Frustrated couldn't even begin to describe how he felt after stomping away as well once their...whatever that was finished. What irritated him the most was not the kiss or the fact his enemy strolled right over to him so easily.

It was that he let him.

Perhaps it had something to do with how he looked. It reminded him of a more built, more grown version of his love.

Even that angered him more as he let out a scream in frustration; kicking a rock as far as he cold.

One that almost smacked the knight on guard while he was away. As he felt the cold glare sent in his direction, Yuki raised his hands in surrender as he made his way the rest of the way back. Silence remained between the two as he made his way into the makeshift cabin until dawn.

His whole night however, was spent unproductively thinking about this Vayne guy. He remembered the name. How had he not noticed him approach? Would he give up their position to his people to hunt down before morning came? What would it feel like, if he felt that same warmth again on his ski-NOPE. Rolling back and forth in his spot, Yuki smacked his cheeks and scolded himself for allowing such thoughts to enter his mind.

That warmth was just a fluke.

His mind playing tricks on him.

Only his Ryu had such effects on him. Everyone else he bed, he felt no warmth with.

Yes. Just a trick of the mind.

Letting himself settle after the last thought, the prince finally allowed himself to drift off to sleep.

Perhaps his night training was a horrible idea.

An hour after finally falling to dreamland, he was rudely awoken and told to get moving. It wasn't safe to stay any longer. Groaning unhappily, Yuki dragged himself out of the makeshift night shelter right as it was made to disappear.

"My hor-" Mid sentence a yawn escaped him. "Ugh, my horse please." Nearby, one of the others led his horse over by the reins and held them out, to which the prince snatched them.

"Rough sleep, your highness?" A few steps away, Neo knowingly grinned, teasing the other male. Yuki eye rolled, ignoring him and mounted his horse.

"Let's just go already. Staying here longer leaves a bad taste in my mouth." And off he started, leaving the others behind to catch up.

It wasn't like they were waiting for him to awaken to leave or anything. Not at all. After a short, unionized sigh, the rest of the unmerry men followed along.

Once they breached castle grounds and horses were led back to their stables and caretakers, Yuki made his way to find his elder brother, roughly yank him away from where he was chatting with his wife and pulled him towards his room. Sal simply beamed and gave his love a simple wave goodbye as he was forcefully dragged away.

Ever since he was but a child, every time he was upset, mad, or felt any strong emotion he was unsure how to deal with, Yuki would use Sal's lap as a pillow and demand comfort.

And here he was now. A fully grown adult with his head laid atop his brothers legs and long, soothing fingers combing through his luscious locks.

"Care to tell me what happened?" Sal spoke in a whisper. Yuki was a lot like a wild animal; he was easily spooked and required patience and tender advances.

Groaning in annoyance, Yuki huffed and rambled on the events of his day, leaving out the part with Vayne. Probably wasn't a wise idea.

Sal nodded and let out his own sigh of annoyance and disbelief. "So they really do wish for a war hmm...I guess we must get word around fast and build up plans of how to deal with this." Moving the younger mans head to the side, Sal stood up and proceeded to exit the room. Though not before stopping to say, "Yuki, I want you to stay here and-"

"Oh no no no. I will not be staying anywhere." He sat up quickly to further voice his dislike in the idea. "I'm going with whether you like it or not."

"But you-"

"'But you have no magic, you'll just be in more danger.' That what you were going to say?" Standing up now, the prince marched over and glared up at his brother. Yuki may have been above average height but Sal still hovered over him. "This is my war more than anyone else's. I have every right to fight, magic or none!" Angrily gripping the king's coat, that same anger, after a moment diminished into sorrow. "If I died with him this wouldn't happen in the first place…If I wasn't here…"

A pair of hands quickly slapped over Yuki's mouth before he could continue on. Such thoughts broke Sal's heart to hear and he wanted no more. "Listen Yu. I don't give a horse's dung about what you might have heard while there, or ever out of their mouths but what happened then was not your fault." Softening up, he took the younger mans hands tight in his own. "You have every right to be alive, and to stay alive no matter what anyone else thinks. If…" Deep breath. "If it means that much to you, I'll allow you to come with. But. You must not go anywhere without protection and I will not allow you on the battlefield until you can muster up some of your magic back. Understand?" Yuki nodded slowly in understanding and drew Sal into an embrace full of warmth and love.

"I understand."

But what Sal could not see, was Yuki's crossed fingers behind his back.

He had no intention of obeying fully.