell but its nothing that wont go away with time." Snow and Tsuzuki looked at their brother noting he didnt seem worried about his condition "You certain?" Snow asked .Raven smiled and nodded "I am most certain." Tsuzuki looked around "Why did Otori leave?" Raven closed his eyes and shrugged "I have no idea ."

Otori dropped heavily down on his bed and shook his head. He could hear the conversation in the other room and wondered why the Prince didn't seem overly concerned with his illness. If anything he seemed pleased. The only time he'd seen people sick and happy about it was when they were pregnant. His head jerked up and he turned pale. He'd seen Raven take the pill, and that was the one time he hadn't taken one because he'd been so ill until right before. What was he going to do? He felt panic begin to rise in him but stifled it, he didn't know for sure that was what the problem was and there was no use thinking the sky was falling until he knew the truth.
Snow and Tsu gave their brother a hug and a kiss before leaving to go out to the bath house "We will check on you later." Tsuzuki said waving to Raven as her and Snow left.Raven smiled and waved goodbye to them as he got out of bed and pulled a robe on over his bed clothes and walked to Otori's room.He stood in the doorway looking at Otori "Penny for your thoughts." Raven said as he walked on into Otori's room noting the strange look on his lovers face "Whats got you looking so upset?" He asked as he reached out and touched Otori's face "You look as if someone told you the world will end with in the next day or so."
Otori raised his eyes to look at Raven. "It's my fault you are sick isn't it?" He didn't move away from the elf and raised a hand to rest over his lover's. He wanted badly to be told it wasn't but there was a nagging suspicion that said it was. And when it was found out, there would be hell to pay on both of their parts.
A look of confusion came across Raven's face "What do you mean?" He asked before it hit him.'He knows oh God he knows.' Raven paled as he sat there he tried to say anything , anything at all but he had no voice even though his mouth moved.He sighed and began to gnaw on his lower lip "No." Raven said looking down at the floor as he lied.He could tell Otori wasnt happy about the situation already " Why would you think such a thing?" He asked.'As long as he doesnt ask to see me naked or see my stomach I can pull this off.' Raven thought as he began to fidget around "Its just an illness it will pass."
Otori noted the obvious signs that his lover was lying, and horribly at that. He sighed inwardly and pulled Raven to him, almost crushing the elf against his chest. If the Prince wanted to pretend there was nothing wrong with him, there was little he could do about it. There was an obvious solution to this all it required was a little persuasion that he was not at all loathe to make.
Raven wrapped his arms around Otori when he was pulled to him and buried his face in the crook of his neck "You couldnt ever make me ill even if you tried to." He said in a whisper as he raised his head giving Otori a kiss on the lips "Because I love you and love conquers all does it not?" Raven asked as he looked up into Otori's eyes trying to figure out what the man was thinking.
Otori kissed Raven back, an unreadibly mix of emotions in his dark sapphire eyes. "It does." He agreed and kissed the prince deeply. "You have any obligations?" He asked and pulled back slightly, at a pang of guilt about what he wanted to do to the prince who clearly wasn't feeling completely well.
Raven groaned and pulled Otori back to kiss him again "No." he muttered against his lovers lips "I have nothing I need to take care of today." The prince caught Otori's mouth in a bruising kiss running his hand into his hair .Totally forgetting what they had been talking about. Raven broke the kiss to catch his breath "Do you have something you wish to do ?" He asked with a flushed face .
Otori chuckled and buried a hand into Raven's hair. "Only this." He said and slid a hand inside Raven's robes to run his hand up the elf's back. He kissed the prince deeply pressing his body against his lovers. He pulled the prince down to the bed on top of him and gave him a soft smile. He drew his hand out of Raven's hair and pulled off his belt tossing it with unerring accuracy to the chair next to the bed.
Raven arched his back up grinding his body against Otori's groaning.It had been a long time since they had been like this .Raven began kissing on Otori's neck "This sounds good to me." He said in a moan as he ran his hand up his lovers back.Snow stuck her head into her brothers room she had forgotten to tell him something about the toys she had collected for his little rag tag bunch he had taken a liking to spoiling recently.She blinked when she found him gone from his bed.A groan caught Snow's attention and she rushed to Otori's room thinking her brother was sick again "Raven?" she said as she rushed into Otori's room .Snow froze at the sight of the pair on the bed "Oh holy hell my eyes!" She said as she covered them with her hands "Im blind get a healer!"Raven sat up in a panic his face flushed and his hair a mess "Snow!" He said as he tried straighten his bed clothes "Knock before barging in!" he snapped.Snow groaned "Lock the door if youre going to do stuff like that!" She snapped back. "I knew something was going on between you two but I never suspected this."
Otori froze when he heard someone gasp and his eyes narrowed before Snow even began to speak. He ducked out of the way as Raven suddenly sat up. He sat up and looked at Snow. He didn't look the least bit sorry but his cheeks were faintly red with embarrassment. "We weren't even doing anything that bad. . . . . yet" He said in an exasperated tone of voice, but he didn't seem inclined to get up from where he sat. His door was locked, just not the one between his room and Raven's. He gave Snow a look of annoyance mixed with a tad frustration. "Well now you know."

Snow laughed and peeked from between her fingers to make sure it was safe to look."Yes I do but dont worry I can keep a secret." She said as she let her hands fall to her sides."Raven I thought you told me everything and here I acidentally run across this I feel hurt and betrayed." Raven rolled his eyes as he sat there pulling his robe up onto his shoulders "I dont have to tell you everything." he muttered sitting there " No but this is big!" Snow said and put her hands on her hips looking at the pair and sighed.A look of evil glittered in her eyes "So when are you two getting married and when is the baby due?" Raven felt sick he knew she was kidding but how could a joke hit the nail on the head so damn square.Raven sputtered "Thats not funny." Snow burst out laughing "It is to me. That would explain why you have been so ...sick. Oh my god Raven your not are you? That was a damn joke." Raven glared at his sister "No I am not!" he snapped.
Otori turned pale as Snow talked about Raven being pregnant. He didn't say anything for a long moment, then turned and reached over suddenly and placed a hand on the prince's stomach, his hands backing up what Raven's sister and his head told him. A haunted look of betrayal warred with a look of overjoyed pride on his face, making him look rather funny until his indifferent 'working' mack slid over his features. "Why didn't you tell me?" He asked softly, hurt evident in his voice. He wasn't sure what hurt more, that Raven had hid it from him, or had used him to have a child. He bit back all the fear and horror he had at remembering his childhood as he pulled his hands back and sat at the edge of the bed.
Raven gasped in surprise when he felt Otori's hand on his stomach.His face paled and he looked away unable to say anything."Oh God Raven you are." Snow said burrying her face into her hands muttering something incoherent into them.Raven felt tears stinging his eyes as he sat there " I found out a while ago I honestly thought I was sick at first." He took a shakey breath "How was I suppose to tell you Otori? I tried earlier but Snow and Tsuzuki came bounding into the room." Raven glared at his sister "Which they need to stop doing!" He snapped as he placed a hand on his stomach "I could have gotten rid of the child but I couldnt bring myself to do it.Im not holding you responsible Otori so dont worry about that it was my choice not yours." Snow sighed "Im going to go now I will come back to check on you later and to be nice I will make sure the doors are locked as I leave." She left kept her word and locked the doors.Raven looked over to Otori half scared out of his mind "Hate me now?"
Otori raised his eyes to Raven and made no attempt to hide his shaking. He didn't have words to tell the prince what a nightmare his childhood had been. But knowing that he was responsible in part for making a child that would suffer as badly as he had made his chest hurt, even as his eyes stung with tears. He couldn't hate the prince for wanting a child, even wanting his child. "No, I don't hate you." He said and after a moment dropped his gaze. "I don't want you to get rid of it." He reached a hand up and placed it over where his chest hurt. He couldn't hide the feeling of betrayal he felt. The prince was the first person he had wholly trusted and to find this out was nearly too much for him.
Tears began to run down Raven's cheeks as he sat there watching how Otori was acting .He heard the words he was saying but actions said more than words and his actions were betraying every word he said.Raven stood up and looked at Otori "Dont worry about it I wont tell anyone it belongs to you." He said trying to calm Otori's fears "I will lie and say it belongs to someone else so you dont get into any trouble .You dont have to have anything to do with it I mean I would rather you would but I wont force you into anything."He rubbed the beginning bulge that was starting to show "I can handle it." Raven looked away to hide the look of hurt in his eyes as he stood there .
Otori looked up at Raven and rose to his feet. He put his one arm around the elf and pulled him gently backward, his arm supporting the princes weight. His other hand caught the prince's chin lightly and turned his head to face Otori. He bent and kissed the tears out of his lover's eyes. "You can't help not knowing how it would make me react. I love you and it would hurt far more if you left me." Otori sighed and used his thumb to wipe the tears from Raven's other eye. "I just think your heart is speaking louder than your head, and nothing but trouble will come of it."
A look of hurt crossed Raven's face "But its just a baby." He muttered "I dont care what people think of me or of it I will love it more than anything."Tears flowed faster from the prince's eyes "It will have a better life than you did I will make sure of it .It will be loved and have a home with food in its belly ." He stepped back from Otori feeling confused one minute it seemed Otori wanted it then the next moment it seemed as if he didnt want to have anything to do with the child .Raven didnt know whether to run or fall to his knees and cry "Its not your concern if you dont want it to be but as for me its mine I can not turn my back on it now." Raven turned and walked to his room closing the door behind him .
Otori watched the prince leave and felt like a hole had been gouged out of his heart. "I just don't want the child to have to deal with what I had to." He said quietly. "Sometimes I think it would have been better if I had been killed, rather than live to spread this curse. I'm not human, I'm not elvaan. Neither will accept me, It's a lonely existance that I don't wish on anyone."
He pulled his tunic off over his head and it quickly followed with the rest of the livery he had to wear in the palace. He went to the clothespress and pulled out his old clothing and pulled it on, settling his daggers around his waist. He placed his hand on the door between his room and Raven's. "I'm sorry. . . You deserve better than a half breed." He turned and unlocked the door to his room and left the palace. After a few blocks, he lost himself in the slums, he didn't go to any of his usualy haunts, he went to a tavern that sold strong spirits and began with single minded determination to drink until he forgot.
Raven listened to everything Otori had to say as he set out to packing his things in several bags.He changed into a heavy warmer set of robes that were a deep emerald green.Raven sat down at his desk and wrote his sisters a note telling them where he was heading off to and then slipped on a cloak and pulled the hood over his head.Raven opened the door to his room and walked out into the hall to Snow's room and slipped the parchment under her door before turning and going back to his room and grabbing his belongings "If he doesnt want to be a part of it he doesnt have to be ." he muttered as he took the back way out of the castle and headed towards the stables .Raven had one of the stable hands pack his things on one chocobo while he saddled the other .He paid the man to keep his mouth shut and to say he never saw him here as he hopped on the black chocobo taking the rope in one hand to the other and took off to a place he knew he could hide until it was time for the child to be born.
Otori soon lost track of how many drinks he had and while he did forget why he'd been drinking, he didn't forget the sense of betrayal he felt. If anything, his feeling of betrayal and the alcohol soon turned to rage and it wasn't long before he had started and finished a bar fight almost single handedly before the guards were summoned. It still took upwards of 7 guards to subdue him and that was because they mainly held him down and beat him into submission. The captain of the guard recognized him as the princes bodyguard and had him dragged blind drunk and barely concious to the king. The list of charges against Otori made a few of the noble's pale at the theif-turned bodyguards abilities, and wonder what set him off.
Raven stopped the chocobo infront of a small little cottage and dismounted it "Home sweet home ." He said as he began to unpack his things from the other chocobo and carry them inside sitting them down.He walked back outside and put his chocobos into a small stable out back behind the house letting them run around in a small corral.Raven rubbed his stomach as he walked back into the house "We will eat in a second." he said as he began to dig out the treats Tsuzuki had given him.Raven sat down at the table and began to laugh "Tarts." He said as he popped one into his mouth as he began to cry "Figures."Snow and Tsu being the spies they were listened to the charges brought up against Otori "How are we going to get him out of this mess?" Tsuzuki asked looking at Snow.They already found Raven's letter they at least knew where he was and that he was safe "I dont know but I am sure we will think of something." Snow said as she motioned for Tsuzuki to follow her.
Otori woke up some time later, he wasn't sure how long, there seemed to big huge chunks of his memory of the recent past missing. His head ached abominably and so did most of his body. Something cold dripped on his neck and he shivered and sneezed. He felt cold metal circling each of his wrists and it called up a dim memory of fighting with castle guards over something, He looked down not really suprised to find out that except for his pants, they had stripped him rather than bother searching him. Livid bruises marked what skin he could see and a tight soreness on one corner of his mouth and the fact that he couldn't open one eye seemed to point to the fact that he'd gotten at least as good as he'd given. He tugged on the manacles experimentally before with a muffled cry of pain,he dislocated his thumb and slid his hand through on manacle. He did scream when he repeated it with the other and popped them back into place.
Tsuzuki and Snow being the sneaky rascals that they are followed and made sure they saw where they took Otori."You know Im all for helping Raven." Tsuzuki said tugging at her cloak "But do I have to help like this?" Snow nodded and shoved the cat girl towards the guards "Put on a good show and distract them while I help Otori get out of here." Tsuzuki growled and her tail fluffed out a bit in irratation as she pulled off the cloak revealing she was wearing a skimpy outfit "Hey guys" She said as she apparoached the guards "Im sort of lost mind helping me out a bit?"Snow took this time to run up to where Otori was and saw that he was half way out of his restraints already.The cloak she was wearing covered her from head to toe as she pulled a pick from her sleeve "I swear you and Raven are a matched set both of you need keepers." Snow said as he knelt down and began to pick the lock around Otori's neck "You better take good care of my brother or so help me I will kick your ass." she muttered as the lock clicked open and fell to the ground freeing Otori "Bad enough he ran off and left the castle tonight."

"Nani?!" Otori's head jerked up and looked at Snow then he winced and his eyes closed as his head protested the sudden movement. He put a hand up to his head and waited for the pain to subside. "Why? Running away won't help anything. He can't be alone, if he's never had a child before. He doesn't know enough and where would he go?" He hissed slightly in pain and looked about for his clothes.
"What if something happened to him? Raven, you idiot! It's not going to be a secret now is it?!" He all but shouted the last few sentances the dropped his head into both his hands and fell over sideways as his head felt like someone had shoved a sword thru it.