Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Willing Slave ❯ Chapter 10

Part 10

"You should try to sleep," Treize whispered. "You're exhausted."

Wufei nodded, but he didn't close his eyes. "I...want to stay awake. I'm too nervous to sleep."

"I'm sure that will fade in a few minutes. Probably just all the excitement." He gave his slave a soft kiss and stood. Wufei's gaze followed Treize around the room, watching as the captain first put the crystal globe back in its little corner of the trunk and then brought the wash basin close to the bed. The sorcerer glanced away before Treize noticed his look.

"Good thing I keep this filled," Trieze said to himself. With one hand he undid the clasp at his throat and removed his outer shirt, tossing the uniform on the back of the chair. He dipped in a clean rag, wrung the excess moisture away, and lay the folded cloth on Wufei's forehead. He needs sleep. Oh, Wufei, you're burning up. "I knew tonight was going to be bad. I just knew it."

"We're alive, aren't we?"

"Barely." Treize yanked one of the pillows out from under Wufei so he could stretch out and lean back. "What were you doing with all those circles?"

Wufei pretended he didn't know Treize was taking his mind off the undead and explained. "The orange spell was Laoshi's, the white one was mine. His was supposed to let him send things to us and...bring things back. It didn't work right, though. His spell got caught in mine, so those...things...were acting on their own, not on command."

"What do you mean, 'bring things back'?"

"It was a transportation spell. If my circle hadn't been there, it could have expanded until it found its target, or until those things pushed the target in, and sent it to him."

"The target. It was you, wasn't it?" Treize wrapped his arms around Wufei, hugging him close. "I could've lost you..."

Wufei shook his head. "No, you'll never lose me."

Treize lay him back on the pillows, smoothing his loose hair back. "Was there anything else?"

Wufei shrugged and turned his head aside, staring at the far wall. "Not really."

"Wufei..." Treize started, dabbing the soaked cloth on his throat. "You're hiding something."

"N-no, I'm not..."

Treize set his hand on Wufei's jaw and forced him to look back up. "My love, I know when you're lying. It's obvious. And I don't like it."

"I don't...know...where to start."

Treize could see his slave's thoughts hovering in his eyes. "You mentioned that when the backlash hit you, for a moment you felt everything. What did you mean?"

Wufei tried to sit up to answer, but Treize anticipated the move and kept one pale hand splayed out on the darker chest. With a little grimace, Wufei relaxed again.

"I...I could feel the spell," he started. "It's intent, the way Laoshi formed it, the path it used...and...I could feel the prisoners."

"Go on," Treize nudged him, hiding his smile. Explaining magick is so calming to him...

"For a moment, I knew all their thoughts, every feeling they'd ever had, every emotion, every bit of knowledge...for one burst. I knew what their bodies were thinking when they woke up."

Without realizing it, Wufei edged closer to Treize, tilting his head toward the warm hand with the wet rag. Treize leaned over onto his side so his slave could snuggle against his chest. "But I thought their souls were gone at that point."

"They were."

"But bodies don't think."

Wufei laughed without any hint of humor. "They think, but they're not supposed to. Not like that." He smiled at Treize's confused expression. "You have two minds, love. Your head," he lay his fingertips on Treize's face, then moved them to his chest, "and your heart. Your thoughts and your body. Both of them combine to make you. You need both of them."

"And when we die?" Treize asked. "What then? Do we lose a mind?"

Wufei shook his head. "No. The body and mind become so tangled that, wherever they go after death, they go together. It's when..."

He faltered, and Treize hugged him close until Wufei continued speaking. When he did, Treize brought up another blanket and placed it behind the sorcerer, covering his back while keeping his arms free to hold his lover.

"It's when death is not natural, when something interferes, that things go wrong. The souls spoke in riddles because they could not help it, they had no body to anchor them to reality. They had no body's soul. That was kept in the flesh so it could be manipulated like a puppet."

"And when you severed the strings?"

"The body...the heart...was left to think...without the mind...without the body, the mind shred to ribbons. The body went insane and the soul died."

"Soul death?"

"As if they never existed in the first place." Wufei sniffled and buried his face in Treize's clothing. "But it doesn't feel like it."

"You mean something more than how awful that fight was," Treize murmured. "What did you see?"

"They...they were..." Wufei shook his head to himself. "They were taking bribes from Romefeller," he said, his voice suddenly stable. "Oz...isn't loyal, it only runs on their money. They'd only need a leader..."

"Wufei..."

His voice sped up, as if he couldn't control it. "It's Duke Dermail, that's who was paying them. War would be good for his weapons business..."

"Wufei--"

"He's not the real enemy, though, he's the pawn of something bigger, I don't know--"

"Wufei!"

The boy jumped in his arms, startled and frightened at once.

"Calm down." Treize didn't try to force anything out just yet. He rubbed his lover's back and arms, trying to warm the cold skin. The lithe body began to tremble as if in mortal danger. "Your safe, I'm here. It's all right." He whispered sweet platitudes, stroking the soft brown skin from the base of his neck down his spine until the bones disappeared. With numerous well placed kisses, the shaking diminished into quiet sobbing.

"There's something else..." he prodded, never raising his voice.

"No."

"Don't lie."

"I'm not."

"Tell me."

"But..."

"Tell me."

Wufei choked his tears back in a vain attempt at his usual impassive attitude. "They...were the ones. In Corazon."

"The ones?"

He nodded once, his head jerking down.

Treize closed his eyes. Failed him. Again. Swore I'd find them, kill them. "I'm sorry...I should have...but...that's...that's not all, is it?" he whispered in a ragged voice.

"Master..."

"Now I know you're hiding something else. You've said one thing, but you're still hiding something."

"I can't say..."

"Why not?"

"You won't love me."

Treize sat back, staring at Wufei in nothing less than shock. "What?"

Mourning the loss of the warm arms, Wufei only broke into a harsh crying jag. The captain rushed to wrap him back up again. "Why on earth would I stop loving you?"

Wufei mumbled something, but he couldn't hear.

"What?"

"...weak..."

One word, but it told Treize everything. He laughed once or twice, relieved in a strange, sorrowful way. Did it really boil back down to Wufei's fixation on strength?

"Ah, my wounded warrior," he whispered. "When are you going to realize that being hurt or sick is not weakness?"

"It is!" Wufei insisted, driving a nail through his own heart. "I'm worthless...unclean..."

"No," Treize shook his head and held Wufei closer so he couldn't even move. "No, you're not. You're strong, and powerful...you've kept this up for so long, no one else ever could. You're...you're so much better than everyone else..."

"The strong don't feel pain."

"Who taught you that lie?" Treize said. "The strong feel nothing but pain. You carry more than anyone else does, than anyone could...without complaint. No wonder it hurts."

"But it will hurt even more..."

"More?" Treize tried to look down into his eyes but all he saw was the loose black hair beneath his face. "What's..." he cursed under his breath. "The connection, it's hurting you?"

"Not...pain, but..."

"But what?" He edged back just enough to look into Wufei's eyes. "What does it feel like?"

"Like a cold hand," Wufei replied. "Around my heart."

"And when he dies?"

Wufei shook his head. "I'm not sure. His soul will...be wrenched out of mine...I've seen it happen before. Other sorcerers in the caravans...their masters would die and the broken connection...they would scream so loud their throats would bleed."

"Why didn't you tell me this before?" Treize gasped. "When Sally was here?"

Wufei wiped a batch of tears from his eyes. "I couldn't. J commanded me not to."

"Then why now?"

"Because he's dying. His geis is fading..."

*

Heero stared at the stone and chain in J's hand. A white gem lay embedded on a black chain, made into a necklace. "Jewelry?"

"Ah, you always were hard to impress," J smirked. "Well, it's not just one necklace, it's seven, all complete. I wanted to give you a powerful army of perfect soldiers, but I'm afraid this was all I had time to come up with. Seven elite warriors, although I must admit, one of them is the prototype and the last is a little more...aggressive...than the others."

"What?"

"Oh, that's right, you haven't seen yet." He moved back to the wall and opened one of the cabinets there, ignoring the shrieking creak as the hinges turned. "The Zero unlocks the weapons..."

Duo tried to get closer to Heero, but his prince stepped forward while Duo held back, hugging his arms around himself as if he were cold. Two wings of the cabinet extended out, revealing a handful of strange weapons.

A red whip. Two curved blades. A black pole. A crossbow. A silver pole. And oddest of all, two pairs of sword hilts without any blades.

"What are they?" he whispered.

"Wing," J said, stifling a cough as he picked up one of the hilts. "In Heero's hands, this will become a powerful sword, able to cut through anything with a holy light." He motioned at the other hilt. "The blue one is Tallgeese. The prototype. Same style, but not as strong. The two kamis together are Sandrock. If thrown, they return to the warrior. The crossbow is extremely heavy, as it carries a thousand arrows in a separate dimension. Once those are gone, a blade extends from the bottom to form a somewhat awkward knife. It's Heavyarms. These," he pointed at the poles, "are Deathscythe and Shelong. They are energy weapons fueled by magick, one is a scythe, the other a spear. And this," he pointed at the red whip. "That is Epyon, the last one. Very aggressive, but controllable."

He coughed again and shut the cabinet. "I'm afraid...you'll have to learn on your own." He passed by them, moving towards the door. "I won't be around to show you. But...no regrets."

Heero took Duo's hand and followed J out of the lab. To Duo's surprise, another door lay beneath the stairs, hidden in the shadows. J went in and Heero pulled his slave after, closing the door behind him. Duo looked around and frowned. This was no room for a king to stay. Nearly as small as the bolt hole he'd shared with Wufei, there was a plain bed with two guards standing in the corners. Upon closer inspection, he could see that they were asleep, heads bowed and snoring even though they were standing up.

Cool metal around his wrists broke him out of his thoughts. Duo backed into the wall in surprise as Heero finished locking familiar manacles around his hands, dragging his arms down with the heavy weight. "Heero, why are you--?"

"I have to," Heero growled. "Slaves must be chained before the king."

J laughed. "As if he needed his hands to hurt me." His chuckles turned into coughs, and he lay down on top of the blankets. "Heero, come here."

Maintaining a firm hold on Duo's chains, Heero edged beside the bed. "Yes?"

"Everything you need to know," J paused to take a deep breath, "is in my grimoire. Look inside, learn how to use your weapons. Choose your warriors carefully." He grimaced and clutched at his heart. "Damn...I knew it would hurt...but..."

*

Wufei cried out in pain, his back arching as he bit back tears. Treize sat up and gathered his slave into his arms. No matter how much he thrashed, the captain would not let his lover injure himself.

"Started," he hissed. "It's started." He yelped again and tried to kick backwards, but his legs tangled in the blankets. Confined by his master's body, all of his movements became small and tame.

"J's dying?" Treize asked

Wufei gave a quick nod and tensed. A cold sweat broke out, chilling his skin. Treize frowned. It wasn't just his skin, his entire body temperature seemed to be plummeting. Reluctantly letting go of Wufei for a moment, he grabbed the blanket and yanked it over the both of them.

"How long will it last?" he asked.

"...don' know..." Wufei screwed his eyes shut as a spasm of pain shot down his arms. He tried to curl up, but Treize forced him to lay still. Better that than suddenly stretching out and taking both of them off the bed. He settled for curling his fingers around Treize's and putting his other arm around the narrow waist, pressing close for much needed warmth. The cold hand around his heart constricted, and he screamed.

*

Duo looked up, frightened by the piercing yell from upstairs. "That was Wufei," he whispered.

"Brat..." J muttered, "...has it easy." His hand tightened on his chest, as if he feared his heart would explode. "Heero..." With an impatient curse he snatched the glasses from his eyes, revealing only whiteness. No pupils. "...don't underestimate Zero...it's strong...it will show you everything..."

"What do you mean?" Heero asked, leaning over him.

"It sees futures...but in the truth...it lies..." J coughed again and snapped his fingers, rousing the two soldiers who looked around in shock. "It will...control you...you must...master it..."

Another scream came from upstairs, followed by several more in rapid succession. Duo winced and ducked his head, scooting closer to Heero when the prince's arm fell on his shoulders. On the bed, J gasped and strained his hand so much the fingers began to dig into his skin. His heart slammed open and shut so hard everyone in the room could hear it.

"Stop holding on," Heero said. "It will only hurt more."

J stared at the prince. "Heero...I release...you..." He groaned and tightened his hand one last time, evoking another scream from the sorcerer. Blood dripped from the cuts his nails made in his own skin. "Lagrange is...yours."

The heartbeat stopped. His body shuddered once, then relaxed. The cold hand slipped aside and spilled a few red drops on the floor. Heero reached down and passed his hand over the dead king's face, closing the eyes. "You," he said to one guard, "bring the doctor and her assistant, with a few servants as witness. You stay here," he turned to the other guard. "Stay with him."

While the first guard ran upstairs, Heero turned and drew Duo before him, slowly leading him up the stairs. "Are you all right?"

Duo nodded with an unintelligible murmur. When they reached the top, Heero took a key out of his pants and unlocked the chains, dropping them for some servant to pick up.

"He'll be okay, right?" Duo asked.

"Wufei? Of course. The worst is over now. All that remains is the coronation and..." Heero looked up in dread. "I'm the king...I'm..."

"What's wrong?" Duo put his hands on Heero's shoulders. "Isn't that good?"

Heero just stared at him. "All these years, waiting for him to die...and now he...and I'm a king...I'm..." He blinked and shook his head. "Your hair's messy. I'd better brush it out."

Duo gave him a lopsided smile. "All right. Let's go back to our room." He took Heero's hand and tugged him along.

Halfway there Heero paused again. "My room...I'll have to take the center room now...the main bedroom..."

"Worry about it later," Duo advised. "Time enough in the morning."

"You're right..." The rest of the way back, he looked lost in his own palace.

*

After a few minutes passed without another scream or violent move, Treize lay one hand beneath Wufei's jaw and tilted his face up. The sorcerer's eyes were half shut and his breath was shallow, but he seemed fine now. "Wufei?"

"It's over," he breathed, a tiny smile appearing on his face. "He's gone."

"And the pain?"

"Pain's gone," Wufei said. "All gone." He took a deep breath and a relieved laugh escaped. "Feel a lot better, now, actually."

"Good," Treize grinned. "You're warming up." He brushed a few strands of hair from his slave's face, then picked up the soaked rag and began treating the fever again. "And you didn't hurt yourself."

"He let go," Wufei told him. "If he'd held on, it would have been worse, but...he let go." He took another breath and sat up, much to Treize's surprise. "Have you fed Nataku? I forgot all about her."

Treize gaped at him. "You were dying half a minute ago. How can you be so calm?"

Wufei's smile broadened. "I told you, the pain's gone. My magic is rebuilding. I feel better than I have in weeks. Now where is she?"

They looked around and spotted the little dragon on the table, her snout tucked into her tail as she slept. She seemed to notice the attention and cracked one eye at them, then puffed a bit of smoke and closed her eyes again.

"She's fine," Treize said. "And she has more sense than you do. Lay down!" He grabbed Wufei's shoulder and pulled him back into his arms.

"But I feel fine!"

"I don't!" Treize's ministrations with the rag turned rough. "I had to watch my love faint and cry and beg and scream and I couldn't do a damn thing about it! And now he wants to get up and pretend as if the entire thing didn't happen just because of his foolish notions about strength and pride...and...and..."

Wufei had the grace to look contrite. "I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you like that."

"Then hush and let me hold you," the captain ordered. "Maybe now we can get some rest. Aren't you just the least bit tired?"

"A little," he admitted. "My body's sore, but--"

"Then you just lay down and close your eyes. Tomorrow's going to be a hectic day."

Wufei sighed. "Meaning I'd better enjoy you while I can?"

"I'm afraid so. Tomorrow we have to plan the funeral, the coronation, the celebrations..."

"Can't you just make Zechs do it?" Wufei complained.

"Sorry. That's what happens when a king dies."

Wufei considered that thought, then shook his head. "No," he mumbled, adjusting his body so he fit neatly into Treize's grip. "I'm still glad J is gone." His master's hand came up and stroked his hair, making his eyes flutter. In another minute, he was fast asleep.

Treize tucked the blanket by his lover's throat and made a valiant attempt at getting comfortable on pillows he couldn't adjust for fear of waking Wufei. Finally he gave up and resigned himself to sleep in an awkward position. "So am I," he whispered.

*

Duo woke up with sunlight streaming in through the window and birds singing on the balcony. A few fluffy clouds dotted the sky, and he could hear the louder merchants in the market. With a muffled curse, he turned on his side and closed his eyes again.

"Still tired?"

Duo didn't have to look up to know that Heero was already out of bed. "Yes, very. How can you be up? Weren't we awake an hour ago?"

"No," Heero shook his head and stepped close to the bed. "You've been asleep for seven or eight hours now."

Duo cracked one eye open. "Really?"

"I let you sleep in."

Duo heaved a sigh. "So I have to get up now?"

Heero nodded.

"Fine," Duo groaned as he forced himself to sit upright. "I didn't wanna sleep anyway."

Heero smirked and tossed him a small bundle of clothing. "Don't worry, a bath should wake you up."

The slave picked up the clothing and the black towel that accompanied it. "More likely I'll feel even sleepier."

"Don't forget the hairbrush," Heero reminded him.

"Huh? Oh, right..." Eyes half shut, Duo scrounged around the table top and curled his fingers around the brush's hand, stuffing it into the clothing. "Got it."

"Mm, maybe it'd be best if I carried you to the baths," Heero smiled. "You might drift off in the hall."

Duo grinned. "Ha...got you to smile, at least." He held his hands out like a child waiting for a piggy back ride.

Heero bent and scooped his slave into his arms, making sure Duo placed his bundle on his lap and that the towels decently covered the right amount of skin. "I think you're getting spoiled."

Duo kissed Heero's cheek and settled against his shoulder, closing his eyes to drowse. "Is that bad?"

"Spoiled slaves have a reputation for being willful." Heero kicked the door shut and started down the hall, turning left.

Duo blinked and stared at him before allowing a little smile to creep over his face. "I thought a little willfulness was fun."

Heero glanced sideways at him, and his eyes darkened with something other than anger. "True...still, I could put you in chains and toy with you for awhile, just to be sure." Thoughts of a nude Duo in chains, his ankles hobbled, hands locked behind him and leashed to the bed, reminded Heero that he was only wearing a loose and rather revealing robe. He turned down another hall.

Duo frowned and stared ahead of them. "Where're we going? I don't recognize this place."

"It's just a different route to the baths," Heero answered. "I wanted to avoid seeing anyone."

"'Cause of...last night?" Duo asked, stopping himself just before he mentioned the old monarch's passing.

Heero nodded once. "Very few people know about the king's death," he said, switching subjects. "But I wouldn't be surprised if Wufei is all right now."

Duo groaned and lay his head back on his master's shoulder. "I guess that means more tutoring."

Heero smirked. "Yes, but I'll need you to do something for me before you start that. With J dead, the king's bed chambers are now mine. I need you to clean it out so the servants can bring our things in."

"You want everything out?"

Heero shook his head and turned another corner, finally at the baths. "No. Just the things you don't think we'd need. Quatre and Wufei will help you."

"Um...you don't think there'll be anything...you know..." Duo twisted his braid nervously. "Like in the lab?"

"I don't know," Heero answered. "But Wufei can handle just about anything." He hesitated. "So can you."

Duo stared at Heero, puzzled by the odd answer. Once they were inside the private bath and the door locked, Heero set his slave down on the edge of the pool and shoved the clothing to the side. He sat down and slipped into the water, then turned and put his hands on Duo's waist, helping him in after. Regardless of his prior experiences, Duo maintained a tight grip on Heero's arm until he felt his feet touch bottom.

"What do you mean?" Duo asked as he leaned on the tiled side.

Heero took a moment to reply, using a dripping wet hand to push some of his hair out of the way. "Duo, what do you think of Wufei?"

"Huh?" Blinking at the subject change, he narrowed his eyes. "What?"

"Is he a good person or a bad person?"

"Good," Duo said in a tone that implied that was obvious.

"Despite your religion's taboo on magick?"

Duo lowered his eyes, but he could still see himself in the pool's reflection. "I dunno...Sister said it was poison, and that poisoners shouldn't live...but he's not hurting anyone. Besides, he doesn't have much choice in the spells he casts."

"Then you don't think that magick is evil?" Heero asked.

Duo shrugged, unwilling to continue the conversation. "I...maybe it depends on how it's used."

That's not promising, Heero thought. "And Quatre's fortune-telling? I know you haven't had a chance to see him do it yet."

"How's he do it?" Duo asked, suddenly lively again. "Does he use cards? Down at the market, there's a woman who uses big cards with weird pictures on them, but she never let me look and she never let them out of her hands, so I couldn't snatch 'em. Or maybe dice, I've seen those--he doesn't sacrifice animals, does he? There was a beggar who said he'd seen a wizard cut up a lamb and look inside the guts--"

Heero clamped his hand over Duo's mouth, breaking off the nonstop flow. "Don't you ever need to take a breath?" he wondered. He felt Duo's lips purse into a kiss on his palm, and he lowered his hand as he moved closer.

"Only after a kiss," Duo grinned.

"Then let's give your voice a rest." He pressed Duo's body against the cold tile and put his arms on either side of him, blocking him in for a lingering kiss.

*

Treize paced back and forth in his room, occasionally pausing to look in his mirror and straighten his already impeccably straight uniform before resuming his pacing. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Wufei yawned and undid the first button on his long white coat. Sunlight streamed in through the window and made the room warmer than usual, and Wufei wondered how his master could stand wearing that uniform without showing any signs of discomfort.

"Must we wait here?" he asked. "I'm sure they could use our help."

Treize didn't even break step. "No, better to stay up here for now. If Oz sees me there, they might panic and try to run off. Zechs and Noin can handle it."

"Every single guard?" Wufei scoffed.

"And once again, my slave proves he wasn't listening to me," Treize griped, staring at him.

Wufei smirked and leaned down, letting the loosened coat expose a little skin. "I was a bit more intent on your lips than your words, love."

"Not now, Wufei. I can't be distracted right now. Too much is riding on this."

"Relax, you'll do fine." Wufei raised one arm and conjured up a tiny spark of light in his palm. "If any of those traitors tries to hurt you..." The spark flared into a shower of flames that exploded in all directions and vanished before they burnt anything.

"I'm counting on that," Treize said, halting his steps. "You'll have to be ready if they attack." His words trailed as Wufei smiled and gave a little, private laugh. There were few times that his slave unnerved him, but once in awhile he would be reminded that he'd brought a clever little mystery back from the war.

Wufei stood up and beckoned his master to the window, pointing at the walls that ran around the palace. "There, at the corner."

Treize followed his look. "What? I don't see anything."

Wufei chuckled and waved a hand at the plain white surface. A glimmer ran along the wall, reflecting the palace and the garden, then faded. "All the magick I need is already embedded in the rock, already structured. It only needs to be told what to do."

Treize gazed down at him. "In the wards?"

Wufei tilted his head. "Partly." He sat down on the window sill, extending his arm so he could hold Treize's hand. "Do you know where magick comes from?"

Treize sat down beside him and shook his head. "You told me once it isn't created or destroyed. Just transformed."

"That's true enough, but I never told you where it hides when it's not in use. Its resting place."

"Like...a grave?"

"No, not a grave," Wufei laughed. "Not that kind of resting place. It's like a fruit tree, actually. It bears magick, which is used, but then that magick immediately returns to the tree after it's done working. You can see the effects of magick just about everywhere, except few people know where to look. Even fewer know where the tree is."

Treize narrowed his eyes. "Are there more sorcerers in this city?"

Wufei blinked. "What?"

"You said magick's working everywhere. Who's using it?"

A light of recognition entered the sorcerer's eyes, and he grinned. "Oh...not sorcerers, love. Earth. The land itself uses magick, although not in such a contrived fashion as humans do. Earth does not need spells, only the raw magick. And it's spread through everything, all the rivers and oceans and mountains." He gave a wistful sigh. "All the mountains."

Treize lay his hand on Wufei's cheek, brushing the loose strands back. "You miss them, don't you?"

Wufei shrugged. "I grew up there, in the forests on the mountainsides. In the mornings, you could see mist over the tree tops and mossy rocks. You could hear the waterfalls if the day was clear." He covered Treize's hand with his own to hold it steady. "It's so flat here. Sometimes, though, when I look outside, I can imagine I can see them just because it's so flat. I can almost hear wind rushing through the crevices. But illusions fade, and I'm left with sand and dry wind and my...love."

He'd almost said master.

Someone knocked on the door, and Treize had his hand on the hilt before he stood up. "Yes, who is it?"

"Me," Noin called. "We've got most of the guards assembled in the training yard, sir."

Treize rushed across the room and threw open the door. "You left Zechs with that small army?"

"No, sir, Quatre's maganacs are standing with him, along with the guards we're sure are loyal. He sent me to tell you everything's ready."

Treize paused, then nodded once and turned to his slave. "All right. Let's go."

Wufei held his hand up, and his ebony staff leaning against the opposite wall jerked to attention and flew obediently into his grip. "Nataku, come."

From her comfy pillow, she looked up and puffed a bit of smoke. Still sleepy. You kept me up last night.

Wufei snorted. "And you didn't help with the pain."

Don't argue, she snapped. They're your stupid human customs, obeying people, letting them lock you up.

"Now, or I'll let you hunt for your food like a wild dragon."

Her scales fluttered on her back at the insinuation, but she flew to his shoulder and curled her tail almost painfully around his throat. Keep the insults up and I'll leave another dead mouse in your bed.

Wufei merely rolled his eyes and moved to stand beside Treize.

"Is she all right?" the master asked.

"Physically, at least." Wufei gave no hint of how dangerous baiting a dragon could be, especially when said dragon's sharp teeth lay not an inch from his face.

Noin backed away to let Treize take the lead, and Wufei followed just a step behind his master. After a minute he noticed that Treize's nervous rush and longer legs were giving him a sizeable lead, leaving Wufei farther and farther back. A tiny puff behind him told the sorcerer that Noin was also having a hard time keeping up. Instead of distracting Treize and mentioning it, however, he held his staff vertically as they walked. A few seconds later, his feet left the floor and he floated just a few inches off the ground, matching his master's pace.

"Show off," Noin breathed as she took a few quick steps to catch up.

Wufei held back his smirk.

Just ahead of them, Treize suddenly halted at the door leading to the courtyard. "Are you ready?" he asked.

They both nodded.

Without another word, Treize opened the door and stepped through.

*

Duo splashed his hands on the water's surface, trying to get a little water on his master behind him, but Heero had wrapped one arm around Duo's waist and trapped his arms against his sides. His other hand, meanwhile, lathered up the long hair swept in front of Duo, his fingers brushing his chest occasionally.

"Duo..."

Purple eyes tilted around to look into his. "Yes?"

"Do you remember when you first came here? What you said about the water?"

Duo shook his head. "No, not really."

Before he answered, Heero dipped him to the side so the water would soak the soap out. Duo's fingers dug into Heero's arms and nearly bruised the prince until he was brought back upright. Heero brushed his bangs back and let him hang onto the side of the pool.

"You said there wasn't enough water for anyone to bathe in. That it was all for drinking." Heero pushed himself out of the water and sat on the edge beside his slave. "Did you mean that?"

Some of Duo's cheerfulness subsided with his nod. "Uh-huh. We always got some at the church, but then when Father and Sister died, we had steal water jars from people's houses."

"But the rain reserves are still full, and the aqueducts bring in water from the ocean," Heero argued.

Duo looked up at him. "I always wondered how that worked. I mean, how many miles is that? All that work just to get it here, and then you gotta--"

"Later, Duo," Heero replied, laying his hand on the brown hair. "But why steal water? There are bath houses in all parts of Lagrange."

Duo frowned when he said that. "Well, yeah, but no one's allowed in them. You gotta pay to go in."

"Pay?" Heero repeated unbelieving. "Those are public houses!"

Certain his master's anger focused on him, Duo ducked down into the water until he was up to his chin, more worried about Heero's fists than slipping underwater. Heero noticed how his slave shied away and frowned, which only made Duo submerge until just his eyes showed. The prince eased back into the water and stretched his hands out towards Duo, who tensed as he came closer.

"Calm down," Heero snapped, irritated. He seized Duo's shoulders and pulled him against his own body. "I'm not angry at you."

Duo set his head on Heero's shoulder, but his muscles didn't relax and they both felt it.

"Duo...I promise, I won't ever hurt you again." Calling on sexual techniques he'd been taught years ago, he began tiny little kisses along the base of Duo's throat and worked slowly up to his jaw, moving to the back of his ear before coming back to his shoulder again. He paused to see if his ministrations were working, but Duo's body had loosened only a little.

"I won't hit you," Heero murmured. "You're safe with me." He set his hands on Duo's sides, just beneath his ribs, and lightly squeezed. Duo made an indecipherable sound and shuddered, and when he stopped, his muscles had relaxed a bit. Heero placed his fingers at the top of Duo's back and pressed firmly, drawing his fingertips down to the end of his spine. His slave groaned and arched into Heero's body, and his arms sagged as he relied more and more on Heero's strength to hold him above water.

"You're not angry?" Duo whispered, tentatively circling his arms around his master's waist.

"Not with you," Heero replied. "But those baths...they belong to the city. Everyone is supposed to have free access, that's part of why they pay the taxes. Do you know who keeps people out?"

Duo frowned in thought. "They look like the city guard. They're real big, and you can only get in with twenty denars. But sometimes, I've seen people try to get in, and then they charge a whole nari!"

"Do they make everyone pay?" Heero asked. If it's just the guards, then I need only change them out for uncorrupted--

"No. I've seen some go in for free, when there's someone else with them. It's usually some old guy with a beard. I used to keep an eye out 'cause his wallet was easy to snatch."

"Did you know their names?"

"I think the old guy's called Dermil, or something like that. Usually he'd be with some guy with a metal nose."

Heero furrowed his brow. "A metal...? You mean a prosthesis?"

Duo blinked, not recognizing the long word. "Um...like when it's cut off, and they put a fake one on. Like my friend Howard, he's got a fake tooth."

"Dermil?" Heero whispered to himself. "Duo, could the name have been Dermail?"

A light of recognition sparked in his lover's eyes. "Yeah, that's it! How'd you know?"

"He's supposed to supervise part of the city," Heero replied. "He's a duke, so he also funds part of our army. If he's turned traitor...this could be a lot more serious than just one faction..."

"You mean...war?" Duo murmured.

"Civil war," Heero clarified. "And if...the Bartons...damn...I can't do anything here just guessing." He idly ran his fingers through Duo's hair, not registering how the tension left his body. I haven't even told him what he can do yet, he complained. And it doesn't sound like he's going to take it too well. He sighed and closed his eyes. He could give him one more day of blissful ignorance before hitting him with that information.

"Heero?"

Heero opened his eyes.

"Are...are you ever gonna tell anyone about...last night?" Duo backed up a bit so he could look into Heero's face.

"Not yet. No one knows that I'm in control. I can use that." He took a deep breath. "Duo, I'm going to need your help."

His violet eyes widened and he grinned. "Anything you want."

"Come with me to the city. I've still got the Romafellers and the rest of the court here. Sneaking into their own little palaces now shouldn't be difficult, and I could find a lot more information there."

If it was possible, Duo's grin widened. "Really? Can I keep what I find?"

Heero smiled softly. He couldn't help it. "Yes, if I don't need it."

*

At first the abrupt burst of daylight overpowered Wufei's eyes, but following in his master's shadow, he had an excuse to keep his eyes low until they adjusted. He heard a communal gasp from the guards, most likely because of his unusual method of traveling. Coming to a halt beside Treize, he looked up and gave his own little gasp.

Half of the guard stood before them, Zechs in front without his mask. Wufei vaguely recalled that the fight in the dungeon had destroyed it, and he wondered if he should help create a new one. The soldier's eyes were so piercing and the hair so distracting that the mask actually made him less daunting.

Beside Zechs, a line of Quatre's Maganacs circled around the grouped guards, swords still in their hilts. Nevertheless, their sheer size intimidated most of those guards deemed loyal who had to stand with them to spread out their ranks. The head of the Maganacs towered over just about everyone else, and his sword was already halfway out of its hilt.

"Good to see you again, little one," he greeted Wufei.

The sorcerer smiled and tilted his head respectfully. "It's been awhile, Rashid."

Treize slowed his step until he stopped beside Zechs. "This all of them?"

Zechs shook his head. "No, we couldn't get some of the city guards, and I'm sure that they've run off by now. Most of the palace guard is trustworthy, but the real problem seems to be the newest recruits."

Treize nodded once and looked out over the circled crowd. "Has anyone told you why you've been gathered here?" he called out.

Some replied with a shake of their head, but most lowered their eyes or looked away.

"You are standing here," Treize continued, "because you are suspected of belonging to an organization called Oz! Oz has already made attempts on the lives of our prince and Queen Relena. Attempts have also been made to discredit those closest to them." He paused to take a deep breath. "Normally the penalty for associating with traitors and assassins is death. However, the prince, in his mercy, hasallowed me to extend a full pardon to any mercenary Oz agents who become true guards, without fear of losing their heads. All you must do is receive a geis. All the spell requires is that you swear loyalty to the king and our prince, exactly the same as every guard must take."

For a few seconds, nothing was said. Everyone scanned the suspected group, wondering if the mercenaries would take the offer. Zechs lay one hand on his hilt and started breathing shallow. The tension slowly rose. If something didn't happen soon, a fight could easily break out. Their worst fear would be anyone's desperate bid for escape.

"A full pardon?" one man finally asked, raising his eyes slightly.

Treize nodded, realizing with a start that he'd never have thought this man would be a traitor. "Yes. With full pay and privileges accorded to every guard."

The man, a blonde nearly as tall as Zechs, stepped forward. "I'll take the spell."

Before Treize could say anything, Wufei came close and brought out a strip of paper from some hidden pocket. Covered with a few black symbols, the paper was pressed to the man's heart.

Wufei stared into the man's eyes, noting the man's aversion to his presence and Nataku's grinning teeth. "Do you swear loyalty to our king and our prince, and all their decrees and decisions?"

The blonde nodded. "Yes."

The paper disappeared without any burst of light or lightning. It merely evaporated. Nataku darted her head out and licked up the remaining particles in the air, startling the new soldier.

"Was that so frightening?" Wufei smirked.

Treize smiled softly. "What's your name?"

"Walker, sir."

"Walker, join the circle." While the blonde merged with the rest of the guards and Maganacs, Treize looked back at the crowd. "Well, who's next?"

With the ice broken, a slow and steady line of men formed to take the spell. Not one mercenary lingered, and Treize realized that Zechs and Noin had done a very good job indeed of finding the Oz spies.

An hour later, Treize, his slave and his two officers headed back inside the palace, their muscles throbbing with dull pains. Noin leaned on Zechs, but he didn't shrug her away. Beside them, Wufei floated next to his master, eyes shut as he leaned on the staff. Treize kept one hand on his slave's waist, guiding him down the hall and away from corners and other people.

"I've never cast so many spells," Wufei grumbled. "Not one after another."

"At least you haven't fainted," Zechs said. "Yet."

Wufei narrowed his eyes at him before he understood he was being teased. "Treize, may I turn your second into a peacock?"

"Aw, that'd be cute," Noin said. "I'm sure Une could dig you some worms, dear."

"Perhaps you should be the bird," Zechs said.

"She doesn't have the hair for it," Wufei chuckled.

They passed into another empty hallway, and now the sounds of servants and guards bustling about were distant and faint. Zechs waited until he was positive that they were alone, then turned and put his hand on his captain's arm. "Treize, I didn't say anything before, but you called Heero 'prince.' One of my men on royal watch duty told me last night that King J di--"

"Quiet," Treize whispered, looking around. "Not here, it's too open. We have to discuss this somewhere private."

"The clearing in the garden," Wufei offered, not bothering to open his eyes. "It has a silence spell on it. No one will hear you outside of it."

"Silence spell?" Zechs wondered aloud. "What're you doing that you need to hide?"

Wufei shot him an irate glare. "Turning living things to stone. Or would you like everyone to know how to turn you into a big diamond statue?"

Zechs held one hand up to placate him. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to suggest anything."

"It's a good idea," Treize said. "Wufei, did Heero tell you--?"

"To help Duo in the bedchambers?" Wufei finished for him. "He did. Shall I go now?"

Treize nodded. "I'll see you in a few hours. Be careful." As he turned to leave, however, Treize turned back. "Wufei?"

The sorcerer glanced over his shoulder. "Yes?"

"Will anything in there turn me into a duck or a mouse or something?"

Wufei couldn't help his mischievous smile. "No, master. No spelled fruit today."

Zechs groaned. "Oh, that's reassuring."

TBC...

*

1. Exodus 22:18, the infamous "thou shalt not suffer a witch to live" line is not the original meaning and is a false translation.