Cole paused.  "Look, there're some people up ahead."  He blinked.  "I wonder how many of them have wings?"

Astor giggled, looking happy.

Erik turned, and eyebrow rausing at the approching group.

Hoto looked around Astor, "Wings?!! Really? how interesting"

Cole waved.  "Hi!  Do a lot of you have wings?"

Erik blinked.  "Alot of whom?" he asked.

"Um... A lot of... well... you?"

Hoto walked forward to stand next to Astor and Cole

Erik raised his eyebrow again.  "There is only one of me...." he said slowly, with a mild arrogant and offended tone.

Kirou tried to keep very hidden behind Hotohori.

[*insert Astor poetic speach here....*]

"I meant your people.... You do live around here, don't you?"

Erik smiled slightly, shaking his head. "My people are imbisciles.  Be glad that they are FAR far away from here. I know I am..."

"So still no luck," Cole said with a shake of his head

Hoto sighed,"Is ther eanyone on this planet that actually lives here?"

Erik shrugged, non comitally. "It would appear somthing has shifted us to this location." He smiled, unconciosly snuggling NIkita to his side.

Nikita clung to Erik, periodically peeking at the newcomeres and then burying his face against Erik's side.

Hoto shifted in the wierd silence that followed, "well it looks like we are all in the same plate of sushi. My name is Hotohori and this is Kirou, " he said wit hat gesture

"I am Kar Erik Devraj," Erik introduced himself with a small nod. "This is my Nikita," he hugged the boy to his sides again.

"Cole," Cole said.  "This is Astor."

Astor bowed deeply. "I am Astor Niranjana Silvermoon,"

Nikita whimpered softly.

"Be calm, NIkita," Erik said in a soft soothing voice. "I will protect you..."

Hoto bowed to all the newcomers and blinked as Erik repeated a line he often used with Kirou

He looked closely at Erik again, " What did you say your rank was in your world?"

Erik smirked lightly. "I am the Kar.  It is the position of king of the High Demons."

Cole smiled lightly and turned to Astor.  "Are you going to call him your prince too?"

Hoto smiled and bowed deeply, " i thought i saw a man of power. Greetings your highness"

Astor smiled. "No, you are my Prince, dear Cole," he replied, kissing the man on the cheek.

Cole blushed.

Erik looked pleased. "Why thank you. And what is your rank?"

Hoto paniced, he really didn't want to be called emperor here, he wanted to leave that all behind, but he couldn't lie. It was his own fault for starting it and yet he still couldn't bring himself to answer and prayed for a change of subject

"Nowhere near, I'm sure," Cole said cheerfully.  "He isn't royalty."

Erik smiled.  "And are you a prince to any other them your companion?"

"Me?" Cole asked.  "No."

Erik nodded, storing the information.

Hoto could kiss cole if it wouldn't make Kirou jealous

Hoto hugged Kirou to him to amke sure he was still there, he hadn't said a thing

Nikita looked up again, catching Kirou's eye.  They both made small whimpering noises and hid further behind Hotohori and Erik.

Astor giggled slightly.  "It would appear we are all paired."

Hoto blinked and then laughed, " it seems you majesty, we have common tastes"

Erik smiled slightly. "Nikita is mine and mine alone," he said, cutting off any thoughts the other man might have had of sharing or swapping boys.

Nikita nodded, not looking up.

Hoto could only grin as he imagined what could be going through Eriks mind, " Kirou is his own person and speaks for himself, but i will have you know, i am a jealous boyfriend, so as long as we have that agreed..."

"Mm," Erik replied, disintrested.

Cole smiled, shaking his head.  Hotohori acted awfully like a king...

Astor giggled slighly. "May I compliment you both on your excelent taste."

Nikita looked up at Erik with wide eyes.  "Master," he said softly.  "Master, can we go home?  Nikita...."  He glanced at the newcomers.  "They scare Nikita."

Erik gently lifted NIktia into his arms, hugging him and sheltering him with his cloak. "I know not, Nikita," he admited softly. "We can go elsewhere if you wish."

Hoto couldn't help but blink again. just what kind of relationship did those two have? (meaning Erik and Nikita)

Nikita nestled against Erik, fitting his head under Erik's chin.

Hoto sighs, " i don't suppose you know of anymore people around here your highness?"

"there is a group over that way," ERik gestured his free hand towards where Xella had gone.

Hoto nods his thanks and turns to Kirou, " what would you like to do love?"

Kirou was quiet a moment. Run away was top on his list, but he knew that Hotohori wouldn't.  "I-- I don't know," he said softly, burying his face agaist Hotohori's side.   The weird non human auras were starting to disturb him.

Hoto stroked his hair, " do you need to get away from these people?"

Kirou nodded. "I'm sorry..."

Hoto kissed the top of his head, " tis alright dearest," Hoto wish despertly for a horse, it would be rather convient way to leave

There was a neigh from behind them as a horse entered the clearing.

Hoto exherted all his his chi as he walked away from Kirou and towards the horse slowly, laying his hand on its side and smiled, turned back to Kirou, " Come on love, i think its time we left" with that he vaulted on the back of the horse and held his hand down to Kirou

Kirou accepted gratefuly.

Hoto half bowed from the back of the horse to the others, " until we meet again my friends, adou"

Cole looked at Erik coldly.  "He's your slave?" he asked.

Erik glared, hugging Nikita closely. "Nikita is my cherished companion," he snipped back. "His social satus is of no concern of yours!"

"Then why is he wearing a collar?" Cole asked disdainfully.

Nikita whimpered, taking one arm from around Erik to cover his neck.

Erik glared, moving his cloak to further hide Nikita. "Because my court is made up of idoits," he scowled at Cole.  "If I did not mark him as my own they would assume he was up for grabs."

Cole crossed his arms.  "You're not in your court now.  Why don't you take it off?"

"Nikita can remove it whenever he wishes," Erik retorted back.

"Does he know that?"

Nikita looked at Cole in distress and tried to hide farther against Erik.  "Nikita is Master's...."

Erik comforted the boy as best he could before glareing at Cole again. "Do not persume to know everything about a situation by only viewing from your own cultural standards," he said pointedly.

Cole's face twisted in disgust.  "Keeping someone enslaved is never good.  I've almost been made a slave more times than I can count.  Do you even care what happens to him?  Or just looking powerful?"

Nikita stopped whimpering to slide out of Erik's arms and stand protectively in front of him.  He growled softly.  "Leave Master alone," he snarled.

Cole looked startled.

Erik smiled kindly at the boy before turning a harder gaze at Cole. "You know nothing about the situation you are judging." He stated coldly, putting a hand on Nikita's shoulder.  "Nikita is my cherished companion...."

Nikita turned to look up at Erik worshipfully.

Cole looked mildly confused, eyes flicking between the two.  After a moment he turned to Astor.  "Wanna go find the others he mentioned?"