Prince Of Tennis Fan Fiction ❯ The Clan Echizen ❯ Kaidoh's Journey ( Chapter 6 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

Kaidoh, Fuji and Momoshiro set out on a Journey to the GrakuenWelte, the land where the GrakuenKaizer and his demons are said to have been sealed...

* Bonus! Ryouma/Atobe goodness due to MAJOR lack of updating ^_^
Ryouma starts to get a hang of dealing with atobe and his 'moods'

Anime/Manga: Prince Of Tennis Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Adventure / Action | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 08.14.2005 | Pages: 23 | Words: 18.8K | Visits: 612 | Status: Completed

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Yea... I know. ^_^ thanks to all the reviewers! n_n

Pairings: Ryouma/Atobe.

Additional notes: Yes. It has taken me YEARS to update. I know. I've just got my new computer and am rummaging around for all the parts and pieces of this story that I've left fluttering around my house. I've currently misplaced my character list which had plot and stuff on it, so I'll just reread all the other chapters and decide if I want to continue on that train of thought. Sorry for taking so damned long, I'm just a lazy lazy person and it takes a while for me to become motivated.

Thanks again for all the reviews.

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Kaidoh was searching for the key.

The Key was something that the Kaidoh family had left hidden in the great Library of the Echizen clan with care, in preparation for the day that Atobe Keigo returned from the dimensional hell they had imprisoned him in.

This `key' was literally spiritual energy that would unlock the power of the High Priest in the place where the GrakuenKaizer had been sealed.

The reason for this particular spot was simple; it was the final resting place of Hazuka Kaidoh.

Once a soul had departed from the earth, it was said to remain in a physical essence in the particular place where it died. Thus, Kaidoh would have to retrieve the key and journey far out into the countryside (that had now been renamed `the GraukenWelte' due to its long thought departed owner) to claim this strength. This place was said to have a guardian settled into the very land itself; a guardian that would only allow one of Kaidoh's ancestry to pass by.

Without the key, the trip would be useless.

And Kaidoh was beginning to get frustrated.

He had been searching through the library for over two days in an attempt to locate the correct book that would give him not only the key but the location of the GraukenWelte. So far, he had found nothing.

This was not unexpected.

It had been generations since anyone had thought to search the library to find this particular book.

Once Hazuka had died, sealing in the GrakuenKaizer, none had thought to continue with his work. Even Fuji-Sensei had kept away from the information, as if waiting desperately for the curse that had been cast on him to simply vanish of its own accord.

Perhaps was all he had to guess now.

Perhaps.

Perhaps it was located in this particular library.

Kaidoh was uncertain. There had been many rumours set in the Kaidoh family since Hazuka's death. Some told tales of a lesser demon stealing into the castle at nightfall and pilfering the precious information away. Others thought that the original Library had been burned down soon after the birth of Hazuka's daughter.

Whatever the case, Kaidoh knew that it was his duty now to search out and subdue the GrakuenKaizer so that he could either be destroyed or sealed away again. He would give his own flesh if necessary to bring the world back to the peace it had endured since the first sealing.

Yet he knew that he was not alone in this task. Fuji-Sensei and Momoshiro would certainly be along for the ride once he located the key.

Kaidoh frowned and shook his head. He slammed the book down on the shelf he had drawn it from.

“Damn time itself for misplacing something of such importance.” He muttered to himself with a hiss.

Echizen-San was the most important thing in his life; the boy was close to his heart. He would not rest until he had freed Echizen-San from the GrakuenKaizer's filthy grasp.

Clenching his fists, turned to look back up at the ceiling; this was the very spot where Echizen-San had been kidnapped. He knew not why he kept returning to this place unconsciously.

The book Echizen-San had been returning to the shelves was still on the ground where it had fallen, lying uncared for on the dusty marble floor.

He knelt and retrieved the book, running his fingers over the spine.

`A History of Foliage and its many uses' he read aloud to no one in particular.

A black tree was embossed on the cover, surrounded in a serpent.

Wait…

This was familiar for some reason.

He leaned down and lifted up his pant leg, peering at his ankle.

His clan's Tattoo was engraved there, detailing a painful reminder of his fate and the clan's history.

It was the same image that appeared on the cover of the book.

Foliage?

Hm….

He held the book up the dim light that was cascading in through the dull and mould infested windows from the abandoned courtyard.

The lettering on the book began to glow a feverish green.

Shocked, Kaidoh almost dropped the book, but he kept hold as he felt the green glow descend from the book down to his ankle in a spiralling snake. The Tattoo burned fiercely for a moment; then the throbbing energy vanished as quickly as it had come.

Curious, Kaidoh flipped open the book.

The words inside had transcribed themselves into something that he had not read since his coming of age.

This book was written for a sage to read; written exactly as the great Hazuka had written a millennium ago, months before his own fate was sealed.

Kaidoh ran a finger down the lines of words, working out the translations in his head faster then he had ever imagined possible of him.

Thought it had been years since his studies of this perplexing language, he was reading it as if it were the same language he spoke every day.

A smile crept across his face.

According to the first pages of the book, there was another person in the castle that had withstood the grains of time perfectly. Someone that had asked to be enchanted with everlasting life in exchange for eternal servitude to the Echizen Clan…

Someone that had done this deed out of love for not only the clan, but for a cursed changeling boy… one that would fight forever to destroy the demon inside him if only the seal were to remain on the GrakuenKaizer and his fellow demons…

“Tezuka-Sensei… I should have known.” Kaidoh muttered to himself. He closed the book and turned around.

Tezuka slipped silently out from behind the bookshelves nearest Kaidoh.

“Ah, I see that you know what has been going on then? I knew that it was time, but I was unsure whether you had embraced your duty as the high priests heir.” Tezuka said softly.

Kaidoh frowned, but tried to keep the confusion from his face.

Tezuka read through him with no problems.

He leaned against the bookshelf, sighing to himself before crossing his arms.

“You are not quite ready for this task I fear. You are not a full blooded Kaidoh; Generations have thinned the blood into the form it is now… this is what time does to humans without their consent. There is not much that I can do now to help improve the bloodline of your clan. I tried for centuries to keep the blood from being mixed too much, but I fear that I have not done a satisfactory job. You are of the strongest blood out of all of your family, Kaoru; I wish it wasn't so.” Tezuka held his hand out for the book and Kaidoh handed it over without a fuss.

Tezuka flipped it open to a page he had obviously committed to memory.

“The strongest of my blood is to cast themselves prostrate before the feet of their master. They will give forth new light and strength to the Echizen Clan with their sacrifice; yet this in itself will not stop the GrakuenKaizer exploits. I, Hazuka Kaidoh am thus telling you to come to me. Come to my final resting place if you know of it and I shall give you the strength you seek. I shall give you the very essence of my being that sealed the great evil away. If you wish to do this deed, you must only bring the key and the seal with you.”

Tezuka closed the book and handed it back to Kaidoh.

“Hazuka was a close friend of mine. He was like a brother to me, so I know that what he speaks here in this book is the truth. If you wish to help Echizen-San, then you must do this painful and unspeakable thing. A mergence if you will, with the very power of a high priest…”

“ but what Hazuka does not mention in this text, is that the very monsters he sealed away will never truly be the same as they were the day they were sealed away. The only way to know the full extent of their power is to head to the GrakuenWelte and search for the trace remainders of the demons - if they have truly escaped unscathed, then there will be no traces of them left behind other then a sparse amount of residual energy. I myself to not have the power to tell if that blood washed seal has been opened again; it is up to you to judge what has happened and to act as you see fit. I shall arrange this trip with the Nanjiroh; you may take whoever you with you… I will remain here and guard the family as I have done for generations.”

Kaidoh let out a sigh.

“Why is it that this demon even came to be? What could have possibly made it break free now of all times?” He asked, looking Tezuka in the eyes.

Tezuka laughed darkly.

“Echizen-San of course.”

Kaidoh raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“What do you mean? Echizen-San didn't exist when this demon did! So why does it target him now?” He asked, slamming his fist against the bookcase so hard that a cloud of dust was cast up into the sky.

He coughed, shielding his face.

Tezuka scowled.

“Things in this world are mirrored in the hellish world that those monsters were banished to. They can see anything that happens in this world - it is their ultimate punishment. To see and hear things of the living world, but never to touch them…”

Kaidoh shook his head, raising a fist to strike at the bookshelf for lack of a better target.

“That is not punishment enough for what that monster is doing to Echizen-san.” He snarled.

The aggression inside him that had been building up ever since Echizen-San had been stolen from his burst forth in one movement. The moment his fist collided with the aged wood of the shelf it shattered, cracking down the side. Books flew up into the air and scattered around the room in a cloud of dust and wood chips.

Kaidoh stared at his fist; it was bloodied and splinters were poking out of his knuckles.

Tezuka sighed.

“Do learn to control that strength of yours before you cause real damage to something.”

He turned and began to slide out of the room, but tossed one last piece of advice over his shoulder as he went.

“If you do happen to run into the GrakuenKaizer or any of his associates, don't show attack them blindly - it would be in your best interests to simply observe them from someplace safe until you are sure that you can take them on. A true Priest Knight knows when to let things be.”

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It was just before sunrise that Kaidoh departed, with a group chosen specially by Tezuka, to the GrakuenWelte.

Fuji-Sensei and Momoshiro were to travel with him to the deathly land; from that despicable place there would be no turning back. If they survived inside the lands of the demons, it would be Kaidoh's time to plan what to do next. Tezuka-Sensei told them that the Echizen clan army would be ready to strike when the time was right; he bid them farewell and slipped back inside the gates as they started their horses at a slow trot.

Fuji-Sensei's demonic appearance had faded away since the two bodyguards had first seen it; he was riding silently along side Momo, bow over one shoulder, ready to snipe anything that got into their path.

This did nothing to ease the tension flowing between Momo and Kaidoh.

The pair had been at each others throats ever since Kaidoh had let slip that Tezuka was sending them to a place where it was unlikely that any of them would survive.

Kaidoh found it quite within his powers to drown out Momo's incessant grumbling about `not wanting to die at such a young age' and `how he was going to find some way to get Echizen back from the villain that Kaidoh had allowed to steal him away.'

The chatter did not seem to bother Fuji-Sensei, who seemed both observant and amused by the scenery they were traveling in.

The wood had just begun to vanish into fields of the most brilliantly golden wheat; they could see a few shacks made to house the workers that were running in the harvest in the sea of wheat.

The wind began to pick up the stray grains, blowing them through the air to seed other fields where other workers would be labouring.

The sun was nothing compared to those glimmering stalks of wheat; they seemed to outshine everything on the road.

Even the horses that the three were riding seemed to be in awe of the stalks.

Yet as they continued to journey, the ground began to become darker and less golden.

The stalks were changing into shorter and shorter stalks, blackening and withering with grey green algae clinging to their shafts.

It was now that the soft but stern look on Fuji-Sensei's face began to change to that of disgust.

Kaidoh pulled the reigns on his horse tighter to him, almost as if his hands were afraid of loosing them to the greasy ground beneath the hooves. He could smell the sulphur of the swamp up ahead and inwardly cringed against it.

Mangrove plants were beginning to grow from the ground, their large roots pulling up into the sky where their trunks were just starting to grow.

Ravens began to caw every so often, their soft song eerily vicious in the distance; even they would not venture this far north from the borders of man.

The sun began to dip down below the horizon.

It seemed that they had been journeying for only a few minutes, yet already the day had been defeated by the cold pale moon.

The senseless bickering between Kaidoh and Momo had dropped off into a dull whisper at best. They had sunk into a tomblike silence upon sight of a dead horse sticking up from the swamps gargantuan depths like a white flag of surrender.

The empty eye sockets glared at them as if saying `head back', but still they continued to journey.

“Should we set up camp sometime soon?” Momo asked softly, careful to keep his voice just above a whisper.

Fuji-Sensei shook his head.

“There is no place here that is safe enough to set camp; we shall travel by nightfall until we reach the hills of the Welte, and if those too haven't been swallowed up by this sin filled swamp, maybe we shall rest there.” Fuji said eyes half opened.

“What happened here…?” Momo asked, reaching down to touch the reeds that were growing up alongside the banks of the swamp as if to pull in the rest of the land.

Fuji-Sensei reacted before his fingers could even graze the reeds, grabbing Momo's hand.

“ The reeds and plant life here is poisonous and has been since the war; something the magic's of our armies and the demons when combined in battle left it this way. It is a sign that mortals should not dwell long here - so keep your hands to your self while you are here. I don't want to have to stop and administer the medications that Inui-San gave me.”

The three gave a unified shudder and pulled their reigns up closer to their chests.

“There is no doubt that the antidote would taste horrible.” Momo grumbled to himself.

Fuji-Sensei grinned.

“I've tried it once. It was quite delightful… well the after taste wasn't. But the first sip was excellent.”

Kaidoh prayed to whatever gods existed that he would not have to taste something that Fuji-Sensei found `delightful except for the after taste'.

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Morning broke not a moment too soon.

The night had left chills running down Kaidoh's spine.

He had never felt anything quite so revolted before ever in his life.

If this swamp was what magic could do to the earth if used against magic, he hoped to never have to contribute to it.

The landscape had begun to change again.

Dark foreboding mountains began to lurk from the horizon before them, and now even Fuji-Sensei was starting to shiver.

“That,” he pointed to the mountains whose peaks were starting to branch out as if they were trees, “is the mountain home of the wind demons. It is Kirihara's last place of residence, though I am hopeful that he is not there at the moment. I doubt that the GrakuenKaizer would release such a troublesome monster without dually considering the consequences. Even he wouldn't dare to release something so vile upon this world.”

Momo let out a long sigh and waved a hand to the mountain, as if shooing it away.

“And why do you think that this GrakuenKaizer would care about releasing something troublesome? He supposedly tried to take over the world with an army of demons before; why would he stop and worry now?”

Fuji-sensei smiled, a curved fang poking down over his bottom lip.

“Because my dear Momo, even the GrakuenKaizer fears the thing that created him; its human nature”

Momo's eyes widened.

He gaped at Fuji-Sensei for a second, unable to comprehend the situation fully. He sent a plaintive look to Kaidoh, who was showing the same signs of disbelief.

“What do you mean - the thing that created him?! But I thought he created himself - “

Fuji-Sensei shook his head and drew the reigns up, striking at the horse with one hand to make it move faster

“This land is cursed Momoshiro, don't you understand that? My own curse is tied to this land like a chain through the heart. The longer I stay on this road… the shorter time I have keeping myself from killing you…” He let out a fiendish grin, licking his lips.

His eyes went a deep crimson red - the fingers clutching the reigns began to tear apart, trickles of blood flowing down the leather straps. A trail of scarlet trickled down the side of the horses flank, pausing to pool a little there before it continued to drop down to the ground.

Kaidoh snapped the reigns on his own horse, looking to Momo to make sure that he had done the same.

“Hurry you fools - “Fuji-Sensei began to cackle.

“I know with my heart that my flesh will not hold onto this mind for much longer - if we can just get to the mountains... If we can get to the barrier something can be done that will keep my mind tied to my flesh!”

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The horses tore up the rocky pathway, gliding past the branches and branches of mountain that were reaching up to the heavens.

As soon as the hooves on the domesticated beasts touched the coarse ground, there was a change from calm to wind in their demeanour -

Unearthly shrieks began to wail from the very walls themselves -

Kaidoh snapped the reigns harder, pushing on forward until he had pulled ahead of Fuji-Sensei.

He could see it-

A place just above them…

The place where a seal burned so brilliantly, it seemed to light up the sky by overpowering the moon.

Before he realized what he was doing, Kaidoh had pulled himself up into a standing position on top of the horse, balanced precariously. He clasped his hands together and looked up at the glowing seal.

“Here the call - I call for the guardian to assist! If you can hear me, Guardian of Guardians, allow us passage into the GrakuenWelte before it is too late for our party.”

At once there was a shimmering in the road -

The pathway began to melt, pulling everything down into it.

The horses whinnied in fear, rearing up -

Yet the road continued to rise, a brilliant glimmering liquid that enveloped everything in its path.

Kaidoh turned in time to see Momoshiro and Fuji-Sensei being pulled down by hands of silver and screamed out their names -

He blinked.

He was standing alone on the pathway where he had first called out for the Guardian to assist him.

There standing before him was a tall man with long white robes and a staff with a cloverleaf head; two ring held in the top leaf and one each to the remaining two loops.

The man tapped the staff once on the ground.

The jingling of metal made it seem as if Kaidoh had been slapped across the face.

He drew himself up, reaching for his sword and found that there was nothing at his side.

“So, you have finally come to the mountain, hm?” the stranger said softly. It seemed as if a great burden to even speak those words, he fell silent and it was as if his lips had not even moved.

Kaidoh charged defiantly at the man, aiming with his fists to strike however he could -

The man waved the staff and at once Kaidoh was frozen, unable to move.

He stared with furious and terrified eyes at the figure; sure that he had failed his friends and family -

He begged them to forgive him for his weaknesses -

“Cease your childishness and listen to what I have to say.” The man growled.

“I am Sanada, Guardian of the sealed lands of Welte. You have brought others with you that are trespassing on this land and I wished them to be sent away from this place- worry not, for they are only being sent to the borderline between the Welte and the untarnished lands of our world.”

Kaidoh remained expressionless.

“You… You are the Guardian of the seal?” He asked, almost timid. This was perhaps the first time that anyone had intimidated him so easily.

Sanada nodded and waved with one hand toward the seal.

“You have brought Fuji here to this cursed place. I ask why?”

Kaidoh gathered his strength.

“My friends and I feared that the GrakuenKaizer had been freed from his prison - we wish only to seal him back away to where he cannot harm another living soul. Fuji-Sensei needs something to tie his mind to his flesh before the curse overtakes his body.” He said with a hiss.

Sanada raised an eyebrow.

“Oh? You wish to know the status of the GrakuenKaizer and his minions? A noble task, but thankfully not impossible. As for Fuji, your mere presence once the question you seek to answer is answered will be enough to bind him back to his self.” He turned and began to walk up the path, gesturing for Kaidoh to follow him.

“This way then… I promise you the information you seek will not take long to retrieve.”

Kaidoh breathed in and suddenly it felt as if a warm honey had been poured all over his limbs. He stretched his muscles, pulling himself from the spell with ease.

Dutifully, he followed figure, hoping that it would lead him on the correct path.

The light was more beautiful as the approached it.

Kaidoh felt as if something warm and wet had been pressed against him.

He could feel the very movement of the energy flowing toward and away from him, like a river lulling against its banks.

Sanada stood before the light and tapped on it three times.

There was at once a flash of light, and Kaidoh was forced to hold his hands up before his face to shield his eyes.

When the light died down, he pulled back his hands.

What he saw horrified him beyond all belief.

There, imprisoned in two large crystals was the GrakuenKaizer; or at least what he had once been.

The being was twisted and wretched in appearance. Its back had sprouted a pair of hideous spikes while its head remained contorted with an agonized expression swamping over the cold scaled face. It limbs were grotesquely stretched out before it to a proportion unsuitable for anything human. Its fingers ended in the largest claws Kaidoh had ever seen on something living.

The flesh was a greenish brown in colour and appeared to be burnt in places; it had both hand held outstretched to the heavens, as if calling for divine intervention, but had clearly received none.

This beast was surrounded in a thousand smaller beings with much more `beauty' present.

These creatures were human in appearance, eyes and mouths opened in protest. It was as if time itself had simply frozen over.

Kaidoh gaped at the creatures, backing up out of fear.

Was this the final battle of the GrakuenKaizer and the Echizen clan being held in limbo?

With a turn of his head he saw the scattered remains of human soldiers cast alongside the crystals. A skull grinned up at him with empty eye sockets.

He gasped.

Sanada seemed uncaring.

“As you can see, there is nothing out of place with the GrakuenKaizer or his minions.”

Kaidoh frowned, using the expression to keep himself from shivering in fright.

“And Kirihara? Where is he?” he asked sternly.

Sanada frowned and peered deep into the contorted mess of bodies.

“His flesh remains here - “Sanada pointed to a small somewhat comical demon perched on one of the GrakuenKaizer's large ungainly feet. The creature had large oval eyes with horns poking out of the top of his head, mouth down turned into a frown.

Kaidoh was not convinced.

“Then who has kidnapped Echizen-San?” he snapped.

Sanada laughed, the sound was meant to be reassuring, but failed miserably.

“Have you tried searching with the other countries that are feuding with your nation? Surely you are not expecting a DEMON to have escaped from this place?”

“Tezuka-San told me that this was so; that the demons had escaped.” Kaidoh growled.

“And you believed him? One that has no strength or priests powers at his command?” Sanada shook his head and clicked his tongue.

“My dear boy, has it not occurred to you that there is great rivalry between Tezuka and the GrakuenKaizer? He would do anything to get a second chance to destroy the beast with his own hands to avenge the thing he loves.”

Kaidoh shook his head.

“I trust Tezuka-San. I know that he would not simply be lying to get another chance to beat the GrakuenKaizer down. It is Fuji-Sensei's curse that also leads me to believe that we are being fooled by that man and his minions.” He said.

Sanada frowned.

“You believe that that fiend has found a way to break apart from the flesh of his that is bound here? Come now Kaoru! You are not thinking seriously; Things such as kidnapping a child of an important family is much too inferior for Atobe. He would never stoop so low to simply satisfy a meagre petty anger.”

“But the villagers have seen Kirihara - “Kaidoh protested angrily.

Sanada cut him off.

“Villagers do not even know what Kirihara looks like. All documentation of the wind demon clan has been burned to the ground the moment they were destroyed. Anything that they claim to be a demon is likely nothing more then superstition. They probably tell their children that if they do not do their chores that Kirihara will come and snatch them up from their beds at night and eat them.”

Kaidoh sighed.

The guardian was right and wrong at the same time.

How could the GrakuenKaizer have escaped from seal his own ancestor had erected?

His own flesh and blood flowed through such a barrier - he should not have doubted it.

The villagers could have been mistaken when they had claimed to have seen Kirihara.

Yet how could they explain the curse that was ravaging Fuji-Sensei's body and soul?

It felt to him that the coldness of the world had crawled up into his very heart; he let out a sigh of defeat.

Sanada smiled.

“Fear not. Though your journey was premature, it was not without reward. I can still give you what your ancestor Hazuka meant you to have.”

He reached into his the sleeve of his robes and withdrew a small crystal which he threw to the ground.

From that spot grew a sword as long as the tip of Kaidoh's fingers to his navel.

“This is a sword born when a great priest gives his entire being to something important. It will allow you to seal any demon away if you are to stab the beast through the heart. I believe this will come in handy.”

Kaidoh reached out and the sword flew into his hands.

“And Fuji-Sensei? How can I help him?”

Sanada shrugged, motioning for him to turn back toward the base of the mountain.

“Hit him with the sword or something; how should I know. I'm a guardian, not a Sage.”

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Atobe had not been kind since they had journeyed back from the village.

Ryouma had had to be careful about upsetting his captor, for it seemed that anything at all would set the man off on a tirade.

He had nearly gotten Kikumaru beaten again when he had accidentally dropped a soup spoon during their lunch meal on the ground and had stooped to pick it up.

Thankfully, Ryouma had found a way to save the thief from another savage beating.

He had turned and locked eyes with Atobe and said “oops.”

Of course this had been followed by a somewhat coy smile, but he liked to think that the smile had nothing to do with the way Atobe had flushed and waved the beating away.

But once evening had settled in with its dark claws, Atobe seemed to get worse.

He had sent Ryouma to the room he had first occupied when he had been captured and had ordered him to be locked in.

At first this had confused Ryouma greatly.

Why now would Atobe lock him away when he had clearly stated that the boy was to stay in his personal chambers?

He learned the reason to this when the clock had struck midnight and a terrible yowl had erupted from deep within the castle walls.

It was a horrible noise; He was forced to clamp his hands over his ears to muffle the sound, if only a little bit.

He threw himself onto his bed and pulled the blankets up around him, burrowing under the pillows like an inchworm trying to escape the shrieks of a bird.

Ryouma shivered and peeked up out from under the covers.

The noise had long since dissipated, but was still ringing alive inside his head.

He found himself shivering, and rubbed his hands together for some kind of warmth.

Perhaps he would try to open the door…

That seemed to be the only way he would find anything out about the wailing.

He rose from the bed and padded barefoot across the cold floor, shivering to himself as the cold the marble had been harbouring worked its way up through his toes.

A quick tug at the door handle made it all too clear that there would be no getting out and investigating what had been making such bewildering noises.

With a sigh, he turned and started back toward the bed when he spotted two brilliantly yellow eyes staring at him from underneath his bed.

He shouted in horror -

His body slammed against the door and he clawed at the handle for some hope of escape.

He pounded at the door, trying desperately to get out of the room -

The door knob twisted open and the door was thrust out into the hallway.

Kikumaru reached out and pulled Ryouma toward him, smooshing the boy against his chest.

“Hoi Hoi Ochibi. What's going on?” he said sleepily.

Ryouma pointed to the bed, body trembling.

“There is some kind of monster under my bed - “he managed to shout.

Kikumaru clamped a hand over Ryouma's mouth and looked around nervously; when he seemed sure that no one else had heard the cry, he pushed Ryouma into the room and closed the door behind them.

“Ochibi… it's nothing dangerous.” He smiled softly and held his hand out, rubbing his index finger and his thumb together.

In the blink of an eye, a large brown and crème cat came bounding out from beneath the bed.

It pranced forwards and began to rub against Kikumaru's leg, purring.

At once Ryouma felt foolish.

A cat?! It had been a cat the whole time?!

Yet it had not seemed so innocuous at the time.

He held his hand out to the animal and was reassured when it nuzzled his fingertips with a smooth meow.

Ryouma ran his hand down the animal's furry back, rubbing it behind the ears when it pushed harder against his hand for attention.

He frowned.

“But why is this in my room?” he asked, aware with upset at himself that he had referred to the room as his own and not as a cell.

Kikumaru laughed.

“Atobe-Boss hand picked this for you as a companion. He had been planning to introduce it to you after dinner, but got side tracked - “Kikumaru fell silent, putting a hand over his mouth as if he had said too much.

Ryouma raised an eyebrow.

“Kikumaru… what do you mean `side tracked'?” he asked demurely.

Kikumaru flushed and looked around again.

He turned his eyes back to Ryouma and nervously chuckled, scratching his head.

“Uh… I'm probably not supposed to tell you this, but Atobe-Boss is punishing Kirihara-Sama for his interference… he was not supposed to be dumping your clothing off… that was supposed to be a job left for someone not quite so conspicuous.”

Ryouma's eyes narrowed.

“Punishing? How in the name of hell can he be punishing a demon?”

Kikumaru let out a sigh and ushered Ryouma and the cat back to the bed. He forced Ryouma to sit down and patted him on the shoulder.

“I forgot that you don't know about the ways of demons.”

There was almost a scowl on his face now.

Kikumaru leaned against the bed, crossing his arms.

“When someone does something that Atobe-Boss doesn't like, he sends them down to the … how can I explain this in words?”

He bit his lip and began to drum his fingers on his arm, deep in thought.

When he continued to remain silent, Ryouma gave him a sharp jab in the ribs to bring his attention back to the conversation.

Kikumaru laughed again and winced.

“Ok, Ok, I think I've got the right word. Its like a dungeon, but its not really one. Its something that a demon can get trapped in and isn't able to easily escape from. There are enchantments on the floor and of course, he's probably cut off Kirihara's feet to keep him focused on his punishment.”

With a dark chuckle, Kikumaru began to inspect his fingernails.

“He doesn't usually unlock that part of the castle unless Kirihara's done something very displeasing. Though… I haven't seen him this angry in a long time… at least not since he first began to gather us all together to rebuild his empire.”

Ryouma's brow must have furrowed with concentration at this, because Kikumaru reached out and poked him in the forehead.

With a wince, Ryouma batted the hand away.

He was hoping to pry some more information about the GrakuenKaizer's establishment of power, and was about to ask another question when Kikumaru continued to speak.

“I've been here with Atobe-Boss ever since I was born. My great grandparents were under his command - it's not so bad for me really. This place is the only home I've ever known. I suppose for you its customs and structure would be confusing. I don't think many kids grew up with demons.” He chuckled to himself.

“But then again, not many children would grow up to be the rulers of their own lands…” he smirked at Ryouma, who locked eyes with him stubbornly.

“Then why does he beat you? You're so loyal to him - why would he do things like that - “Ryouma protested, clenching his hands into the fabric of the blankets beneath him.

The cat batted at his hand.

Kikumaru shrugged.

“As I said, this place is the only home I have. Atobe-boss let me live even when my parents betrayed him and tried to take me and flee from here when I was little.” At this, Kikumaru's normally kind face warped with bitterness.

“They shouldn't have tried to escape - we didn't even make it a hundred feet the main gates before they found us and dragged us by horse back to him.”

He shrugged suddenly, a shudder passing through his face and at once he was back to his kind smiling self.

“It's their own fault for getting them selves killed… Getting all of their children killed as well - even the ones that weren't involved in the escape. I don't know why he let me live… But lets not talk about me - I want to hear all about your household. What was it like?” Kikumaru leaned forward expectantly, grinning.

Ryouma told him all about his studies and his teachers, getting grins larger and larger with each word.

He could tell that Kikumaru was enjoying the tales immensely, and drew out as much enjoyable memories as he could to keep the man interested. If he could mesh some sort of friendship with this crude thief, maybe there was hope for an escape. After all, Kikumaru's parents had escaped the walls! Who better to have at his side then someone that had seen the escape and lived through it, though there was no telling if the route had been found and demolished.

By the bustle of maids and servants was chortling down the halls, Ryouma felt that he had made a friend of Kikumaru.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

At breakfast, Ryouma was careful to observe Atobe for any sign of negative emotion.

So far he had certainly noted several cracks in the man's emotional exterior ever since he had said `Good Morning' at the table.

Atobe's hands were playing with the cutlery, an act Ryouma had never seen before; it was almost childish in nature when pasted on Atobe.

Noticing that Ryouma was watching, Atobe dropped the spoon he had been rearranging onto the table. A glint of something shone in his eyes.

He seemed to be forcing himself to smile at Ryouma and the act, though missing its normal egotistical narcissistic glow, failed to draw any other emotion to Ryouma's mind other then repulsion.

“So Ryouma-Kun…” Atobe drawled, clasping his hands under his chin with his elbows resting on the table.

“What do you think of your pet?”

Ryouma gathered himself again and locked eyes with his captor.

“It's a nice cat.” He said simply.

This seemed to draw a twitch in the corner of Atobe's perfect eyes.

“It's nice…” Atobe repeated, starting to lean a little forwards while still using his forced smile.

“Just nice?”

Ryouma smiled.

“Well I've never had a cat before - so I have nothing to compare it to. I'm sure its an excellent cat if you picked it out.”

The twitching seemed to diminish momentarily.

For an instant the normal smirk started to come out on Atobe's face, but then it vanished back into its forced smile.

“And what have you chosen to name it?” Atobe asked smoothly.

Ryouma continued to smile.

“Karupin.”

“Karupin… an interesting name. Why that name?” Atobe said, stressing the word name more then necessary.

Ah, Ryouma thought shrewdly; he had found the problem.

Atobe knew about his long talk with Kikumaru and how they had reached a consensus with the name Karupin.

It was jealousy.

This time Ryouma smiled for real.

“Kikumaru-kun and I picked it out last night. I think it's a darling name don't you?” Ryouma purred.

Again Atobe's eye began to twitch of its own accord.

“I'm sure. Though I am starting to wonder why Kikumaru was in your room in the first place…” Atobe trailed off, leaving Ryouma to fill him in with the truth.

Before Ryouma knew what he was doing, he had put together an absurd reason and had spoken it aloud.

“He's seducing me so that I can run off and have his children.”

Rage filled Atobe's face.

He stood up, his chair clattering onto the ground.

In that instant he seemed to grow a thousand times taller then he was; Ryouma pushed on in spite of fear.

“It's called sarcasm.” Ryouma grinned forcefully. (His cheeks were beginning to hurt from the excessive smiling.)

Atobe opened his mouth, about to shout angrily and seemed to deflate back down to his normal size. (The servants behind him set his chair back up) He sat down and arranged himself so that he could `ponder' the situation further without actually asking the question Ryouma knew he was dying to ask.

Knowing full well that it would exacerbate Atobe's rage, Ryouma turned the conversation onto something else.

“You look stressed. Are you eating enough fibre?”

Atobe's eyes widened in shock at the question.

“What?” he grunted.

Ryouma leaned forwards, playing the part of a concerned wife.

He reached out as if to take Atobe's hand in his own and then pulled back when Atobe's hand moved towards his.

“I worry about you.” Ryouma said.

Atobe looked as if he had just inhaled a large squash.

His face began to glow a soft pink and he seemed to be in a state of confusion and enchantment.

“You're worried about me?” He asked, hands dropping to the table top just as one of the maids placed a bowl of porridge down.

Ryouma laughed inwardly as the GrakuenKaizer extracted his left hand from the bowl of mush; he leaned forwards in the chair, remembering the lectures Oishi-Sensei had given him about body language and how leaning forward was a sign of interest.

Atobe held his hand out and let one of the maids carefully clean the mess up, completely forgetting to shout at the woman for putting the bowl there in the first place.

“You're worried about me…” he trailed off, and the forced smile simply vanished from his face to be replaced with a look bordering on dumbstruck.

Ryouma nodded once, knowing that that one movement would be more then enough to push Atobe's jealousy away for a few more moments.

Then, to his monumental surprise, Atobe broke eye contact and began to stare deadpan at the cutlery before him.

Ryouma allowed him to sit in silence for a few minutes and then decided he could chance a bit more conversation.

“So what are we going to do today?” (He contemplated throwing in a dear or darling, but opted against it, seeing as it was a tad mushy to his taste and therefore very readable as lying.)

Atobe's head jerked up.

“Huh?”

Ryouma inwardly high fived himself.

He pretended to arrange himself in his seat again and tilted his head to the side, keeping his eyes as wide and innocent as possible.

“What are we going to do today?”

Atobe seemed befuddled.

He ran his fingers thought his hair, presumably to calm himself down, and sneered at Ryouma.

“Why should I bother doing anything with you at all? You're mine already - there's no point in trying to woo you.” Atobe said.

Ryouma found himself slightly disappointed.

He leaned back into his chair and crossed his arms, pulling his false smiles into a forceful frown.

Atobe blinked.

“What's wrong? Thought that I would do whatever you wanted whenever you asked? You're mine! I can do whatever I please!” He snarled suddenly, rising up again. (The maid pulled his chair back in time to keep it from toppling down again.)

Ryouma shrugged.

“Fine.”

A vein began to pulsate in Atobe's forehead. Ryouma could not have wished for a better response, for it was clear that the maids and servants had not seen half of the reactions his words had produced in Atobe either.

“Fine!” Atobe turned and stormed out of the room, no longer gliding godlike from the room, but stomping with very humanlike rage. The servants slammed the door behind him for good measure and then looked around at each other in total confusion before returning to serve Ryouma as if nothing had happened.

Once Ryouma had finished his meal, he walked back down the hallway, intending to head back to the room he had been shut up in.

He had just started to walk around a corner when he saw Atobe walking with his back to Ryouma down the hall.

Quickly, he pulled back behind the corner, hugging the wall.

Luck was on his side.

Atobe continued to walk, going past Ryouma's room to stop dead in front of a large statue of a fierce half goat man at the end of the hall.

He reached out and grabbed a hold of the statues right arm and yanked down.

The seemingly smooth rocks slid apart to reveal a candle lit staircase that led downwards.

Ryouma peeked down the hall, watching the stones close.

So that was the entrance to the `dungeon' Kikumaru had spoken of.

Hm…

He waited for a few minutes and was startled when Atobe came back out of the hidden stairs with blood smeared all down his front.

Not wanting to be caught stalking the GrakuenKaizer, Ryouma ducked into a closet closest to him.

Atobe's footsteps echoed out down the hall as he walked past Ryouma's hiding spot.

Again, Ryouma waited a few more minutes.

When no more footsteps rang out, he opened the door and peeked out, looking down the hallway and around the corner.

Alone.

Sighing to himself, he slid back out into the hallway and started back to his room when a thought occurred to him.

Why was Atobe hiding the entrance to his dungeon? Was it because something was trapped inside that would want revenge against him?

Hm.

Ryouma did not want to release something that might kill him, but thought the least he could do was explore his options of escape.

He slipped into his room and decided to wait a few hours before sneaking down the hidden staircase.

When the time came, he slid soundlessly out from his room, avoiding all the maids and thieves that usually lurked outside his hallway at Kikumaru's command.

He grabbed the arm of the statue and pulled down with all his might.

The arm creaked and slowly allowed itself to be pulled down, taking much more force then Ryouma had imagined.

Was the GrakuenKaizer so much stronger then a regular human?

The thought terrified Ryouma.

He now knew that there would likely be no escape from Atobe's grasp if he tried to struggle away.

He shook his head.

No.

He would concern himself with such matters later.

Now was the time to investigate this hidden room.

The doors slid effortlessly open with a gust of wind and Ryouma was forced to put his hand over his nose to escape the horrible scent of death and decay.

Putting caution to the wind, he walked into the room.

The doors slammed behind him.

He jumped.

Surely someone had heard the noise! They would come running to find him and then Kikumaru would be punished -

He spun around and looked all over for a release button on the door to free himself from his mistake.

There was no button.

Panic filled his mind.

He had just done himself in with his thoughtlessness.

He gulped and turned his back to the door.

The only way out would be trying to find a way out somewhere down below.

His feet slipped on the slime covered stone stairs - he toppled down and landed painfully at the bottom of the steps, stars flickering in this eyes.

His arm ached terribly and he could tell that it was likely broken. He had gashed his forehead and felt blood trickle down around his eye.

Cursing to himself, he struggled upright and hugged his arm to his chest, looking around.

His ankle twinged angrily.

He wouldn't be able to walk for long before the limb would give out.

All was dark except for the light glimmering from the candles set high up on the walls.

Fumbling along, he reached out with his good arm and guided himself along with the cut of the stone walls leading him further and further into the dark abyss.

He reached a tall rusted metal door and pressed his ear against it to see if anyone was inside it.

No sound was uttered from inside the cell, and with no way to peer inside without opening it, he passed it by.

He kept walking until he reached a corner -

Several more corridors sprang into view, each as dreadful and hopeless as the first.

Ryouma picked one at random and dragged himself down it -

He stumbled on the uneven masonry and slammed into another rust covered door with a metallic thump.

Pain swarmed his senses and his eyes watered.

His arm began to throb unhappily.

He cursed again.

“Someone there?” A voice bubbled up from somewhere down the row of cells.

Ryouma froze.

Dare he respond?

The voice was familiar…

But who could it possibly be?

“Ah. I see. Ryouma-kun… Yes. Its you.” The voice chirped gleefully.

Ryouma felt his stomach curl up into a ball inside him.

He recognized the voice now.

It was Kirihara.

He turned himself around, determined to flee back up to the entrance where he would sit and wait for Atobe to come find him.

“I smell blood…. Mmm. You smell delightful Ryouma-kun. Why don't you come here and give me a hand, hm? I'd like to get out of this little game Atobe's playing with me.” Kirihara said venomously.

Ryouma's body froze and turned of its own accord.

His eyes widened as he found himself walking steadily toward the fourth door down the hall -

His good hand reached out by itself and pulled against at the cold metal doorknob.

The door swung open as if opened by itself.

He squinted as darkness overloaded his senses -

Kirihara was sitting with his back against the far wall of his cell.

He was covered in blood, but didn't seem to be in any immediate pain.

A sinful smile popped across his lips as he saw Ryouma.

“Why hello my dear little Ryouma-kun! Bring that lovely body of yours here to me.” Kirihara cooed.

Ryouma struggled, trying to grab at the doorframe in an attempt to keep his hijacked body from moving any closer to the fiend before him.

It was a loosing battle.

He felt cold as his body walked over to Kirihara and then forced him to kneel before the man.

Kirihara reached out with one hand and stroked Ryouma's head, smoothing the dishevelled hair down.

He tilted his head to one side and Ryouma found himself moving forwards so that his wounded forehead was within inches of Kirihara's mouth.

He shuddered as Kirihara's warm pink tongue dipped down into the gash, licking at the blood that was tear dropping down his face. He felt like retching when the demons tongue began to slide deeper into the wound and found that he was suddenly crying from terror.

Someone save me! He thought to himself.

Atobe!

Kirihara laughed shrilly.

“Lovely young flesh you've got there Ryouma-kun. I'd love to devour every last piece of it -“he tilted his head again and at once Ryouma's body was pulled across Kirihara's lap with the back of his neck revealed, face up.

Ryouma felt his stomach churn again when he realized that Kikumaru's guess had been correct.

The silky robes that Kirihara was wearing were slick with blood, for he was missing his legs from the thigh down.

Kirihara leaned over him, cradling Ryouma in his arms.

“Yes. Your flesh will be more then enough to give me the strength to get my legs back from him.” Kirihara purred. His mouth began to cover Ryouma's throat as the boy watched in dismay.

Ryouma squeezed his eyes shut, begging for someone to come save him, struggling with every part of his essence against the creature that had stolen control of his body -

Firm hands grabbed Ryouma from the monster's grasp.

He opened his eyes and saw a Atobe's furious face -

Atobe's hands closed around Kirihara's throat, strangling his fellow demon.

Kirihara's eyes were filled with glee.

“I… Knew…that…would…get…you…” Kirihara croaked as he struggled with Atobe, striking out with clawed hands to slash at Atobe's face.

Atobe pulled Kirihara's head back, slamming it into the wall, again and again and again.

A red smudge smeared the wall.

Kirihara laughed maniacally and slumped against the wall, keeping one eye focused on Ryouma who was quivering against the doorframe.

Atobe turned sideways and smashed his foot into Kirihara's chest; he spit into the man's face and stalked out of the room, gathering Ryouma in his arms as he shut the door on the beast.

Ryouma buried his face in Atobe's chest, tears streaming down his face.

He had promised Tezuka-Sensei that he would be strong! He had vowed to himself to never be defeated so easily. He had vowed not to cry again…

Atobe stroked Ryouma's head, pressing the boy closer to his chest; his strong arms surrounded and protected.

“Shhhh. It's alright.” Atobe whispered. He reached down and gathered Ryouma in his arms, scooping him up.

Ryouma wrapped an arm around Atobe's neck and cried softly into the GrakuenKaizer's neck as they made their way back up the stairs.

Atobe sighed heavily to himself as he pushed open the door Ryouma had first entered the dungeons through.

“You are a fool.” Atobe said softly.

Ryouma squeezed his eyes shut, thankful for the first time that Atobe was always nearby; he made up his mind to never follow Atobe into a hidden room again.

“If you ever go down there again without me, I'll kill you.”

Atobe threw open the doors to his private room and set Ryouma tenderly on the bed, as if the boy were clay instead of flesh.

He tutted to himself and began to inspect Ryouma for injuries, stripping the boy as he did so.

Ryouma blushed and closed his eyes.

Atobe's warm hands traced over his body, light but firm.

Ryouma's body ached.

The fingers found their way to his hips…

Tracing down…

“You twisted your ankle too. Harrumph. Can't I leave you alone for five minutes without you getting into to a life or death situation!?” Atobe grumbled. Ryouma detected a faint relieved note in the words.

Atobe paused on Ryouma's ankle, prodding the heel and arch for muscle damage.

He let the ankle drop and slid his fingers back up the boy's body -

Ryouma shivered when Atobe's palm slid across his chest and up to his shoulder.

Atobe leaned down, kissing Ryouma's lips delicately, as if afraid they would bruise from the touch.

“I worry about you…” He whispered softly, kissing Ryouma again, this time deeper -

Ryouma reached up and ran his fingers thought Atobe's hair, pulling his closer.

Wait!

What was he doing?!

It was too late.

Atobe began to kiss his way down Ryouma's throat.

He paused, kissing Ryouma's lips again.

He pulled away for and pulled himself up onto the bed, resting his face in Ryouma's chest.

“Why is that…I wonder?” Atobe whispered.

Ryouma closed his eyes, the throbbing pain of his arm overpowering him.

“Because I'm only human…” he murmured back.

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TBC

^_^ yes. This large chapter is a reward for everyone waiting so patiently! :D I'm already working on the next chappie was you read :P