Tough Love

A few weeks passed and it brought the prince and the hero closer to each other. Ryuu would wake up clinging to the taller man's frame while protective arms draped over his thin waist. Ryuu would usually go with Yin on doing royal duties such as training the army, cultivating magic abilities, and economic issues. If not, then the little hero would sometimes sneak to the library of the castle and would wait until Yin would voluntarily look for him and fetch him back to the hall. 

Three days ago, Yin went to town with Ryuu to inspect the current situation only for them to meet a crying Asagi running towards Ryuu, bringing the little hero into a tight hug. Yin rose one of his eyebrows, looking intently on both men. 

"Master! It has been very long!" Asagi wailed dramatically at his benefactor. Ryuu patted his back trying to make the teen let go. As if being regarded as air, Yin fake coughed gathering the attention of the young servant. Asagi could only looked with disbelief at the person accompanying his master. 

Sensing the atmosphere, Ryuu patted the boy again and this time, Asagi retracted. Yin went near to Ryuu as if claiming ownership of the space beside the little hero. Asagi's shocked and scared to the bones nonetheless. Seeing that this is the guy who abducted his benefactor, he can't help but to feel a somewhat annoying atmosphere towards this young prince. 

Yin couldn't care nonetheless. He rested his palm to the hero's shoulder and Ryuu leaned his body beside Yin. This is usually not the sight that you would see from someone who's abducted and his captor. 

"Let's look around" Yin said as he lightly grasped Ryuu's hand and held it but even that didn't escaped Asagi's view. This man is dangerous. Not really. 

"Mmn" Ryuu just hummed saying that he agrees. Asagi strutted to his master's left side making them look like two grown up men sandwiching a small minor. They spent half an hour looking around the town for some equipment and vanities much to their dismay for not having seen a decent one or at least one of high quality. They soon stopped at the central plaza to take a rest when they heard someone approaching. 

"Your Highness!" called by someone in a soldier's clothing. Ryuu looked at the one calling the prince besides him, quite tall, maybe about 6'2 with auburn hair as he rode on his mighty steed. Yin turned to his right side to excuse himself when he saw Ryuu checking out the auburn haired guy. He pinched Ryuu's waist earning a groan from the hero. 

"What?" Ryuu perked as if he's annoyed. 

"You were checking him out" Yin replied with a stern voice. 

"Correction, I was analysing, not checking him out" the hero defended before smirking. 

"Why do you care? Do you like me that much?" Ryuu asked in a teasing tone. 

"I-uhh, yes" the prince could only stuttered. He then stood up to greet the new guy. 

"General Qin Zhe" Yin greeted earning a bow from the soldier.

"Your Highness, pardon the intrusion. I'm here to report something" Qin Zhe replied.  

"I see" Yin then looked at Ryuu "Stay here" 

"Okay"

"Don't go anywhere" 

"Mmn" 

Both the general and the prince entered an establishment leaving both Ryuu and Asagi on Central Plaza. Perfect time for clarifications. 

"Master" Asagi called out to his master. 

"Asagi,weird, right? Even I didn't expect that as much as you" Ryuu closed his eyes. Now that he's thinking about it, it's really weird. 

"But he suddenly appeared out of nowhere with soldiers behind him and suddenly seized you. I heard rumors from the Vatican that it's because of this supposed hero. The church keeps rumbling about how someone will kill all of the royal family" Asagi said with pure concern on his voice. 

Ryuu pretty much expected this since his first encounter with Yin wasn't really nice. But he's sure that it's not about killing Yin or anyone since there's still no task displayed on his system. 

"Well rumors are rumors. Anyway, did you keep my scythe?" Ryuu asked suddenly remembering his purchased weapon. He's gonna need it when he train Yin's knights and soldiers. 

"Oh also, you can keep my room. Just keep it clean. I guess I'm already moved in with Yin" 

"Master!"

"Yeah, yeah, seriously it's yours"

"I don't trust the prince.."  Asagi mumbled.

"Hmmm" Ryuu hummed. 

"He's a bad guy" Asagi reluctantly replied. 

"No, he's not" Ryuu looked down grabbing a twig and making doddles on the soil. 

"He's a pervert" Ryuu said wholeheartedly remembering all the crazy things they did especially the exchange of sappy talks.   

"Just plain pervert, nothing more than that" Ryuu looked at the two figures coming near them. Asagi confusedly stared at his master. Despite claiming that the prince was a pervert, there were no malice or any traces of disgust on his tone. 

Asagi wasn't a fool. He can clearly see the admiration in his benefactor's eyes everytime they would land on the prince, how Ryuu's pupils would dilate and get bigger everytime he would talk about the scum royalty. 

" Master, You..uh..you like him, right?" 

Asagi asked awkwardly only to meet with Ryuu's surprised face with his mouth slightly open. 

"No, I don't" Ryuu quickly responded. 

"To be honest" Ryuu stood up. 

"Yin. I hate that guy. I abhor him" Ryuu smiled thinking that even a fool would know that he's lying. He ran towards Yin who's walking towards them. 

"What happened?" the hero asked the prince. 

"Just something about the matters of the neighboring kingdom" Yin said as he rubbed the hero's head who then leaned to his touch. 

"What were you discussing with that kid?" Yin curiously asked. 

"Hmm something interesting, something about how much I loathe you" Ryuu responded. 

"And?" 

"I discovered that I actually hate you so much that I'm liking you more than I bargained for" Yin's heart thumped with Ryuu's smug response and he found himself smiling. He bent his legs to meet Ryuu's ear and whispered something and Ryuu gave him a playful punch. 

"I like you too" 

Asagi was left being fed public display of affection between these two jerks that he stood up to get his master's weapon. Yeah right they hate each other so much that they are sweeter than married couple. 

Yin smiled seeing that the brat finally couldn't tolerate the sappiness. He connected his hands to intertwine them with Ryuu's. 

"Let's go home?" 

"Mmn"