Stupid. Alibaba felt so very stupid. He gazed after Aladdin, his little blue-haired friend… Friend. That was the cause of this situation. That word. Friend.

Aladdin, a small, blue-haired boy, had been blushing incessantly, and he had been acting strange. When Alibaba asked why, the child became shy and embarrassed, twiddling his fingers timidly, unsure of what to say. Finally, the younger male spoke three simple words to the older golden-haired boy standing beside him, stuttering.

"A-Alibaba… I… I l-love you…" Alibaba stood still, silent from shock. He didn't know what to say, or what to do. Aladdin was his friend… but was that all that the boy was to the golden-haired prince? Just a friend? He… he wasn't so sure anymore…

Aladdin remained still and silent as the awkward silence between them continued, and he began to take it the wrong way, trembling. Tears formed in his big blue eyes, and he turned, running away as he began to cry, yelling out that he would be waiting until dusk for the prince's answer. Alibaba reached an arm out after him, but reacted to the situation much too late. The boy was already gone, and he hadn't even told him where he was going.

The gold-hair hung his head, trembling as his fists clenched. He reached up and punched the wall of the castle, cursing under his breath. He had hurt Aladdin. He hated knowing that. Aladdin was the most important person in the world to him, and he had never, ever wanted to hurt the tiny blue-hair in any way. And now he had. How stupid he was.

He stood there, unmoving and thinking for a long time. How could he have been so clueless as to the younger boy's feelings towards him?! When did the boy begin to want to be more than just friends with the prince?! If only he had known…

But, if he had known… How would he have reacted then? He shuddered, not wanting to think up any worse scenarios than he was already in with Aladdin. But, his mind wandered anyway… But on a different topic - the present. Aladdin was small, still didn't have full control over his magic, and was rather naïve. What if someone were to attack the boy, or even kidnap him? What if the blue-hair was hurt and needed help at this very moment? He began to feel very worried for the child, and he was startled by a shiver. It was already dusk…

Alibaba had to hurry. Whether Aladdin was attacked or not, the gold-hair had to find him immediately. If he didn't… Aladdin might go away forever. Upon thinking this, Alibaba felt a pang of pain and sadness in his heart. He had to go. He had to bring Aladdin back. No matter what.

Alibaba subconsciously took of running, hoping that he was going the right way. He called out Aladdin's name worriedly and as loudly as he could on several different occasions. After what seemed like forever, he heard a small whisper from a voice that could only be Aladdin's. He spun around, and, upon seeing the boy, he sighed with relief. He ran up the grassy hill that the blue-hair had been sitting upon, and brought the child's cold, shivering body into his large, protective arms. He felt terrible for hurting the boy, and he had been so scared that he would never see him again.

Now, holding the child, he never wanted to let go. He never wanted to think of a day that he's have to be without the blue-hair. He wanted the boy to remain by his side forever, and to never feel alone. He wanted to comfort and always be there for him. He wanted to kiss him until the child's tears would forever stop. He wanted the boy to help him rule the country when he became king - as his bride and queen.

Yes… That was what he wanted. For, deep within his heart, he had always know that Aladdin was more than just a friend to him, but had only just discovered it. And, finally, he murmured in the boy's ear what his true feelings were.

"I… I love you too, Aladdin…"

…And I always will. For all of eternity, no matter what the circumstance may be.