One week later:

The snow storm had let up nearly five days ago and the sun hit the estate with full force. The two-foot deep snow had melted to only a couple of inches and in some spots they could see grass. Winter had been let outside because of his restlessness and he was driving everyone crazy especially the maids who had to clean up after him as he ran through the mansion knocking things over, not that Hakuei and Kaoru noticed since they spend most of their time up in their bedroom…

They were not so bored now, at least Kaoru wasn’t. He had become obsessed with learning to play the piano, but couldn’t seem to get past this one damn song! Hakuei sighed heavily as he lay on the piano top with his arm over his eyes. The song finished haltingly and miss-keyed.

"Again." Hakuei drawled out. He was determined to make Kaoru play at least this one song correctly.

Kaoru’s pink tongue was peaking out the side of his mouth in concentration. A lock of hair fell in his eyes and he blew it away with the side of his mouth.

"Your hands are too tight." Hakuei sat down beside him and brushed the long fingers out of his way. His fingers fell loosely on the keys. "Put your hands on top of mine." He started to play a soft song. "See, keep your hands loose."

"Hakuei," Kaoru sighed heavily, "I’m hungry."

In answer Hakuei’s stomach growled and he blushed as Kaoru laughed. "Okay I’m hungry too. I think it’s because of your bad playing, my body is giving me an excuse not to listen!"

Kaoru gasped as if he was outraged and smacked the other man’s head. "Brat!" He tried to keep the look but ended up giggling. (Night note: Does Kaoru giggle???)

Hakuei ruffled Kaoru’s hair as they left the room, he knew Kaoru hated it and laughed when he scowled at him. Hakuei barely had time to yell as he looked ahead and was knocked flat on his back as a mound of wet fur jumped on him and started licking all over his face.

It was possibly the funniest thing Kaoru had ever seen! He burst out laughing as Hakuei struggled to get Winter off of him and scrabble away with a shocked look on his face. How had Winter gotten back in the house!? When he finally managed to get away he was covered in snow and mud. He fumed as he stared at his clothes. Winter, sensing danger, ran off in search of someone more playful to play with.

As the venomous eyes turned Kaoru’s way he held his hand over his mouth to block the smirk. "Is this a sign that it’s going to be a bad day?" Kaoru giggled.

Yuki once again stood at the window of his estate staring out at the driveway with his teeth clenched and his hand tight over the head of his cane. Where the hell was Kozi!? He should have been back days ago but he hadn’t shown up! No news had been spread of the "death" of Hakuei, so he couldn’t be dead.

He would bet that damn slave had run away just as his brother had!

He screamed for the butler, who scrambled into the room quickly and fell to the floor to deeply bow to him.

"Get my carriage ready and pack a bag for me! Now!"

Kozi had been awake for an hour now, but Nao and Taizo slept on. They were both used to sleeping as long as they wanted; he had always woken up early. Both he and Taizo were on the cramped couch again, with Taizo’s back against his chest and his arm around him so he couldn’t fall off, but it was so nice and comfortable that Kozi wouldn’t complain. Nao had given them a thick blanket which was now pulled up to Taizo’s face and his legs were curled back entwined with Kozi’s.

He was hogging the blankets again. Kozi had started teasing him about how accustomed Taizo had become with acting like a human and sleeping indoors with a blanket and eating all those wonderful treats Nao made, but Taizo’s only response would be to stick his tongue out at him.

Kozi heard Nao moving above them and when his bedroom door creaked open the cat ran down to the stairs and into the kitchen, waiting promptly for his breakfast.

Nao smiled when he saw Kozi sitting, very awake, waiting for his lover to wake up. "Stuck?" He asked with a smile.

Kozi nodded, at the tiny movement of his head Taizo made a sound in his sleep and turned over to hug Kozi against him to assure he wasn’t going anywhere. Nao laughed. "Let him sleep, I’m going to make breakfast. It’s too early anyway, ne?"

Nao walked stiffly, trying to look loose, as he walked into the kitchen. "Hello, Kyo-neko." Nao leaned down and scratched the cat’s ears. He liked it for a moment before shaking the hand away. Nao would swear the cat stuck his tongue out at him as he opened the cabinet to get its food. He frowned as he poured the food and glanced up at Taizo and Kozi curled up on the couch.

Kozi curled a lock of Taizo’s hair behind his ear and kissed his nose softly as he slept on.

Nao wondered what the bad thing coming to them was. He didn’t want them to ever have to break what they had. He didn’t want anyone else to either. He stood perfectly still as he watched them. He had never had that…

Kyo-neko had dove into his food, unaware that Nao had forgot to stop pouring. He hissed as the food started hitting his soft fur. Nao jumped with surprise. "Oh sorry, Kyo."

Eggs, bacon… Kozi saw Taizo sniffing the food and tilting his head in it’s direction before he even woke up. He opened his eyes and turned his head in the direction of the kitchen. "What is that smell?" Taizo asked in a fascinated whisper, almost to himself.

"Just bacon and eggs." Kozi said smiling.

Taizo was salivating and licked his lips. "It smells so good!"

Kozi smirked. "Don’t tell me you’ve never had eggs and bacon before! Even I have and I was a… well, even I have!"

"I want some!" Taizo bounced up off the couch and practically ran to the kitchen. He quickly sat at the table and looked at Nao hopefully. Nao gave him a weary look but he only smiled sweetly.

Kozi was yawning when he walked into the room and sat beside his lover. He touched a strand of hair. "You have pretty hair, Tai-chan."

Taizo smiled as he shoved a mouthful of bacon dripping with eggs in his mouth and made a sound of pleasure.

Nao laughed. "At least someone appreciated my cooking!" He was smiling but it faded as he watched the lover’s playfully feed each other. "Kozi, can I talk to you for a moment." Nao pulled him aside with a worried look on his face.

"What’s wrong?" Kozi asked slowly.

"I think you two should leave today, soon. The danger is coming today, I can feel it! I think you should hide until you find out what the danger is!" He spoke very quickly even though Taizo was too busy shoving food in his mouth to notice them.

"But I don’t know these woods, Nao!"

Nao nodded in understanding and pointed out a very good fact. "But Taizo does! Better than anyone! We should tell him soon, before he eats everything in my kitchen, uses all my hot water, and adopts my cat!"

Taizo’s legs held onto Kozi’s hips and thighs as he was pressed behind him. He reached down to Nao who hugged him tightly. Nao wanted to pull him right off the horse and into the house with Kozi following. He was shocked at how lonely he suddenly felt. He had always been perfectly fine being alone, he didn’t even like people before he met them. Now, he didn’t want to them to go!

Nao pulled away reluctantly and handed Taizo two small scarves tied up that contained a large meal for each of them. "It’s mostly dried fruit, and some hard boiled eggs. I know you liked those." He smiled sadly at Taizo.

Kozi reached over and touched Nao’s shoulder. "Thank you, Nao."

Nao nodded in response. "Come back soon, okay? I’m sure Kyo-neko will miss you, he doesn’t like me. And… I’ll miss you too."

Taizo smiled sadly and reached down to hug Nao again. Kozi had to hold the back of his shirt to keep him from falling off.

"Like you said, we’ll be back as soon as the danger has passed." Kozi was holding the reins tightly, the horse bucked his head in pain and Kozi loosened his hold.

"And then you’ll change him right?" Taizo asked quickly with a twinkle of anxiousness in his eyes.