Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Sorcerer ❯ One-Shot

Sorcerer

Warnings: shounen ai, 5+13, angst, helps to read WS before this

Setting: Part of the Willing Slave timeline, after the Lagrange/Corazon war but before WS.

Disclaimers: Gundam Wing characters belong to Mixx Entertainment, Koichi Tokita, the SOTSU Agency, Sunrise, Kodansha and anyone I may have forgotten, not to me. I make no money off of this.

Other Info: Everything in italics are the lyrics to "Sorcerer" sung by Marilyn Martin on the movie soundtrack "Streets of Fire, A Rock and Roll Fable." Originally done by Stevie Nicks. © 1984 MCA Records, Inc. Big thanks to Anthy for finding the lyrics for me!

Children of the 80's, unite!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Sorcerer

Treize wiped his forehead with the back of his sleeve and wished once again that a few clouds would at least cross the sun and give them a modicum of shade. Glancing around, he noted that every other soldier appeared the same way, eyes downcast and gripping their canteens, as if the saddle bags weren't enough. He tugged on his horse's reins and dropped back a few steps until he rode beside his slave. "How are you feeling?" he asked softly.

Wufei raised his eyes but didn't release his hold on the saddle's pommel. "Well enough. Is it much further?"

Treize shook his head. "No, just a few more miles now. We'll be able to see the city soon." He leaned over and placed his hand on Wufei's cheek, adjusting until his palm fit around his slave's jaw. "Your fever's nearly gone."

Wufei, who tolerated the touch, nodded. "A little longer and I'll be close to normal again."

Treize gave him a polite smile as he drew back. "You aren't feeling faint? I'm afraid we've been pushing hard these last few leagues."

"Far be it for me to slow down the army," Wufei smirked. "No, I'm all right. In any case, you'd know if I collapsed. Nataku would screech up a storm."

The small dragon curled her emerald tail around his throat and chirped.

"You certain?"

I'm tired

Wufei hesitated before he answered. "I...am not used to riding these animals. I don't understand why they obey when we're so much smaller."

"Because we feed and care for them. Otherwise they'd buck us right off," Treize chuckled. "Are you afraid your horse will bolt?"

Wufei spared a quick glance at the rope tethering his horse's bridle to Treize's saddle. "Not really."

"If you'd feel safer riding in the wagon--" Treize started, but Wufei shook his head.

"No, this is better. At least the horse doesn't rock back and forth." His canteen bumped the back of his leg again. "And I don't have to pester anyone for water."

I'm thirsty

"How are you doing that?" Treize wondered, looking back at Wufei's hands. Each hand had silver mesh on the back, but the scars were still visible. "Are your hands mending?"

"Slowly," Wufei replied. "A few more weeks and I might be able to start fully using them again. But I can almost make them curl..."

"But then how are you drinking?"

I'm wild eyed In my misery

A faraway look entered Wufei's eyes, and a smile nearly showed itself before fading. "In Jiujiang, there is a spring fed by rains and snow year round. It coalesces at the foot of the mountain, trickling into a delicate waterfall. I merely bend space until some of that water falls from the air over me."

Treize nodded in both understanding and surprise. "All those times you were looking up, you were taking a drink? And I thought you were staring at the sky."

Wufei scoffed. "Staring at the big hot spot? My eyes would melt."

While they spoke, Nataku uncurled herself and climbed down Wufei's side, digging her claws into his clothing and ignoring his irate grumbling. She wrapped her tail around the canteen's top, lifting it up, and stuck her long snout into the narrow opening. After a few seconds, she replaced the top and crawled back up.

"Ah, so that's who the canteen is for," Treize laughed. "Clever little girl."

Timeless In your finery

Wufei turned his gaze back to the path ahead of them, but he watched his master from the corner of his eye, taking in the casual gestures and natural speech. Obviously Treize acted differently around him than everyone else. He fidgeted with the edges of his uniform, as if his military dress should be impeccable even in the harsh sun and sand. He relaxed his manners, discarding the cold and distant politeness reserved for his soldiers and becoming more human.

Wufei gazed at his hands again. Still little control, but the pain had gone. Silver sparkled over his skin in the sunlight. He sighed to himself. Silver and a horse, water, companionship, for one slave, while he knew there were dozens of prisoners of war behind the caravan, locked in chains as they rode or walked.

Instead his clothes were relatively clean, his body safe from those around him, and cared for by a tall captain absolutely resplendent in his blue and white uniform...with kind blue eyes and a soft hand marred by only a few rough spots borne from sword practice...

A high price For your luxury

The sun lay half concealed by the flat horizon, drenching most of the sky in thick black and the rest in dark violet. Regardless, the city amazed him. Much larger than Corazon, the city walls spread for miles until they faded out of sight, their dull monotony relieved by the simple giant of a gate. Stars, once easily visible, now faded in the combined glow of their torches. If he strained, he could barely make out human silhouettes along the top, some waving excitedly while others jumped down out of sight. A dull hum echoed from inside the walls, and the gate slowly opened, hinges groaning. The hum grew into a roar which only increased in volume as Lagrange inhabitants lined along the road and cheered. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and he looked up to see Treize sitting beside him, staring ahead.

"It's all right," the captain said softly. "The palace is not far in. Your dragon won't bolt?"

Wufei shuddered at the sight of so many people before him, many who had lost friends or family to the spells he himself had cast. "No...but I might."

Treize turned sharply, about to bind Wufei's hands to the pommel to prevent that, when he saw the anxious light in his slave's eyes and the light trembling running through his hands. He shook his head and lay his fingers beneath Wufei's chin, tilting the tan face towards his own. "You'll be fine. It's only loud and cramped." He lowered his hand and fingered the signet pinned to his sorcerer's shirt, a symbol of the geis the boy had willingly placed on himself. "Stay beside me. I won't let anything awful happen."

Wufei nodded and rode next to his master. The crowd passed by him in a slow blur, pale faces and dark cloths blending into each other much like the noise. Loud gasps followed him as people caught sight of the dragon around his throat and the lead to Treize's horse. Who was such a boy, they wondered, strong enough to befriend a dragon and still be a slave?

"You don't know everything," he whispered, wishing he could scream the words at them. "You weren't there. You know nothing about me."

Treize's hand, still on his shoulder, squeezed reassuringly. Wufei smiled bitterly. The one man who had defeated him, could have killed him with every right and reason, was the one guiding him. And the only one for whom he held any respect.

"Wufei," Treize called over the din. "Those fireworks you told me about before..."

He stared blankly, not understanding.

"Can you show them to me?"

He blinked again, this time in disbelief, but a surprised smile brushed over his lips, and he nodded once. His staff lay in Treize's personal wagon, and his hands were still weak, but he could still direct the magick if he concentrated on his spell.

"Guanglin, zhayao guangxian...," he whispered so only Treize and Nataku could hear. "Pingan huo...yanhuo!"1

A tingle ran down his arm and dissipated. Seconds later, white fire exploded in the air above the city, leaving a sparkling trail that vanished after it. Appreciative murmurs broke out until the thundrous boom reverberated across the city, making the people duck and gasp.

"Lu se," Wufei mouthed, and the next explosion, another sparkler, appeared in a jade green light. "Ju se. Hong se. Lan se." Orange. Red. Blue.

Once they realized their was no danger, the people merely covered their ears and watched the light show. Behind them, the soldiers nearly stopped marching, reminded to walk only by rough bumps from those behind.

Wufei felt an odd dizzyness in his head, and he blinked hard several times. Finally he rattled off the names of several colors, giving the crowd one last fiery round before slumping in his saddle. He felt an arm around his shoulders and gave Treize the slightest of smiles. "Good?"

Treize nodded with a much friendlier smile. "Beautiful."

Wufei was about to ask another question when he noticed that they hadn't needed to yell over the masses. He looked about and saw that everyone's gaze fell directly on him. Some whispered, some stood in awe, but everyone knew exactly what he was.

Sorcerer

Finally the palace came into view. Wufei gasped and involuntarily leaned closer to Treize, and wondered how he had managed not to see it until now. Surrounded by white walls, the palace gleamed even in the darkness. Servants stood at each window holding a torch or candle, illuminating the place like a colossal dollhouse. Heavy chains gradually lowered the drawbridge across the moat, and they rode across into the palace. Wufei glanced over his shoulder and watched as the rest of the troops were quietly shunted aside, probably to the stables and armory to stow their weapons before returning to their usual haunts.

Treize spotted his glance and nodded to himself. "I'm probably going to have a lot of drunk soldiers tomorrow morning."

"I would imagine they deserve a vacation, don't you?" asked a new, unnerving voice.

Wufei stared across the large room at an old man in a white robe. His eyes were covered with some strange round glass, but the shriveled gray arm hanging limply at his side immediately caught Wufei's attention. His first thought was necromancer, but the energy visible around the man indicated no death or pain. Only a strange shade of gray.

Beside him stood a young man, possibly his own age, wearing a dark green top with strange black half-leggings and yellow shoes. Cold blue eyes narrowed at him, as if examining the precise points he'd have to hit to kill him.

"I trust the reports were true," the older man said.

Treize nodded and dismounted, bowing once. "Yes, your majesty. Complete victory, and minimal losses."

"And my brother?" the other asked.

"Trowa has already been crowned king, Prince Heero," Treize answered. A servant rushed over and held his horse, and Treize put his hands around Wufei to gently help him down. He kept his arm around Wufei's shoulders. "And he owns Corazon's last prince without anyone else's knowledge."

"Owns?" Heero repeated. "He didn't kill him?"

The king cackled out a strange laugh that sent shivers down Wufei's spine. "The prince must be a pretty little thing. Trowa is a youngster, after all."

Wufei wanted to burn the king alive for that, but after the fireworks display, there was little left for even a lightning bolt. Nataku nuzzled his ear and chirped.

Heero gave the king a blank look, and the king merely sighed.

"You'll feel it sooner or later," he muttered. He took another look at Heero. "Mostly likely later."

"Who's he?" Heero asked, ignoring the slight.

For years Wufei had been part of a collective society. Being singled out only made him lower his gaze down to his hands. Yes, years before the scars healed.

"With your permission," Treize said, addressing the king, "he is my slave, Wufei, Corazon's sorcerer."

Heero breathed in sharply, his fists clenching as his eyes widened, but the king nodded his approval.

"I take it he's placed a geis on himself," the king asked.

Treize nodded once. "He's injured, though, and I'd like to get him settled in my room as soon as possible."

"He isn't in chains," Heero grumbled.

The king laughed again. "He is in chains stronger than any metal."

Wufei looked up at the king, at the knowing smile. The king stepped closer, and Wufei involuntarily pressed closer to Treize.

"You're the one who made that light display in the sky?"

Wufei nodded.

"Where are you from, originally? I don't recall Corazon's inhabitants being gold colored like lions."

It was the first he'd ever heard his coloring receiving a positive comment, and he felt his unease drop a few notches. "Jiujang, along the Yangtze river."

The king smiled in recognition. "Ah, yes, the mountain regions. Well, I'm afraid we have no mountains here. Only flatland. Captain, as soon as he is well, I'll expect him to begin duties as court sorcerer. The garden's been sorely neglected since our last one died."

"Yes, your majesty."

Without another word, the pair disappeared out one door, leaving Treize and Wufei to head to the baths.

Who is the master

"Must I do this?" Wufei whispered, staring at the deep pool.

Treize unclasped his top and folded it before setting it on the floor. "Of course. You can swim, yes?"

Wufei sighed. "Yes. Only..."

Treize spotted the light pink creeping onto Wufei's cheeks and turned away before the boy could notice his satisfied smile. "Oh, I think I forgot the towels. Undress and go in. I'll be right back." He stepped just outside the private room and waited at the curtained doorway, glancing at the mass of soldiers currently using the public baths. The towels had been left at the door by one of the many bath servants, but he only scooped them up and listened. Also sitting by the door, the little dragon lay nestled on her towels, which Treize decided she'd probably snitched from some unlucky soldier. She noticed his presence and flicked her tail, but otherwise ignored him.

A few seconds later, he heard a soft splash that meant Wufei had slipped into the water. He walked back in and set the towels down at the edge, still not looking in as he removed the rest of his clothing and lay it next to the crumpled mess of Wufei's clothing. Briefly wondering how the boy had managed to work them off, Treize knelt at the edge and slid in.

"The soaps should be near you," he said, still not turning. "Don't get any in your eyes, or it'll sting."

No response, but he did hear water moving around, so he only picked up his own soap and went to work.

Half a minute later, he peered over his shoulder, out of the corner of his eye, and saw Wufei at the farthest edge of the pool, his back to him, eyes shut. He'd lain his arms out over the edge to hold him up, but it seemed to Treize that his slave had drifted off.

Man and woman on a star stream

In the middle of a snow dream

"Looks like I will have to be the man in this marriage."

Wufei did not cringe at the mocking voice. Stars surrounded him, providing some light in the ghastly darkness. A terrible sense of loneliness chilled him, but he didn't shiver. His entire body felt numb, matching his mind.

"We do not have time for poetry and pretty stories! We must prepare to fight."

He remained dispassionate. No care of what was said, no rise in any emotion, filled his thoughts. Only cold. As if his heart had not only let go of its shame and guilt, but of any consideration of who spoke.

He turned, and snow shifted from his body, falling along the empty vacuum like stars. Even more snow cascaded from some unseen source onto his face and body, turning his eyes to ice.

"Betrothed to a scholar. Such dishonor."

He held his hands up, gathering the snow in his cupped palms, and watched it melt through his fingers despite their lack of heat. He smiled and shook his head. "I am not of your clan."

Sorcerer

A soft touch on his shoulder made him look up in time to feel more water dripping down his back. The soap's strange scent permeated the air around him, and long fingers stroked his skin even while they dragged a bit of soap with them.

"What are you doing?" Wufei breathed, eyelids still drooping.

"Your back, since your hands are still weak," Treize whispered just as soft. "Go back to sleep."

Wufei groaned and tried to push himself to one side. "No, it's all right. I'm not that tired."

"I won't hurt you," Treize promised. "Relax."

Unable to resist the simple command, Wufei resigned himself to firmly staring at the far wall. It would have been enough to hold his interest if he hadn't had a man's hands on him. Blue vines curled around white backgrounds on large tiles, ebony edging setting the colors apart. There were no pictures of humans or animals, only flowers and plants. Still, it was a far cry from the colorless walls of Wahea's palace.

Show me the high life

Wufei opened his mouth to ask a question, but then lowered his eyes and kept quiet.

"Wufei?"

He tilted his head to one side.

"Did you want something?" Treize asked.

"I just...is the rest of the palace like this?"

"What do you mean?"

Wufei waved one hand at the tiles. "These tiles. Is the rest of the palace covered in blue and white?"

"Mm-hmm." Treize paused, wondering if he should try it, then gently lay his hand on Wufei's hair and lathered the soaps up. "The outside, as well."

Wufei had the notion that he shouldn't enjoy the pressure of Treize's fingers, but his tired body only loosened even more. "Your king mentioned a garden..."

"The inner gardens," Treize nodded. "We've tried to tend it using normal methods, but that's only slowed the deterioration. The trees yielded less fruit in smaller crops, and the magick plants stopped growing at all."

"'Magick plants'?"

"The last sorcerer we had grew trees that bear gold and silver."

Wufei said nothing.

"The grapevines that gave jade grapes dried up first," Treize continued. "Then the ruby apple orchards, the silver pears...finally, everything just died."

"How...old...was this sorcerer?" Wufei asked, turning his head slightly.

"Oh, ancient," Treize sighed. "Coming to pieces, practically."

"Was he very experienced?"

Treize froze as the realization hit him. "I...I never even thought about it..." He looked down at Wufei, who stared back towards the wall. "He was experienced, but...you're not. How old are you?"

"Sixteen years..." Wufei whispered. "I'll be seventeen by the next new moon."

Treize put his hands on Wufei's shoulders and made him turn around, careful not to jerk him. "But those spells you were casting...lightning and fire and water..."

"All elemental," Wufei replied, careful not to let his gaze wander from Treize's face. "Nothing more than basic manipulation.

"And the stones flying across the room?"

Wufei shrugged. "Stones are elements, too."

"And plants?" Treize asked. "Aren't those elements, as well?"

Wufei winced and sighed. "Yes, but they're so much more complex. I've never done anything like that before, I'd never even heard about plants like that."

Treize brought his hands up to either side of Wufei's face, warming the cool skin. His slave made a strange little noise and his lips parted ever so slightly. "Doesn't mean you can't try. Simply because you've never done it before...doesn't mean you can't..."

Wufei put his hands on Treize's, but he couldn't hold them. The captain leaned down a little, then more, until his eyes were only inches from his slave's. When Wufei didn't try to break away, he pressed his mouth on the sorcerer's. It was a chaste kiss, he didn't try to force anything, and when he heard another little noise from his slave he calmly eased back and released him.

"Are you all right?"

Come over

Now Wufei couldn't control how he looked over Treize's body, pale and certainly not as wiry as his own but just as fit. He wondered what had come over him, and could not find an adequate answer. "I...yes...I think..."

"Perhaps we'd best go to bed," Treize said. "This will be easier when the sun is out, and we are well rested."

Wufei didn't question what "this" was or argue with that logic. He watched his master climb out and followed after, trying not to blush when Treize wrapped one towel around his waist for him. Instead of saying anything, Treize picked up both sets of clothing and sent them off with a servant, in exchange for two different colored robes.

"Normally slaves in the baths just put towels around themselves," Treize explained. "But I think it'd be best if you wore this."

Wufei took the black robe and slipped it on before dropping the towel. The hem drifted around his ankles while the sleeves ended at his wrists. He managed to tie the belt and knot it so the robe wouldn't fly open. In his blue robe, Treize was not nearly so prudish and tied it loosely so that part of his skin showed.

When they stepped out of the room, Treize left the towels on the floor while Nataku jumped onto Wufei's robe and climbed up to his shoulder.

The walk to the captain's room took them past dozens of soldiers and servants, and Wufei found himself pressing closer to Treize as people stared or openly leered at him. His master's arm fell over his shoulders, holding him against his side.

"It's all right. We're almost there."

"Wahea never had so many people in her palace," he whispered.

"She was fighting a losing battle," Treize said. "That tends to eat up the treasury. Ah, here we are." He placed his hand on the door and pushed it open. "It will feel so good to sleep in my own bed again."

And to Wufei's dismay, there was only one bed. Moonlight revealed the only other furniture: a table, chair, dresser, mirror, and the chest in the corner. So...unless Treize wanted him to sleep on the floor...

"We won't do anything," Treize told him, locking the door. "Not unless you want to. We both need some sleep."

Wufei nodded once and let out a tiny sigh of relief. "...thank you."

Treize lit one of the candles on the dresser and set it in a holder. "Just take off your robe and leave it on the table."

Thankful that the darkness hid any flush in his cheeks, the sorcerer waited to make sure Treize was focused on inspecting the contents of his dresser before letting the robe slip off. As soon as he could, he slipped into bed, inwardly groaning when he figured how narrow it was. Half a moment later, the taller man eased in behind him, doing an admirable job of keeping to one side in such a confined space.

"Goodnight," he murmured.

Wufei closed his eyes. "Good night."

Let me put you on ice

"It is no wonder you lost. You are weak."

Standing back in deep snow drifts, Wufei paid little if any attention to the hostile voices.

"You are impure."

"Perhaps if Meiran were a boy, you would seek your bride out."

"You are not of our clan."

Wufei smiled softly and knelt, brushing his fingertips through the cold snow. "No, I'm not."

"We are not sorcerers, Chang Wufei! We are warriors!"

"True." He willed the snow up into the air, swirling it around in little spirals. "But I am not of your clan."

"You were one of my finest students. I had thought you were obedient, respectful beyond your peers. And now I find you are practicing sorcery."

Wufei gave a sad laugh and let the snow fall to the ground again. "And kissing the man who defeated me."

"You could have told me, and saved me the dishonor of dying unmarried."

Wufei glanced to the side and found his bride to be standing to one side, hair and face bloody while her face had turned black with death. She floated over the snow, her trailing white dress never touching the surface.

"Meiran?"

Her round eyes lolled up at him. "My father could have chosen another. A real man, this time. Instead you let me die."

Wufei frowned and crossed his arms. "If I did you any dishonor, my acts were shadowed by your behavior. Women do not belong in battle."

"We must substitute for able warriors too preoccupied with flowery words and pretty boys."

Wufei cringed. "I fought in every battle, every practice session."

"To look at the other fighters."

"To defend the clan!"

"So defensive, Chang Wufei," she giggled. "Have I struck a nerve?"

He swallowed and turned his back on her. "Leave me alone. Go away."

"Nothing good has come of your scholarly studies, Chang Wufei."

He shook his head and sat down, all but vanishing in the snow drifts as they turned to sheets of ice. "That isn't my name. Go away. Just...go away..."

I'm tired

He opened his eyes and found himself cuddled against his master's chest and wrapped up in his warm arms. Afraid to move, he listened to Treize's light breathing and the beating of his heart. The captain didn't seem to be awake, and he wondered what time it was.

"Still dark," he sighed to himself. Still night, then. Or early morning, judging by the chill in the air. No wonder the two of them had curled together. A faint breeze blew over them and he shivered, snuggling even closer.

"Mm...are you awake?" came a quiet whisper.

Wufei nodded as he looked up into Treize's half-shut eyes. "Sorry."

"It's all right...you don't mind, do you?"

He shook his head and adjusted his head, pillowing it on his master's arm. "No...it's fine."

Treize chanced a small kiss on the boy's forehead and smiled when there was no negative response. "Nightmares?"

"One..."

"Go back to sleep," Treize mumbled, his eyes already closing. "You're safe here."

Wufei waited until the arm over his waist fell limp and lost its grip before closing his own eyes.

When I need you badly

Half asleep, Wufei grumbled as he tugged the blankets higher along his shoulder and felt a happy little rush that he could move his fingers a bit more. He put his arm out to drag himself a little closer to the warm body beside him, only there was no warm body. Patting the empty side of the bed, he blinked his eyes open and sat up, glancing around.

"Good morning," Treize smiled, in a much too cheerful mood in Wufei's opinion. "Sleep well?"

Wufei yawned and lay back. "I suppose." He watched Treize dress, putting on an outfit similar to what he'd worn the day before. He blinked. His own clothes had been whisked away to parts unknown by an unknown servant. Self conscious, he drew the blankets a bit farther across his lap.

"Your clothes should be here soon," Treize said. "I sent them up to our seamstress so she could make you a few more outfits."

"Oh..."

There was a knock on the door, and Treize opened it, revealing a servant with a bag. Treize took the package and set it on the table, pulling out several articles of clothing, all of it white save for a couple blue tank tops.

"Wow," the captain breathed, holding one up. "She's fast." He draped one set on the bed and placed the rest in their own dresser drawer. "Get dressed. I'm taking you to see the garden."

Wufei slowly placed the top on first and waited for Treize to busy himself with something before throwing his pants on as fast as possible with minimal use of his hands. He slid his feet into the soft shoes provided and stood up. Glancing around, he gasped as he spotted his staff propped up against the far wall, and he held his hand out, satisfied when it floated over and settled in his palm. It stayed put more out of sheer will than any ability to close his fingers.

Wild eyed

The movement caught Treize's attention, and he stared as the inanimate object moved obediently to its owner. Wufei rose, and now the only assurance Treize had that he wouldn't be fried by a bolt of lightning was the geis the sorcerer had placed on himself.

"Can...you do that with anything?" he stumbled out.

Wufei nodded once. "Almost anything. If it's too heavy, I can't move it."

Treize leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "What's too heavy?"

He frowned in thought. "Ah...I think the bed would be...maybe the table on an off day. Mostly handheld objects I can move. I could probably move the bed, I would just be worn out afterward."

The captain smiled. "Like moving a wall against your enemy?"

Wufei allowed himself a little smirk. "What are you complaining about? You dodged."

Treize slipped a sword belt on and opened the door. "After you."

They walked down the hallway, and to Wufei's delight there were less people around. Only servants and the occasional guard wandered the halls, and he decided the soldiers must have been sent back home already, or perhaps they weren't even awake yet. They went down a flight of stairs, then back along another hall. When Treize passed an open door leading to the outer gardens, however, Wufei nearly stopped. Only when he saw his master continue walking did he keep moving.

"Aren't the gardens outside?" he asked.

"Not these," Treize replied. "They're at the center of the palace."

"But how does the sun reach them?"

Treize sighed. "Yes, that's been one of the worst problems. They're supposed to grow without it, but with no sorcerer to facilitate, we tried using mirrors to route sunlight. I'm afraid that didn't work so well."

They came down a long hallway, and Treize stopped between two doors. Ignoring one, he opened the solidly white door and ushered in his slave.

Wufei paused at the door and made a sad little noise Treize couldn't quite decipher. He leaned his staff against the wall and stepped inside.

Perhaps once it was a garden, but now the large room only boasted cracking brown grass, gray trees and dried vines, with little mud puddles for ponds and a dusty path. The beautiful tile work along the walls only made the decay even more pathetic. Wufei dropped to one knee and took a handful of the dust, letting it sift through his half-benumbed fingers.

"What do you think, Nataku?"

She sniffed at it and chirped, giving the dust a disdainful nudge out of his hand.

"I thought so." He stood and looked at Treize. "The magick's gone out of it. Even normal gardens and wildlife have some energy keeping them going. How many years has your past sorcerer been dead?"

"Not years," Treize shook his head. "Only a few months."

Wufei frowned. "A few...but..." he glanced over his shoulder. "This is more than just a few months worth of entropy. Something must have accelerated the...what else is around this room?"

Treize shrugged. "Just a few storage rooms, and an armory."

Wufei's eyes widened in disbelief. "An armory?"

"Yes, so?"

"Full of swords and shields and arrows..."

"Of course. Why would that....oh...oh, I see," Treize gasped. "'Iron' swords and shields..."

"No wonder this place is so dead. Still..." He started walking, and Treize followed beside him. "There must be something here, a line or a font..."

"What?"

"A lay line," Wufei explained. "One of the currents of magick that flows along the surface of the earth. If the palace sits on one, I might be able to use that...somehow..."

"And what's a font?"

"Like a fountain, only it bubbles up magick. Sometimes they don't last that long, though." While they walked along the path, however, Wufei noticed something rather odd, and he looked around the room again. Acting on a hunch, he raised one hand and sent Nataku up into the air. They both watched her fly for several minutes until she dove back down and settled on Treize's shoulder.
"She really trusts you," Wufei commented. "I was right."

"Right about what?" Treize wondered, inching his head back from the dragon's displayed teeth. "Laid lines?"

"Lay lines," Wufei corrected. "No, none of those here. But the shape of the garden...it's circular. Your last sorcerer drew a spell with the garden itself."

"A spell?"

"To keep it growing. But without any tending...the characters faded...and it died."

"Can you bring it back?"

Wufei bit his lower lip. "I...I'm not sure. I could try, but..."

"Then try."

He stared at the massive amount of decaying vegetation and winced. "I would need silver. A lot of it. And later on emeralds and rubies and sapphires...and every other jewel you'd want to grow."

"Silver I think I can manage. Once you have the regular garden growing, I can get those stones."

"Then I think I can try." Taking his staff, he walked to the very edge of the room and let it float, causing the end to dig into the dirt. "The old characters are gone, but that's good since I don't know what language he used. I'll have to start all over."

Treize smiled. "How much silver?"

"About ten pounds."

Treize couldn't smother his chuckle. "That...is a lot?"

Wufei tilted his head. "Isn't it?"

"You're not in Wahea's palace anymore," Treize said, laughing openly now. "King J is extremely wealthy, even without his garden. I'll be right back. I might be able to get that much if I grab some from the palace silversmith." Leaving Wufei to his scribbling, he headed out of the room.

In the middle of your dream

When he came back, he nearly dropped his armload of silver.

Something, he couldn't tell what, crackled in the air, as if a bolt of lightning had only moments before dissipated into the air. That was a definite possibility, he decided, looking up at the ceiling where dark thunderclouds had impossibly gathered, flickering with light and rumbling with thunder.

"Wufei..." he whispered.

Already making his way back to the starting point, Wufei glanced up and smiled. "Oh, good. Place that in the center, please."

"How...how did you...?" Treize stuttered, unable to make himself move.

Wufei finished his writing and came to stand by Treize. "What's wrong?"

"Lightning storm...inside?"

"It's really an easy spell. It'll help move the magick around where I need it when I need it. Lightning's very good at carrying energy."

Treize gave a vague nod. "Oh...is it?"

Wufei followed his look and finally noticed how pale Treize had become. He lay one hand on his master's shoulder, forced to reach because of the captain's height. "It won't hurt you," he reassured him. "I control where it strikes..."

A flash of lightning zapped down right onto Nataku, who lay on the ground and soaked the energy up like a snack. The light faded, and she sat up, her forked tongue licking any remnants from her jaws.

"Well, most of the time," Wufei conceded. "But I promise she won't hurt you."

Treize gazed down at the sorcerer, amazed at what he could do, and allowed Wufei to guide him into the center of the huge mandala. "Just set it down in the little circle."

The captain saw the small circle and placed the pieces of silver he'd gathered inside, all the while keeping an eye on the storm overhead. "So...um...how are you going to do this?"

Wufei's eyes sparkled. "Life rain. Stand back."

Treize was only too happy to comply, retreating to the doorway.

The sorcerer stood over the silver, hands out as if he stood at a bonfire, and began whispering things that Treize couldn't hear. Above him, the clouds began to swirl and the thunder rumbled without benefit of lightning. Treize noticed whatever had made the air crackle before now only tripled in intensity. In the circle, the silver suddenly caught fire and roared into its own tornado, spiraling up into a firestorm that slowly grew taller than Wufei and continued on its way to the ceiling.

"Nataku, stand clear," Wufei ordered, and the dragon found her way to Treize's shoulder, where she poked her snout out from around his head.

"You're worried too?" Treize mumbled.

She only chirped.

Long seconds passed. Wufei stood only inches away from jets of flame that could have instantly incinerated him. Soon the whirlwind of fire stood only a few inches from the black clouds. With one last word, Wufei raised his hand, forcing the flames up into the darkness. From every spot of ground, lightning immediately shot up towards the clouds, moving slow enough for Treize to watch them fork out. An odd scent filled the air, and a faint breeze stirred the dust on the ground.

Without any warning, the clouds sucked the lightning in and pulled the fire up with it, along with every last breath of air in the room. For a moment, everything was utterly silent.

And then rain began to fall. Dust splattered into mud, but the scraped out marks remained no matter how much water flowed across them. Huge drops of water exploded on the ground, plowing the dirt up with its sheer weight, until finally the rain died down to a drizzle, and then stopped altogether.

Treize was about to step back into the room when Nataku bit and yanked at his hair, forcing him to stop. In the center of what was now a huge mud puddle, Wufei set his staff in the circle of what had been gleaming silver. Once he had the staff pointed straight up without any outside help, he backed away and nodded.

The remaining storm clouds coalesced into one great shadow and poured down into the staff as if fed by a funnel. Seconds later, even more lightning spread out from the staff and struck every inch of dirt, turning the mud black but not scorching it. The staff began to wobble with each bolt and gave out on the last hit, toppling to one side and landing in the mud.

Treize felt his heart skip as Wufei collapsed beside it. Nataku leaped from his shoulder, flying towards her companion, and the captain followed only steps behind. He knelt in the mud, ignoring the mess he was making of their clothes as he gathered his slave into his arms. He pushed the black hair from his face and held him close, listening for soft breathing. Once certain that Wufei was still alive, his proximity forced him to examine his slave up close, taking in every nuance and feature. The tawny skin, small mouth, long eyes...soft hair slipping against his hand...

Timeless

The moment ingrained itself on his memory, but all he could hear himself ask was "how?"

It's a mystery

All the way

Wufei woke up back in bed, the blankets up to this throat, his head settled on the soft pillow. He blinked and sat up, wondering how on earth he'd come back here. A breeze came in through the window, cooling his warm skin and letting him know he wasn't wearing anything. He looked around, but except for his dragon drowsing on the windowsill, the room was empty.

He swung one leg over the side of the bed, intending to get up, but a wave of vertigo pounded into his head, making him groan. "I probably couldn't dress myself now anyway," he grumbled, holding still.

Now it's never what you see

"I heard you brought back a slave, Treize."

Wufei froze as voices carried clearly into the room from the other side of the door.

All around Black ink darkness

"I'm surprised you didn't see when we came in."

"You forget, you left your second running things back here. I had to round up thirty drunk battalions and send them back home. So, what's she like?"

Who found the lady from the mountain

"Excuse me?"

"Yes, I heard it's a dark exotic from the far east. I'm sorry if I scared you off of men, Treize."

His master laughed, and Wufei wondered what he found so funny.

"Don't flatter yourself, Zechs, you are not the be all to end all of men. And no, my slave is not a girl. He is our new sorcerer."

"Oh, he's the one who soaked the garden room?"

I'm tired

Wufei sighed and lowered his head. Failed. All he'd done was make a muddy mess. Everyone had hoped he could bring magick and life back into that desolate garden, had expected great things even though he wasn't one of them. Hadn't expected him to fail because he was different.

And he'd failed. Had he drenched the entire floor outside the garden?

I'm thirsty

He felt he could use that water right now.

I'm wild eyed In my mystery

"Yes, he's the one. Impressive, isn't it?"

"I can't believe anything's sprouting in that waterlogged soil, but it's there."

Wufei's eyes widened. Not failed?

"Have the servants counted yet?"

"About twenty new shoots, but we can't tell what's growing yet. And grass is starting to poke through. I don't think he'll be able to make it all pop up overnight."

No, not failed at all! Wufei nearly danced for joy on the mattress until he heard his master's next words.

"Even if he can, I won't let him."

"What?"

"He's too tired from the trip here, and everything else's he's gone through. I shouldn't have taken him to the garden today, I should've let him rest."

"Poor kid. He must've thought we expected immediate results."

"He's a slave now, Zechs. He's powerful enough to destroy this palace and everyone in it, and he's my slave. He must feel awful right now."

"So when are you going to make him feel better?"

"I...not yet. Not until he wants it."

"Does he want it?"

"He let me kiss him."

"Maybe he was just afraid."

"That's what I'm afraid of. I don't want to hurt him thinking he's ready."

Timeless

In your finery

"So, has anyone made any offers for him yet?"

Treize gave a bitter laugh. "Oh, yes. Some of my soldiers are a bit too chatty. I've had half a dozen merchants already offering high prices."

"High? He's a sorcerer. I thought five hundred was the highest price possible."

"He's exotic, Zechs. From the east, although I have no earthly clue where this 'Jiujang' or 'Yangtze river' is. I just know it's a mountain village. One merchant offered three thousand when he heard that."

"Three...? He'd have to be a virgin for that."

Silence.

"Ah...how old is he?"

"Almost seventeen."

"Well, no wonder. Boys fetch higher prices. But isn't he a bit young for you?"

"I'm only twenty three!"

"Practically ancient."

"Zechs, how are the latrines? Do they need cleaning?"

"Sorry, sir, I think I hear my wife calling."

A high price For your luxury

Wufei looked up as Treize came into the room, chuckling to himself. The captain paused when he saw Wufei up, and the sorcerer gasped when he realized why, drawing his half-exposed body back up under the sheet.

Treize had forgotten how revealing those thin sheets actually were, but Wufei didn't notice and he certainly wouldn't say anything. "Were you listening long?"

His slave nodded once.

"It's all right, I don't mind," Treize said, closing the door. "You should be warned to stay on your guard. Those prices would tempt anyone to steal you--"

Wufei gave a tiny rueful smile. So that was the difference. People were kidnapped. Slaves were stolen.

"--and I don't want to lose you."

"Did you mean it?" he asked. "That you'll wait for me to be ready?"

Treize sat on the bed beside him. "Yes. Is...is there anything for me to wait for?"

"I don't know," he replied. "I think so."

"Then that's enough."

Wufei watched him lean back, and he noticed that Treize was wearing only the soft blue robe and shoes. "Are you all right? How long was I asleep?"

"Hmm?" Treize followed Wufei's glance down to his robe. "Oh, this. I'm afraid we both got covered in mud when you fell. It took awhile getting us cleaned up again, and I don't feel like dressing just yet. You've really only been asleep for a few hours."

Wufei sighed and slumped his shoulders. "I'm sorry. I didn't think that spell would take so much out of me." He smiled suddenly. "Are things really growing down there?"

Treize smiled with him. "Mm-hmm. It's looking much better, even though the walls are splattered with mud. All the servants are griping about how they'll have to scrub them down."

Wufei shook his head. "No, don't let them. The dirt will fall back in a little while, and I don't want anyone walking around on that mandala until it's grown over with grass and trees."

Treize's smile grew a little bit, and he leaned closer. "That reminds me...Prince Heero told me you have permission to take what you need from the treasury to start the magickal plants. He seems impressed with what you did."

"He did?"

Treize nodded. "Otherwise he'd never have spoken about it. He's very reserved." He stood up and stretched. "How're you feeling? Better?"

"Just a little sore. Why?"

"I thought we might go for a walk in the outside garden. The flowers are just starting to bloom, especially the cherry trees."

"My favorites..." Wufei whispered. He allowed himself a small smile and nodded. "Very well. But where are my clothes?"

"Being cleaned. I have another set here."

Wufei watched him get the white and blue outfit, then stood up and allowed Treize to help him dress. And this time, he didn't blush.

The End

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Author's notes:

1. I know I've screwed the translations again, but here it goes.

a. Guanglin, zhayao guangxian...pingan huo...yanhuo!

Welcome, explosive light...peaceful fire...fireworks!

b. lu se -- green

c. ju se -- orange

d. hong se -- red

e. lan se -- blue