Mayuzu, Yada-yada, KaiMaiden ,tuckwoo,mm, hikora, Freya Hikaru, yukino76, Hikaru Itsuko , kroscetish, XLightningX , Kurisu89, lilrocker, o.o knb lover 0.0, ariel, hana ... all of you wonderful people who reviewed THANK YOU SO MUCH. I am sorry for taking this long. I hope you like it.

I moved to Archive of Our Own long time ago, but since I published it here first, I just had to update.

CHAPTER 14

The walls of the theatre were trembling from enthusiastic chanting of the overexcited crowd. The Games were planned to go as usual leading to the one final game; the special one.

Every single seat was taken. And every single person couldn't wait to see Kago's new rules with teams, bottomless baskets, and above all - the redhead. It was insane. They didn't want to watch other games, constantly chanting and calling for Sakuragi.

The king was sitting in his lodge watching them and listening to their calls with awe and disbelief.

"Impressive, isn't it, your Highness?"

Sendoh was smiling looking at the commotion. King Yoshifumi once again had to remind himself that the changes were not solely Sakuragi's doing. Akira was disturbingly good at manipulating the crowd and public opinion. It was a talent which Yoshifumi would hate to see go to waste. Sendoh was a brilliant politic but his attitude and unwillingness to actually be a public figure was standing in a way of his career. Observing him through the years, and now, made him wish Kaede was more like his friend.

"Yes, it truly is. You could manipulate them to do anything."

"It's not me, your highness. They all love Hana. They want him to play, and they want him to win."

"Yes, they do love him... and my son loves him the most."

Akira's jaw dropped, literally.

"Don't look so surprised, Sendoh-san. I may be old but I'm not blind yet... He slept with him in that room... And I know that Sakuragi likes- um ... you know, he had a man in his bed one night... and I don't even know any more if I want that man to be Kaede or not. Even just a thought of my son going to another man's chamber... It's outrageous! But, if it was someone else? I don't want my son to be this man's plaything."

"I may regret saying this but... He's not a plaything. He is his everything."

Sendoh tried to ignore how the king's hands squeezed around the riling.

"That's your way of telling me that it was him in Sakuragi's bed?"

"I'm not saying anything happened. Kaede was sleeping in his bed even when Hana was still unconscious."

"I saw a man under Sakuragi's sheets and the person was… very familiar with Sakuragi's body. I never saw that person's face because I just couldn't look. I was afraid that if I did I would see something I would regret seeing. Now I regret I didn't look. I was stupid."

"What would you do if you found your son in there?"

"Probably call guards and castrate that brute."

Akira nodded. "And in the outcome you would never have his trust, nor his gratitude. He would not reveal the truth about the dagger. Your son would be dead, killed in the middle of a night... or worse. I can't even begin to imagine what your son would do if you hurt Sakuragi. And you would be at war."

"Yes... I know. I also know that there is no point in pretending to not see things. With the way Kaede acts around Sakuragi, or even with the way he... sits... I would have to be really stupid."

"Hanamichi respects him, my lord. He... adores him."

"I know he would die for my son. But somehow I doubt he would stay for him. What do you think he would do, if I gave him his freedom back?"

"I bet my best hiton that he would stay with your son."

"How can you be so sure? His position in his Kingdom was very high and I have no doubts that he loves his King and country."

"Yes, but he loves Kaede more. And he knows Kaede would follow him to the end of the world. He would not put your son in this situation knowing what Kaede would do. He would stay here. Don't be fooled. He's just as fond of your son as Kaede is fond of him."

"Mitsui warned me about it, you know? I refused to listen. Now I guess I have no choice. I need to keep Sakuragi. It will be better to keep it behind the closed door. Kaede is so... unpredictable when it comes to this man. He surprised me, you know? I never thought he would have it in him. I thought he's soft and fragile but he's sharp and unforgiving. When it comes to this man my son turns out to be exactly how I always wanted him to be. He stood up to our governor and I swear I was afraid he would strangle that old bastard... Damn I was so proud of him."

The king chuckled softly; pride shining on his handsome face. Akira on the other hand looked miserable.

"Yes... I was afraid he would do something drastic too. But I hardly find it amusing. He makes enemies. As much as I trust Sakuragi's fighting skills, his closeness doesn't really make your son immortal - something Kaede seems to forget, or ignore. Had he known how many times Sakuragi had to hurt people because of his reckless actions, maybe he would finally start to listen to others."

"Which reminds me, where is he anyway? If he's down there again I swear I'll..."

He stopped talking spotting his son. Sakuragi and his team were already in the arena and Kaede was fixing the famous scarf over the slave's forehead, brushing the red mane with his fingers to curl perfectly over the black fabric. Sakuragi had his hand on the prince's hip, probably not even realizing what he was doing. He was barking instructions at his teammates, pointing something to the smallest one; the one with curly hair. Then Mitsui seemed to argue his point because Sakuragi frowned comically and shrugged. Aside from Hanamichi, Ryota and Hisashi the team had one lanky looking slave from Maki's guild.

The other team was once again made of soldiers.

Finally the drums roared and the crowd's noise became even louder in anticipation. Kaede looked around, watching the wild crowd overwhelmed with the intensity of the whole experience. Finally the drums stopped.

"What the hell is he doing now?" King Yoshifumi pulled Akira closer to the railing.

"Judging from what he is wearing... I'm guessing he's going to play."

Yoshifumi's fist hit the marble pillar. "Get him out of there. Now! What is Mitsui thinking? Get me both of them here."

Akira sighed and left the lodge. Soon he appeared on the arena.

"Kaede..."

"I'm not leaving."

"Your father will gut my love if you don't get back to the lodge."

"I told you!" Mitsui spat the words at the prince. Sendoh put a reassuring hand on the small of his back, but Hisashi shoved it off.

The crowd was clearly unhappy with the argument on the arena. Apparently they already counted the prince in for this game.

Kaede moved to the entrance. Surprisingly, and to the crowd's loudly expressed disappointment, Sakuragi followed. Hisashi jogged after them and Akira just followed lazily hoping that the argument would be over before he reaches the lodge.

"What the hell were you all thinking!?" The king was royally pissed. Seeing Sakuragi in the centre, flanked by his own son and his own squad leader didn't make him feel any better.

"I want to play." Kaede was hardly audible from his spot behind Sakuragi's right shoulder.

"You can't play! You're not an entertainment! And you may get hurt!"

"Your Highness..." The red head was standing directly in front of the King. "If he gets one scratch in this game you can have my life."

"I can have your life anyway! I won't risk my son's!"

"My life!" Kaede yelled at the top of his lungs. "My life belongs to me! Just as Hanamichi's! It's not in your hands! It's in mine!"

"Calm down, Fox. Sit down."

Something in Sakuragi's authoritative tone made Kaede not argue. He sat down and almost swooned when Sakuragi stepped behind his chair and laid both his hands on his shoulders.

The King frowned. "What the hell are you doing? GO back to the arena!"

"With all due respect, your highness, my master is here and I refuse to leave him if he doesn't want me to."

Kaede grinned. That was precious. His father's face was priceless.

"You know well that they are all waiting for you to go there and play. You can't do this."

"I can only do whatever my master wishes me to do."

"Damn you Sakuragi! If my son gets hurt I will never forgive you!"

"If there was a risk of him getting hurt I would rather die than let him out there. But my master wishes to play and I'll do everything I can to please my master."

The slave grinned like a cat that swallowed a canary. Yoshifumi just snorted and shook his head.

"Yes, I'm sure it's mutual." Hearing that Sakuragi almost hyperventilated, making the king grin this time.

"If I see one scratch I'm putting you on the night shift of gate guard duty."

Sakuragi was still too flustered, shocked and stupefied to answer. He didn't even protest when Kaede started to pull him toward the exit.

"Thank you, Father."

When both his son and his impossible slave left the loge Yoshifumi sighed.

"He smiled at me, Sendoh-san. Have you seen his face? And he spoke to me. He… He thanked me. He never even looked at me before."

The crowd roared making the whole stadium shake with joy of seeing Sakuragi back on the arena, together with the beautiful prince. Surprisingly, what the crowd chanted was not Sakuragi's name this time, but Hail to the King!

Yoshifumi had no choice but stand beside the railing and wave at his people.

Finally the game began. It was wild, exciting and absolutely crazy. Overexcited spectators cheered loudly, betting absurd amounts of money on Sakuragi's team.

The Prince was a brilliant player. Even though he couldn't jump as high as his lover he still score much more points, mainly because Sakuragi was brilliant with getting his hands on the ball. Then he would usually pass it to Kaede and the young royal was yet to miss a single score. Another talent discovered that day was Mitsui, who managed to fit the ball in the basket even from the other side of the arena. He was a clear master of long shots making Akira gloat and yell from the lodge crazy things to his lover.

After the game, won obviously by Sakuragi's team, Hanamichi unceremoniously grabbed the prince with his big hands and lifted him up into the air, sitting him on his shoulders. Kaede laughed waving at the cheering crowd and fisted his hands in Sakuragi's sweat soaked hair. Hana held his legs by his knees to make sure the prince would not fall. The only thing he did not think about was the Prince's manhood resting just beside his right cheek, getting harder with every passing second. He almost moaned feeling the heat rising in Kaede's groin, and he couldn't help but nuzzle one alabaster thigh discreetly with his nose. Kaede gasped and pulled on his hair a little stronger.

"Take me home, aho…" Kaede slid gracefully off his slave's back but remained glued to his side to hide the bulge in his hiton. When they walked past the threshold of the arena entering the cool shaded passages leading to the loge Kaede wasn't sure if he could wait any second longer. Just as soon as the thought registered in his head he was being pulled into some empty space, the sound of locking the door bringing a smile to his face. He moaned shamelessly when Sakuragi pushed him against a wall and dropped to his knees. Without preamble the slave busied his hands with the prince's fundoshi. Two heartbeats later Kaede's throbbing cock was already engulfed in the slave's hot wet mouth.

"Hana… Oh gods… Hana... More…"

Hanamichi was well aware what 'More' meant in Kaede's vocabulary, so quickly pulled some oil he now always had on him and slicked his fingers. He brushed them lightly over Kaede's sack, making him moan so shamelessly he almost came just from hearing it. Pale thighs between which he was so comfortably located parted further, giving Hana better access to the place Kaede always wanted him the most.

Sakuragi's fingers slid into the crack right behind Kaede's sack and gently dipped the tip of the middle one into that tight heat he loved so much. Then he pulled it out and pushed in again, just a little bit deeper.

One trembling thigh moved up to rest on Sakuragi's shoulder.

"More…"

Kaede hated being teased like that, because it always made him come all too quickly. But Hanamichi wasn't going to go all the way with the royal right underneath the seats of the theatre. He just wanted to help Kaede with the boner, so he pulled the finger almost out again, only to slide it back in, creating a nice rhythm, increasing the tempo with each thrust.

The other thigh rested on Sakurahi's other shoulder, and Sakuragi not thinking much about it simply stood up, lifting Kaede with him – the Prince's back still firmly supported by the wooden wall, and Sakuragi's finger buried in him the whole time. Kaede bit on his own hand trying to stifle his moans, but then Hanamichi's mouth released his shaft and the slave's finger pulled out of him and there was Hana's tongue in him instead. He could feel teeth grazing the sensitive skin around his entrance and he was coming, covering his hiton in an embarrassing amount of cum.

"Hana…"

His slave just hummed, his tongue still buried in him, forcing another wave of cum out of the shivering prince. He finally pulled his tongue out, but his face remained buried right where Kaede liked it the most.

"So…" He murmured, with his lips still pressed against the quivering puckered hole. "Did you enjoy the game, my Prince?"

Kaede intended to chuckle but what came out turned out to be yet another moan.

"Game… I already forgot about the game…"

Hanamichi chuckled and slowly lowered the Prince back to the standing position and buried his face in Kaede's shoulder, leaving sloppy wet kisses all over his neck. His hand sneaked under the front of the prince's hiton once again to lazily rub over his slicked entrance and slid one finger back in for just a moment longer.

"You like it there?"

Kaede trembled and gave out the sweetest and the most desperate sound Sakuragi had ever heard him make. He kissed Kaede passionately on the lips and finally moved away to look for the prince's discarded underwear.

"We should go back to your father now."

"What about you?"

"I took care of myself." He finished himself off while he was still on his knees, turned on by Kaede's shameless moaning.

"Aho… I wanted to… Why didn't you make love to me?"

"In here? Have you lost your mind?"

Kaede was looking into his eyes for an uncomfortably long moment.

"I love you." The confession made Hanamichi gasp and kiss Kaede again, trying to show the prince how much he loved him back, before he realised something and pulled away.

"You shouldn't make confessions in a post coital bliss." Then he winked at the prince and helped him clean up and put on his fundoshi. Kaede didn't say anything more, but Sakuragi was pretty sure that the subject would be brought again as soon as they are alone again.

He wasn't wrong.

After dinner king told his son, in the presence of Mitsui and few other people, that after the last night's event the best way to keep the prince save would be moving Hanamichi to his bedroom. No one bothered with bringing in another bed or even a pallet to pretend that it was used by the slave.

So, that night for the first time Sakuragi didn't fight the prince about sleeping arrangements and fell into bed with him as soon as they crossed the door.

"I really do love you, aho."

"Stupid fox. I love you more than my own life."

That night Kaede rode his slave in a lazy pace, driving them both nuts. By the time he increased the tempo and felt Sakuragi's seed explode in him the bed was soaked through and they had to order the eunuch to change the sheets while they enjoyed the cool night breeze on the balcony.

"I give you back your freedom, Hana…"

Hanamichi didn't say anything, just hugged the prince tighter in his embrace.

"You don't believe me?"

"I do believe you."

"Then what's wrong? Are you afraid that my father won't let you go?"

"He doesn't have to. I like it here. If everything with my king goes the way I imagine, I could be a Consul here…"

"Then let's go to see your king as soon as possible."

"You are not going, kitsune. It's too dangerous."

"I am a prince. You don't get to decide."

As soon as Kaede was once again asleep in their bed, Hanamichi pulled out of bed and went to seek Mit-chi, to get a horse.

…

Yoshifumi gave him Mitsui and three of his best men, with horses and everything they needed. The soldiers travelled in long capes hiding their uniforms. The pace they travelled with was murderous but Hanamichi pushed on to get it over with as soon as possible. It wasn't only the threat of war making him want to hurry, but also, or even mainly, a warm bed his beloved fox waiting for him with open arms… and thighs.

Finally they crossed the border without much hassle, which made Hanamichi's blood run cold.

"There should be guards on those posts. It shouldn't be that easy."

They reached the king's palace and entered with the whole crowd of people requesting to be heard. It was not how Hanamichi intended to approach the king but it was surely the easiest. They bribed the whole line of people with the money the king so graciously offered to them for the road and soon it was their turn to stand before the king.

The herald asked them about the name to announce and Sakuragi without hesitation gave his own name and waited, still hidden by his cape and the hood.

"Are you truly who you claim to be? The traitor of the king? How dare you show up here? Guards!"

"No!"

Hanamichi quickly removed his hood.

"Please, Yasu! It is me. But you have to let me talk to the king. I did not betray him. I was betrayed and left to die on a godforsaken desert. Please, Yasu, you have to believe me."

Yasuharu Yasuda knew Hanamichi since forever and had no doubt that it was indeed one of the four protectors of the king. It was heart-breaking to hear about his betrayal and Yasu never really believed it was true, but was it really safe to let him in, much less with some strangers?

"Yasu, please, call Fuku-chan, and let me see the king. After I tell him what I have to say you kill me yourself. You have my word."

The short brunet shook his head but called on the servant, to find Fukuda. Meanwhile the door to the main hall opener revealing the long carpet leading to the dais with a throne and a plump, very friendly looking man with a crown on his greying head.

"Your highness, your next visitor is Sakuragi Hanamichi."

The king stood up so quickly he almost tripped and fell, looking at the young redhead approaching the dais.

"Sakuragi-kun… It's really you?"

He moved forward to better see if what his were telling him was really true.

"My King!"

Sakuragi dropped to one knee and bowed his head like did thousands of times before his fate separated him from his king.

"Sakuragi-kun… I can't believe it..."

"Neither can I!" Fukuda entered the room with a squad of armed soldiers. Hanamichi raised his head to look at his friend.

"Fuku-chan!" He stood up, but didn't dare to move seeing raised swords and bows directed at him and his hooded companions.

"Don't do it, Fuku-chan. My King, please, let me speak."

"Speak of your betrayal?" Fukuda hissed through gritted teeth.

"To speak of what happened that night you've last seen me and everything that happened after that."

King Anzai cleared his throat.

"Let him speak, Fukuda-san. I want to hear it."

Sakuragi spoke about the night he had been betrayed and left on the desert to die. Then he told his king the story of his enslavement and Kago game. When it was time to include the Prince in the story he stuttered not knowing how to omit certain details.

"Then we were performing during the birthday festivals for the king Yoshifumi's son, Prince Kaede. After the game I saw that the king's loge was lacking its usual set of guards, and then I saw a knife in one of the servant's hand. He was taking a swing at Kaede when I killed him with my spear. The knife he was holding…" His voice was breaking. "…it was my Bishamonten."

Fukuda gasped. "It will cause a freakin' war!"

"There is a way to avoid it! My king, king Yoshifumi is willing to hear you, but his council is reading for war."

"Hanamichi…" King Anzai stepped down the stairs to approach his favourite redhead.

"What you are saying is…"

"Unbelievable." Fukuda finished the sentence for his king. "I don't believe it. If that's true then how are you here? You want me to believe that the king believed you and let you go? To do what?"

"My king, I am here to get your confirmation that it was not your intention to start a war."

Anzai shook his head. "How could we want war? You know it's not possible. You know that."

"I do, but King Yoshifumi doesn't."

"I will send a messenger then…"

"No, I must go back with the message."

Fukuda scoffed. "How are we supposed to believe you? That you were a slave and got gotten close enough to the king to gain his trust. I just don't buy it."

"Have some faith in me Fuku-chan." Sakuragi winked at the soldier and turned to his hooded companions taking a double take seeing more caped figures than he expected.

"These are the soldiers of Kanagawa's court, who were traveling with me to vouch for my words and assure King Yoshifumi's will to communicate."

All hoods but one were instantly lifted and capes removed, revealing full uniforms and regalia of Kanagawa royal squad. All soldiers bowed their heads in respect to the king.

"But can they really speak for their king?"

"I can!"

The remaining hooded figure removed the cape revealing a young man of breath taking beauty. After the initial shock Kanagawan soldiers instantly dropped to their knees, but Sakuragi almost exploded in anger.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Following YOU, aho."

Kaede merely glanced at Sakuragi, proudly approaching the king with his head held high.

"I am Prince Rukawa Kaede, the hair to the throne of Kanagawa and a regent to my father on this mission."

"Prince Kaede…" King Anzai acknowledged him with a welcoming nod of his head.

"Fuku-chan!" Hanamichi quickly positioned himself between Shohoku's soldiers and his beloved prince. "…tell them to lower their weapons or I make them do it!"

Fukuda gestured to his squad to step down.

"King Anzai, I am here to offer you peace and collaboration in return for your own assurance that you never intended to threaten my life."

"I would never do such a thing, Prince Kaede. We were aware that the dagger might have fallen into the wrong hands, but I can assure you that it was never our intention to hurt you in any way, or cause conflict between our countries. I hope that our newfound friendship will grow into political alliance."

Hearing that Kaede sighed in relief and his hand out toward Hanamichi.

"That is what I would wish for as well."

His former slave took the hand with a smile, shaking his head.

"You're impossible."

"Prince Kaede, in the face of those events, I must ask you for one small gesture of good will. Please, let me buy Sakuragi's freedom. He is one of the most valued commanders of my army and our kingdom missed him terribly in the time of his absence."

"His freedom is his own, King Anzai. Hana is no longer my slave."

"Excellent!"

"My King!"

Sakuragi's voice silenced all other voices that tried to get a word through.

"My King, you will always have my loyalty and you will always be my king. But I must now ask you for one small gesture of good will."

"Whatever you wish, my boy."

"King Anzai, my home… my heart… is now elsewhere. If this political alliance you've mentioned requires a consul to be placed in the kingdom of Kanagawa, please consider me fill that place."

"But… We need you here in the court. I need you."

Hanamichi chuckled. "The way I see it, Fuku-chan is doing pretty good without me."

Fukuda shook his head. "We missed you terribly, my friend. Your betrayal broke our hearts."

"There was no betrayal on my part. It was Masashi Kawata."

Fukuda smirked. "King Anzai, with your permission I would like to deal with him myself."

"Granted! Yasuharu, notice the servants that today's dinner must be special in order to welcome our esteemed guests from Kanagawa."

Kaede thanked the king appropriately though Hana didn't forget to mention that with their tight schedule they would have to leave at dawn in order to bring the message and stop the war.

They left laden with precious gifts and in possession of treaties between the countries, including one naming Sakuragi the Consul and granting him peaceful stay at his lover's side.

Three months later king Anzai visited Kanagawa to watch the game he had heard so much from his favourite redhead and befriended king Yoshifumi with whom they talked a lot about giving away the power to the people. It took over five years to establish governments and chains of commands but in the end the monarchy was slowly giving way to democracy, just as bloody games were replaced with kago, making Maki even richer and more influential than ever, but there was still one thing he could not buy, because it belonged to the king's son.

"I'm telling you Maki he never even touched this boy! He hates him. Say a word and he will gladly give him away."

"No, Sndoh-san, I can't. I love Furuichi, but our love must remain a secret."

"Everyone knows about your tragic love and you really have to believe me when I tell you that it doesn't have to be tragic."

Maki did not believe. Until the party to celebrate the alliance between Kanagawa and Shohoku.

"Kaede," Akira started casually but, but the Prince was already glaring at him, like he knew he was up to something. "Would you give me Furuichi?"

"Who is that?"

"Your eunuch."

"Yes! Will you take him?"

"Maki would."

"Maki-san?"

Damn, he sounded so hopeful.

"It would be my pleasure, Prince Kaede."

"Thank gods!"

After king Yoshifumi stepped down and the people were to choose the one who would lead their country through the next seven years they chose Akira and the Broom-head never made them regret that decision. Mitsui made sure that his lover would not slack. His first decision as a leader was general manumission and forbidding slavery, but some people remained enslaved, like Hanamichi who forever remained a slave of Kaede's perfect thighs. He discovered he didn't really mind it at all. It was his favourite place to be. He was performing his duties at the court as the consul and at the arena as a marvellous player for a few more years before they both moved to one of Kaede's properties in the south to live happily ever after.

"You are not going."

"But why? We are just going fishing!"

"You are not going anywhere with that broom-head!"

"I am going! I promised Akira!"

"Then you sleep on the floor!"

"Like you would let me! You will come crawling to my futon anyway!"

Or as happily as two stubborn idiots can be.

OWARI

-I know it's been a looooong time but I just needed to finish this for real.

Thank you or reading… if you are still there.

Happy New Year!