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the boy nodded, looking down at the biscuit in his hands, "i-please forget i said anything, masters, it was rude of me." he felt his heart drop a little, but he hadn't really thought they could save them anyways. it was impossible. "thank you."

Lewis pulled the boy into a hug, ignoring the way he stiffened at first, "i'm sorry. i'm so sorry. i wish i could save all of you. i really do."

Tsume nodded, "it's enough." they walked to the second bedroom and found it in a similar state, "good. these should be ok." he lead the way out and moved to Elliot and Leo, "the bedrooms are safe. you can take him there, he needs to be alone with you right now. it'll be ok, it's just too open and there are too many people out here. i'll sleep across the doorway, no one will come near you."

Leo had been reduced to sobs, refusing to let Elliot go as if afraid that he'd disappear as soon as he released the man

Tsume looked over the group before he put an arm around Kashi's shoulders, "We'll head to bed early. you guys have a good night. well, Kashi's heading to bed. i'm going to sleep out here so you all can be sure that you are safe." he drug Kashi to where the servant's beds were, letting him go once they were inside. "it's ok, you know. he was going to snap eventually, it was coming anyways your gun just happened to be what pushed him over."

Lewis smiled at the three boys, "let's get you to your room, ok? Megan, they can't sleep in the servant's quarters. they will be questions and if they can's say they slept in one of the main rooms truthfully they will be beaten for not following their orders." he put his arms around the boys as they stood, "it's harsh, but that's how things are. it would be better if one of us actually slept in the room with them but-i don't know how well that would work either."

as soon as they were alone, Leo calmed down to where his hysterical crying was now just soft sobs. "i'm sorry. i didn't mean to-i just," he hung his head, "I'm sorry. i didn't mean to cause you trouble."

Tsume picked up the comb and crouched down in front of Kashi, "You shouldn't be taking things Kashi. it's wrong. i know you love him, but you can't keep doing this. you're only hurting yourself." he stroked the other's cheek and smiled, "i can help you stop, if you want. i can even be mean and forceful about it. do you think that will help?"

Lewis nodded, "Thank you, Al. the beds here are huge, all of us will fit in one. but no naughty stuff, ok boys?" the bentiens stiffened, looking at him in shock. "That's right, i said boys. you are boys and that is what we will be calling you so get used to it." they nodded, accepting the order and allowing themselves to be herded to the bedroom. Lewis almost wanted to do naughty stuff, just to show the boys how good it could be, but that would be cruel. if they couldn't save the boys, teasing them with that little tiny bit of good would be the cruelest thing he could do.

Leo placed his hands over his stomach, "the poor babies. you have such an emotionally roller coaster day. i'm sorry." he sighed and leaned against Elliot, "They are ok. i can sense their stress is a little higher than it should be, but they are calming down with me. one thing will be sure, they will be able to handle a lot of stress once they are born."

Tsume lifted Kashi's hand, looking the other in the eyes, "if that worked, does that mean i have to break your hand to make you stop taking elliot's things?" he wasn't really going to break Kashi's hand, just scare him, but if that is what it took to get him to stop then he would kept his face serious and his eyes cold.

Lewis looked at the three bentiens and shook his head, "we should go to bed." what would they have to talk about? their lives? no, it was best just to let them have a night where they weren't being slapped around. "he's not as bad as he says. you can cuddle with him, he won't hurt you." he stripped out of his outer clothing, keeping his underclothes on and went to his clothing, pulling out three more undershirts. "Change into those and join us in bed, ok?"

they looked at each other before bowing and doing as they were told. they hesitated to get in bed, Lewis already laying in the middle, but slowly the joined him, laying near, but not touching.

Leo laughed, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "The only way we can have a peaceful life, my love, is if Reta were destroyed and Kasp with it." he shook his head and looked around, "they changed the bedroom. the drapes are gone...we should go to bed, i'm sure we'll have a long day tomorrow."

Tsume was surprised Kashi actually agreed. his hand closed over the hare's, tightening slowly. he knew he was hurting the other, but he kept going, slowly crushing it more and more, taking it to the breaking point. just a tiny bit more pressure and every finger, the wrist, even the internal bones of the hand would snap in multiple places, but he stopped then, holding it. he knew it was painful, incredibly so, but he kept it like that for as long as he could stand before releasing Kashi. he wouldn't actually break the boys's hand, he couldn't do that to him. "go to bed." he kissed the hare's forehead and turned to walk away, hating himself for even going as far as he had. as soon as he was in the common room, he shifted and lay across Leo and Elliot's bedroom door, guarding them with his body through the night.

one bentien, the one who'd asked the forbidden question, shyly moved over and slept near the king, very, very careful to keep just barely any space between them so they could share heat without actually touching.

Lewis smiled a little and forced Al to hold his hand before falling into a light, fitful sleep.

Leo smiled, "I know Elliot. When i-earlier all i can remember is thinking about you. i screamed your name, right? i just wanted you to come hold me, to save me and you did. you always will." he kissed Elliot before changing, heading for bed. "i pray that breakfast will be served here." he wouldn't be able to handle being watched by that man every single meal.

the boy flinched when the king moved, closing his eyes and waiting to be grabbed, but a blanket was tucked around him and he was left alone. he looked up at the man and shyly answered the smile, knowing this night would be something he treasured in the times to come, something he could find and hide in when he was being hurt.

Leo closed his eyes and fell into a nightmare ridden sleep. he woke several times in the night, startled from a bad dream, a memory covered in a cold sweat. he was glad when morning came because it meant an end to that horrible night. oddly enough, he finally fell into a restful sleep as soon as the sun was up, his body relaxing in the warmth of the rays that came through the window.

Tsume didn't sleep much. between Leo's dreams and Kashi's whimpering, he could find any way to rest. guilt filled him for hurtig the poor boy, but what could he do? he hadn't expected Kashi to agree to it! when Leo finally fell asleep, Tsume got up and visit Kashi, pulling the blankets back over the boy and making sure he was resting. Leo would take care of any remaining pain later, this was all he could do for now. he moved back to the main room and lay across the door, finally getting some sleep himself.

Lewis woke with the morning lght and found himself unable to sleep further. he roused the bentiens as he was getting out, but he put his finger to his lips, telling them to remain silent so they wouldn't wake Al. with hand singals used by bentiens so as to not rouse the master, he told them to go back to sleep before slipping out of the room and curling into a ball on the couch. even the wolf was asleep, though an eye opened to check before closing again. he smiled a little, resting his chin on his knees, and waited for everyone to get up. there weren't any flowers to watch here. the land was dead, flowers and plants died in the rotten air.

the common room ahd been untouched from the night before, mainly because the servants had been terrified by a huge wolf glaring at them when they'd come to clean. Lewis smiled at Megan, giving her a tiny wave. "morning." he whispered out of respect for Tsume, though he knew the wolf was awake. at least he wasn't alone now. "come sit with me? it's pointless to do much until then. the servants will come back soon with breakfast and they will clear away last night's food. the bi bad wolf kept them away during the night."