Zaibu's heart fluttered when Tenshi kissed his cheek. If he could get away with not going he'd stay. "I'll be back as soon as I can." He said as he turned to head to the door. ::I just hope you want to have me in your life once you know the truth.:: He thought to himself as he walked out the front door.

Soon he was home. He sighed as he neared the palace. He wasn't looking forward to this. But he knew he had to do it. The guards greeted him as he entered the castle. He headed to the throne room, where he knew his father would be. He is now in his naga form, as he knew his father hated that he stayed so often in human form. Soon he was at the throne room.

(mind being the dad)

"It is about time that you came home Zaibu, I do not know why you insist on staying in the human realm for such long periods. You have duties here, to the people, and to us." His father said curtly, sitting in his throne, his long tail wrapped around the chairs base. Bright green was his coloring, with a paler almost yellow underbelly, he was a large Naga, his upper body muscled, his skin tight across the bulges even in his age.

"I enjoy being among the humans father. And that is something I wanted to talk to you about. I don't wish to be a part of this family any more." He said. He tensed slightly in wait for his father's reaction. It could go many different ways. He can't believe he just came out with it that fast. But he wanted only to get back to Tenshi, to be able to tell him the truth.

The King got up slowly and slithered down and around his son. "You reek of one...what about when this human no longer likes you because of what you are? Hmm? What then?" The pale green Naga asked, his heavy tail slamming the floor in his irritation. Zaibu had been trained to take over for him at some point after all.

"I'll deal with that when the time comes." He said his voice calm though inside he was a nervous wreck. It's at times like these he wished his mother was still alive. He knows she wouldn't be happy about him leaving the family but that she would have at least supported his choice.

His father laughed as he made his way around his son, looking him up and down. "Ahh...and do you expect to be let back when your human runs in fear?" He asked, dark green eyes glinting as he looked at his son and sneered. "Get out of my sight, leave anything that has the family signant and get out." He snarled before going back to his seat. "I only spare you because when I go meet your mother in the next life she would destroy me. Now leave." He growled and refused to look at his son anymore.

Zaibu heart broke. No he didn't expect to be let back in, though he had hoped it might be an option. But now he knows it's not. He leaves the throne room heading to his private chambers. He wishes he could keep his mother's necklace, but it has the family signet on it. It had been one of the main things of his mothers he had wanted to keep. He thought about taking it but knew his father would probably come after him if he found it gone, and he wouldn't put Tenshi in harms way over a necklace. He got to his rooms and changed into his human form as he closed the door. He let out a soft sob as he started to pack. His fingers brushed over the necklace as he packed pictures. He and his father had been close once, but all that had changed when his mother had passed away. He clutched the necklace to his chest and sunk to the floor sobbing softly.

One of Zaibu's sisters, the first one born after him came into the room slowly, she moved to sit next to her brother and wrapped her long slender tail around him along with her arms. "Take it, he will not know. He does not know what we keep in our rooms, and he has not been in here while you have been gone." she paused a moment and bit her lower lip. "He is dying Zaibu...he is not happy with out Mother, he is just upset that you have chosen a different path, he had been hoping to pass his reign on to you." She said and stroked his hair. "I am next in line now, and you will be welcomed back after he has passed." She murmured and rested her head on top of his.

Zaibu leaned against his sister. It made him feel better that he would be welcomed back if it came to it. She had inherited their mothers calming ways. "Do you think I am foolish for doing this?" He asked her softly. He knew that she wouldn't not lie to him, but that in her truth there would only be kindness. He stood and put the necklace in his bag. He was glad to be taking it with him. He also puts a bottle of their mother's perfume in his bag. It was his favorite scent in the whole world. "I wish he wasn't so closed minded about the humans."

"He is close minded for a reason Zaibu, one killed his brother, and there are so few who are willing to accept us. This is your choice however. I have a hunt coming up, I would like to come visit if your human accepts you, I would like to meet her." She smiled and brushed his hair back from his face. "Now, I suggest you get out of here before Father comes this way, you know he would be able to smell you if you were still here." she said softly as she got up off the floor.

"It's a him and I'd love for you to meet him." He said with a smile. He turned back into his true form and gave his sister a hug. "Thank you. You have once more made me feel so much better about things." He headed out of the room and out of the castle. It was good to know that eventually he'd be accepted back. He just hoped that Tenshi would accept him. It was the next day before Zaibu got back, as he stopped to hunt on the way. He used the key that Tenshi had given him to unlock the front door. "I'm home!" he called as he set his bag down.

As was the norm when Tenshi was working, there was music playing from down stairs in the basement. He was working on his figures and so had not heard Zaibu over the music as he entered the house. He was working on a new peice that he had started when Zaibu had left. It was easier to stay in the house if he was working with the clay.

Zaibu smiled hearing the music. He went and put his bag in his room and then headed to the basement. He leaned against the door frame just watching Tenshi work. It was amazing what he could do with the clay. Would he have been a better artist if he had been blind. He did wonder how Tenshi came to be blind, but he knew it wasn't his place to ask him.

Tenshi was sitting at his work table, working on a new piece, gently carving a face on the figure that looked to be hatching from an egg. Upon closer inspection it had the upper torso of a child and coiled within the egg was the lower half of a snake. Tenshi was humming along with the song he was listening to as he worked on his piece.

"A naga." Zaibu gasped softly. So Tenshi was aware of naga. He saw Tenshi jump in fright. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you." He went and touched Tenshi's shoulder softly. He kissed his forehead.

Tenshi smiled and placed his hand over Zaibu's. "Mmm...I like the idea of them." Tenshi did not know that they were real. He went back to work, checking for any damage to being shocked by Ashby's sudden words.

(Zaibu) "We are amazing." He mumbled softly. He wondered how Tenshi would react to that? Akasha slithers in having sensed that Zaibu had made it home. "Hello girl." He picks her up and puts her around his neck.

Tenshi worked for just a moment longer before he froze, registering what Zaibu had said. "Why did you just say we?" He asked and set his tools and project down to face his house mate. His heart rate sped up, a curious look on his face as he stood from his stool.

"Because... I am one." He said softly. "I am a naga. I am a former prince... when I was at home I cut ties with my family so I could tell you what I was and you would be safe." He is so scared that Tenshi wouldn't accept him. So scared he'd be turned away. He doesn't think he'd be able to handle it if that happened.

Tenshi narrowed his unseeing eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. "Prove it. i won't believe you until I can feel it." He said firmly and walked a little further from his work table. He kept his face towards Zaibu and his head tilted to the side slightly.

Zaibu changed then he took Tenshi's hands and put them on his horns. "I'm a forest naga. That's why I have horns. We are the only naga species to have horns." He said watching for Tenshi's reaction.

Tenshi's eyes widened as his fingers moved over the horns, the top of Zaibu's head and face. They move slowly down his neck and chest, fingertips trailing over his stomach before they stopped as he felt the scales along the man's, no Naga's hips. His cheeks blushed lightly as his finger ran over where Zaibu's groin would have been had he been human. "R-real...wh-why do you want to be with me? Why would you give up your family for a blind, human artist?" He asked as his fingers traveled back up to Zaibu's neck.

Zaibu puts his hands over Tenshi's. "Honestly I don't know. But there is just something about you that I am attracted to." He let his hands run down Tenshi's arms. "I was scared you wouldn't accept me." He whispered resting his forehead on Tenshi's

"why would I not?" He asked softly before tilting his head just a little to meet Zaibu's lips with his own, just a quick peck. "Well then...you can be my model for my next set of work." He said and grinned as he wrapped his arms around Zaibu's waist. "Will you be like this more often now that I know?" He asked and ran his fingers over the scales at Zaibu's hip.

"Yes, but only in the house, and away from the windows. Most humans do not accept my kind, and have been known to get violent." He wrapped his tail gently around Tenshi. "I would love to be your model, though how does that work with you being blind?" He asked curiously. With one hand he stroke Akasha's head. "Akasha knew, even when I was in my human form.