A Demon's Way w/ クローバー (Clover)

[クローバー (Clover)]

Masaki went around the stores, picking up stuff he needed... As well as stuff that occasionally caught his eye. By the end of his shopping trip, he had at least three bags on each arm. As he was leaving, he stopped at the same jewelry store Hiroki was at and looked at the windows. He did need to pick out an engagement ring for his potential bride. He was about to check out the ring Hiroki seemed entranced by, but stopped himself. Hiroki was already there? He didn't notice him until he turned to look at the ring. He thought the boy still held hostile feelings and decided not to bother him, going into the store to inquire about an engagement ring.

[azuneko]

Hiroki sighs a bit hearing a ring of a bell. He glanced towards the shop's doorway as he noticed someone had entered. That ringing had snapped him out of it. "What would I do with such a thing?" he mutters to himself walking off. As he did so something in the air caught his attention. 'That scent...? From that boy last night...' he thinks looking around. Not seeing anyone he continues his way back home. Hiroki wonders if Masaki had been close by or even right there near him. The thought bothered yet had him curious as well.

[クローバー (Clover)]

Masaki looked at all the rings they had on display and found himself strangely drawn to the same one that Hiroki was drawn to earlier. Its color was the same as the glowing roses by the other boy. Was its color a product of his power as well? Not being able to come to an answer, he bought the ring for $400 and got it in a soft black box. As he walked out of the store, he couldn't let his guilt for being discourteous to the other boy tear at him anymore.

"Hello, Hiroki." he said, trying his hardest to prevent himself from calling the other boy "Peasant" or anything of the sort.

[azuneko]

Hiroki hadn't gotten too far from the shop when he noticed his name being called. "So it wasn't my imagination. What do you want?" he asked looking at Masaki. His gaze drifts to the shop and then the boy. "Did you find someone already to be your bride?" he asked pointing to the shop. He assumed the other had finished his quest to be in a jewelry store. It made sense after all. Hiroki grips his basket tightly. "I gotta go Masaki. See you later." he said walking off.

[クローバー (Clover)]

"No, I haven't—" Masaki began, but Hiroki walking off made his heart sink again. "I'm saving it for the right person and the right time..."

He walked off, tears starting to blur his vision. After a while, he broke down, running to the palace to hide. He didn't bother muting his voice. He commanded the gate guards to close and lock the gates for the day.

When he was in his room, he grabbed a pillow and screamed into it, letting his tension out in that action. Why was Hiroki being so cold? He only wanted to make small talk... Maybe he was wrong for thinking Hiroki could ever be a mate for him. However, he still felt drawn to the other boy. Why was his heart playing with him so much?! Had he lost his common sense? Questions like that swirled in his mind as he wept.

[azuneko]

Hiroki soon made it back to his place. He was furious but had no clue why. He knew though it had to do with Masaki. "How the hell does someone find a bride in one night. Damn it...!!!" he said punching a wall. In that instant he wonders why was he upset in the first place. He had only just met the boy and knew only what he heard about the prince. Hiroki takes a deep breath to relax. He would wait til nightfall and go lay among the flowers again. That always helped him clear his mind.

[クローバー (Clover)]

By the time night fell, Masaki didn't even feel like going out. He remained in his room for a while, only answering to his servants. However, he looked outside. The moon was shining brilliantly, and the night looked perfect for singing. Whenever the night looked particularly beautiful, he'd go out to the top of the palace and sing. Deciding to swallow up his emotions, he got up, climbing out of the window to climb to the top tower of the palace. Once he reached the top, he took a deep breath and began to

.

[azuneko]

Hiroki decided to stay in his house that night. He felt conflicted as to why such a thing was happening. He instantly blamed Masaki. He didn't know why but he needed someone to blame and that's who he decided. The boy already found a bride so why did that matter to him so much. Hiroki couldn't figure out his thoughts and that irritated him. Glancing at the flowers around him, a soft sigh escapes his lips. "I shouldn't get all worked up. He's not someone of interest to me so I don't care. May he be happy with whoever he's chosen." he mumbles before closing his eyes to rest.

[クローバー (Clover)]

After that, Masaki climbed down from the palace to the back entrance. He still felt unsatisfied. He then decided to walk a little. He walked out of the palace gates and through the empty town, thoroughly bored. He still couldn't place why he felt so bored. He knew it couldn't be that other boy. He was too hardened by his clan's legacy. He'd never understand the interest Masaki had for him, even if they were trapped on an island together. However, there was still part of him that did not deem Hiroki a lost cause for love. Even if it were greatly diminished after their last encounter, something was still there.

[azuneko]

Hiroki had fallen asleep though there was a part of him much awake. As he slept, his aura which caused flowers to glow seemed to cause ones in town to glow despite him not being there. A few actually leading a path towards Masaki. He was thinking, dreaming of the boy which caused a reaction in his powers. As if Hiroki himself was leading Masaki to where he was. The glow of the flowers practically trying to persuade the boy to follow.

[クローバー (Clover)]

Masaki was distracted by a familiar glow. Was it those roses? He looked and saw that it wasn't just roses. Other flowers were lighting up too, and in a strange pattern on top of that. He followed the flowers, trying to see if they were saying something and came across a sleeping Hiroki. The other boy looked kinda cute when he was sleeping, in contrast to when he was awake. Masaki didn't want to disturb him. He just took in the sight before him, turning slightly pink and not moving a muscle.

[azuneko]

The glow of the flowers vanished as the boy was properly led to Hiroki. He was sound asleep but could tell someone was near him. Slowly opening his eyes he noticed Masaki standing there. "So do you enjoy watching people sleep? That's kind of creepy." he says staring at him. He was a lot calmer since he was resting.

[クローバー (Clover)]

"N-no..." Masaki said, his face bright red from embarrassment. "I just didn't want to disturb you. Anyway, I still don't have a mate. That ring is for when the right person and the right time comes."

He looked at Hiroki again, blushing furiously.

"I'm sorry for bothering you. I don't know what came over me to come here." he said, bowing and starting to turn and walk away.

[azuneko]

"Wait so your still looking for a mate? That's rather odd. There's more mortals that could quench your thirst. Why not make a list of what you're looking for. It'll help you narrow down and find the perfect mate." he says softly. Hiroki sighs as he realized the boy was blushing. "Anyway I'm tired with nothing to do. Head home okay." he said ready to go back to sleep.

[クローバー (Clover)]

"T-Thanks for the advice." Masaki managed to say before starting to walk home. "Good night, Hiroki."

This boy was definitely something special. Though the fact that he was a demon was one part of it, the other part, he couldn't place. Why was he still drawn to Hiroki, even if life was telling him that it wasn't meant to be? That question remained in his head as he got home and sat down at his desk to write some criteria down.

"Okay... So, what would I like in a mate...?" Masaki toyed with the nib of his fountain pen before some ink got on his hand. He then got to writing.

About a half hour passed and he deemed his list complete. He then began to read:

"About the same height

Either gender is okay

Calm

Patient

Adventurous

Dominant, but not too much

Healthy

Health conscious, but not overly so

For males, experience in bed is not required, but recommended and welcomed

For females, must be experienced in bed

For both, long life"

The last one made him stop. Long life? Why was that important to him? Since he was a demon, his lifespan was inconceivably longer than a human's life, so a human mate would only keep him satisfied for so long. And all the items on the list were sounding like things he was hoping of Hiroki... Which made his heart ache for the other demon boy even more. Folding the list up and putting it in his night stand, he stripped out of his clothing and went to his bathroom for a second bath and dinner.

[azuneko]

Hiroki watched the other leave and sighs. He was a bit relieved that Masaki hadn't found a bride as of yet. That made his day more than he had expected it to. Laying down he was now wide awake. His mind wondering why and how the boy found his house in the middle of the night. His glow couldn't be seen so easily. As he thought he then began wondering why Masaki was currently on his mind. He was never one to focus on others but now he was.

[クローバー (Clover)]

Masaki continued to think of Hiroki as he ate his dinner, a roasted chicken cooked to perfection. Why was his heart telling him to get close to Hiroki? Wasn't it determined before that he shouldn't try a relationship with him? Why was his heart striving for the plant demon so much? Was it the flowers? Was it his power? Or was it because they were both demons? He didn't know the answer. He tried to eat his chicken and focus on the flavor instead of letting his mind dwell too much on the issue.

[azuneko]

Hiroki eventually fell asleep. Despite dreaming of Masaki the entire night. His decision to ignore the feeling was working do far. As long as he didn't stress it he was able to relax. It's not as if the boy had made an attempt to be anything more than passing acquaintances. This was a simple yet complex fix.

[クローバー (Clover)]

Masaki slept fitfully that night, tossing and turning as the haunting glow and images of Hiroki filled his dreams. The glow seemed to wrap around him, and it even felt like silk against his skin.

"H-Hiroki..." he moaned sleepily. "I... I... I l-l-li... N-No... I lo—"

He awoke from the dream, more confused than ever. Did he find the glow of the flowers... arousing? He rushed into the bathroom and looked at himself in the full-length mirror. Was he... hard? He wrapped his fingers around his length and started to pump himself. He found himself moaning Hiroki's name, as he was imagining that it was Hiroki's hand instead of his own. Within moments, he came over himself, passing out in the bathroom.

[azuneko]

Hiroki was able to sleep well into the morning. He wasn't easily aroused by his own subconscious. Upon awaking he noticed all the flowers around his house had wilted. That seriously upset him to the core. He instantly got up and headed into town. It was no different there. The flower gardens and even the parks flower beds were all withered. He didn't realize this was his own doing for suppressing his emotions and feelings towards Masaki. For now he had no explanation for what was going on but he was pissed off about it.

[クローバー (Clover)]

Masaki awoke in the bathroom, unsure of what had happened last night. He saw a dried white substance on his body. Then his dreams from last night came back. He thought of his feelings for Hiroki. Did he like him in that way? He chalked it up to being the product of an erotic dream and went on with his morning, having his breakfast prepared for him at the side of his bath.

[azuneko]

Hiroki walked about the town. He was seriously worried about the withered flowers. His mind on that and nothing else. He soon returns home with a sigh. "Damn it! I've no one to consult about this. I hate not knowing anything ever." he mutters as he grits his teeth. This was the major fail to his clan. Always remaining alone left you alone in times when you need help.

[クローバー (Clover)]

As he was enjoying his breakfast, one of Masaki's butlers approached him.

"Some mortal is at the gate. They said that you were really loud last night and couldn't sleep. Though I have no idea what they're talking about thanks to the soundproofed rooms we had installed a couple decades ago." the butler said.

Masaki almost spat his food out in the poor man's face. Was his sound magic fading? He had cast a special spell over the castle to mute the sounds such that no mortal could hear what came out of it. Seeking answers, he rose out of his bath, frantic.

"Quick, get me my towel! I have to consult someone about this!" he said, drying himself off and getting dressed before leaving the palace and asking the gate guard to lock the gate behind him.

[azuneko]

Hiroki lays about in his home. He watched his flowers one by one all turn to dust. It was becoming very irritating for him. He had not figured out the cause and that made things worse. He knew he'd have to calm down somehow our something terrible could end up happening to the town he had been so close to. Sitting up he decided to go search for Masaki. Knowing the boy was also a demon made him curious to think the boy might have caused this.

[クローバー (Clover)]

Sure enough, Masaki saw the other boy on the palace grounds. He took a step, and he felt a huge rumbling where he did. Were his powers now starting to work against him?

"Hello? Hiroki?" he tried to wave to get the other boy's attention. In the reflective surface of the fountain he was standing next to, he could see that his headphones were flashing different colors rapidly. He then heard a bird chirp. While that normally didn't affect him much, it sounded hundreds of times louder to him now. He tried to make his headphones quieter, but they wouldn't respond to him. He couldn't take them off either because they were bound to his soul from the day of his birth.