Since then Akihiko had stayed by Misaki's bedside while the doctor came in and out, busy attending to a couple of new patients. Misaki was touched by how far the prince went to help him with the smallest things, even when he protested that the other was worrying far too much. Akihiko had simply looked down at him sternly and replied, "You're not worried enough. I'm just caring for you."

At this Misaki muttered a small "t-thank you" and turned away, missing the loving smile that appeared on Akihiko's face.

That night, the doctor approached the prince again. "I'm sorry to tell you this, but we no longer have extra beds available because I've taken in some new patients and I always leave one open just in case someone comes in in the middle of the night. That means you'll have to sleep somewhere else, unless you don't mind sleeping in a chair."

Akihiko nodded. "I'm fine with it, thanks."

The doctor looked at him approvingly. "That's good then. You can stay as long as you confine yourself to Takahashi-kun's room."

As soon as the doctor left, Misaki looked up at Akihiko. "You don't have to stay," he said, sounding slightly disappointed. "I'm fine. I want to leave tomorrow, after all, so you should go and get whatever belongings you have from my house."

"No- what?" Akihiko frowned. "You want to leave tomorrow? For where?"

"Yeah, and I'm not quite sure yet… but I've been here long enough, and we need to get moving as soon as possible. Whoever is after you isn't… isn't dumb. After the whole scene we made in the marketplace yesterday they know that we're here, and while it'd be hard for them to attack us while we're surrounded by all these other innocents, the longer we stay the easier it will be for them to formulate and carry out a plan."

"You seem to know about the people who are after me."

"I know some things," Misaki admitted quietly. "That's part of the reason why I'm here, and why I have to stay by your side."

"But Misaki, your wound isn't even closed yet, let alone healed on the inside…"

"I know it'll be a while. But if we hightail it out of here soon, we might be able to make it by horse."

"That won't work," Akihiko said, eyeing the other's chest doubtfully. "Horse riding is too rough for your injury. Do you realize how much you'll get jostled around? Can you even stand up?"

"I can do it," Misaki insisted, "and I will do it, because otherwise, I risk you getting killed."

"No," the prince said, trying to cut off Misaki's opposition. "As the crown prince I order you to stay here until you are completely recovered."

The brunette gave the other a wry smile. "Unfortunately for you, your father predicted you'd try to use your status like that. I am formally pardoned by King Fuyuhiko from following any orders given by you or your brother."

Akihiko scowled. "Are you kidding me? No; either way, I won't allow you to leave. Can't you just do this for me?"

"No."

"For me?" he repeated. "As a favor?"

"No, why would I do that?"

The prince smirked. "Because you like me too much."

Misaki blushed angrily. "That's not what I meant! Just- you can't force me to stay here."

"You're injured, I can take you on easily."

I really didn't want to have to play this card, but… Misaki thought tiredly. "Usagi-san, to the assassins I am the biggest obstacle directly in between them and their target, which is killing you. So if you think I will be safer by staying here, you are wrong. Now is the best time for them to get me, while I'm down and unable to retaliate or protect you or myself. Getting out of here is the best thing for both of us, if we can manage to sneak out undetected. It'll take them a couple of days to realize we're gone and by then we'll have a large lead and be able to put some distance between us. I just hope they haven't thought far enough ahead to place others in the next couple of towns," he explained.

"But still," the prince replied softly, "this isn't right. You're hurt…"

"I told you before, didn't I? You worry too much."

The silverette leaned down with a sad smile and kissed the boy's forehead. "I can never worry too much about you." He kissed Misaki's burning cheeks and then his lips slowly, feeling the softness of the other's mouth part in welcome. Akihiko dove into the brunette's cavern, caressing it with his own muscle while his arms came around to support the back of Misaki's neck. Misaki's hands came up unbidden to grasp the front of Akihiko's shirt as the kiss grew longer and more feverish, and the prince relished the slight moans he elicited. He pulled away with a grin. "I'll allow you to leave on one condition, Misaki."

"W-what?!" he exclaimed. "You don't-"

"Come on, I promise I'll be obedient if you do this one thing for me."

Misaki stuttered at the close proximity of Akihiko's face. "Umm-what is it?"

"A kiss."

The brunette blinked. "What?"

"I want a kiss, from you to me."

"Ahahaha," Misaki laughed nervously, "I-I can't, besides y-you've already…"

"Well, then. I suppose I can't stop you from going, but I'm just going to sit on my ass here."

"I'll drag you out."

"Pfft, like you can do that in your condition."

"Shut up! You're insufferable!" Misaki crossed his arms, surprised when he was not met with a witty response. Akihiko simply remained still on his seat, staring out the window with a sullen expression. "Hey, are you by any chance… angry at me?"

The prince sighed wearily. "No, I'm not mad at you. I'm just frustrated that you ended up like this. I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, I keep telling you!"

"It is, in a way, because if I'd never met you you'd be fine." He flinched in shock at the stern gaze the green eyes directed at him, faintly amused that they were capable of making that sort of expression.

"Don't ever think like that, Usagi-san," Misaki said angrily.

"Don't you regret meeting me at all?" the prince asked with a slightly guilty look.

"Not at all!" Misaki shook his head furiously, and in a sudden bout of confidence he surged forward and gently laid his lips upon the other's with the soft movement of a butterfly. Just as quickly as it had begun the kiss ended. Misaki's face was afire as he withdrew, but nevertheless he met Akihiko's gaze steadily. "S-so don't ever think that, o-okay? This injury is a part of my job and my own decisions. So don't worry about anything and rely on me a little."

"Misaki is so kind," the prince smiled. "But you should also rely on me, okay? Especially now. Don't feel that you have to shoulder everything yourself. I know that there are things you can't tell me, but it would make me feel better if I knew."

Misaki leaned back in bed, feeling suddenly tired. "It's none of your concern. I'm going to sleep, and you'd better not give me any trouble tomorrow."

"Well, a deal is a deal."

He awoke only a few hours later to the dim light of the moon shining through the solitary window, only to see Akihiko still sitting beside him. His back was aching and he shifted to ease some of the pain, staring at the man whose locks were only slightly dimmer in color than the rays peeking into the room.

"What are you still doing here?"

Akihiko's head snapped up to meet Misaki's gaze. "Why are you awake?"

Misaki frowned. "Why are you still here? You should go to sleep."

"The other beds are all occupied."

"You can go to my house and sleep. It's not too far..."

"I want to watch over Misaki."

"That's unnecessary."

"Please just let me do this. I feel so useless..."

The brunette's countenance softened. "Thank you, but you should really sleep."

"If I sit here long enough, I will eventually fall asleep."

"That's no good! That..."

"I'm fine with it."

Wincing slightly, Misaki rolled away from Akihiko on the bed to make space, his back facing the silverette's, hiding his expression. "I-if you want, you can..."

"Are you serious?"

Misaki glared over his shoulder at the other. "Why wouldn't I be, idiot..."

With a smile on his face, Akihiko climbed into the bed beside the brunette, who quickly returned to his position of looking away. They laid there in comfortable silence for a while, until Akihiko sighed.

"You never answered my question."

"Hm?"

"Why did you wake up? Was I too noisy?"

"It's nothing."

"If you're thinking that you don't want to trouble me, stop it right now."

"Really, it's nothing!" Clucking his tongue in annoyance, Akihiko leaned over his bodyguard so that his warm breath tickled his ear.

"You're too stubborn, Misaki. It's okay to complain."

"..." Met with an unyielding silence, he gently bit down on the shell of the other's ear, resulting in an embarrassed squeak.

"S-s-stop that!"

"Then tell me." Akihiko grinned cheekily, although his expression went unseen by the other as he again moved forward, this time lightly brushing his tongue against the inside curve of Misaki's ear.

"F-fine! It was really nothing, just my back hurting... a bit..."

"That's not nothing. Where exactly does it hurt? Here?" He pressed softly against a part of Misaki's back, careful to avoid his injury. Noticing a small shake of the other's head, he moved his hand lower. "Here?" He knew that was the spot when the brunette flinched. He rubbed gentle circles around the other's sore spot, then tugged the body into a soft embrace.

"W-what are you doing?"

"Just caring for you," Akihiko whispered softly, and although his bodyguard wanted to protest he couldn't do anything but settle into those comforting arms after hearing those sweet words.

Your reviews are all much appreciated :3 Thank you very much ^^

SaySaeri - I agree! Maybe that will come into play later in the story ;0

SuzukiChiyeko, dangerous indeed... now that Akihiko has a bit more confidence, we shall see if Misaki makes another dumb mistake and where that lands him... xD Also, I finally went through and replaced all the awkward "-san"s with the proper honorific . thanks again for pointing it out lol

I'm sorry if these past couple of chapters were a bit boring, I was kind of in the mood for fluff. And I specifically used the word "caring" partially in reference to the latest JR chapter, which I thought was unbelievably cute. XD But I know these have been kind of uneventful, lots of talk but no action... so the story shall continue on next chapter~ Thanks for reading :)