[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Disclaimer: Same as in previous...

---

{Part III}

Ran went home and told almost all of what happened to him to his sister, Aya. He left out a certain part that he didn't think was appropriate for his little sister to hear. She was very happy with the news and the gift that had been given him. They lived in a small village, far away from the capital city of His Majesty, King Takatori's kingdom. While the money Ran earned as a mercenary was good, they lived poorly.

"So, are you his devotee now?" Aya had asked, nearly bouncing with the news.

The young mercenary was evasive. "You could say that…" He blushed at the memory of what the God wanted from him. To suddenly have such attention was something he didn't expect. He looked back to Aya and found a familiar determination in her eyes. "What are you going to do?"

She smiled at him. "Did you know that Balinese has an abandoned temple here, on the edge of the village?" Aya put her hand on his arm. "I think that we should clean it up… repair it… wouldn't he be pleased then?"

Ran thought back, trying to remember the place she was talking about. His eyes widened. "That old stone building? It was Balinese's temple?!?" All those times he played there with his sister were known to the God. How much time did he spend there in his younger days, lonely because of his affliction, wishing he could be beautiful like all the others? He sank down in his chair, a red flush rising to his cheeks. "I never even realized…"

"Yes, brother… I thought you knew?" Aya rose, her hand leaving his arm, and went to prepare a meal for them. "He's the God of Pleasure, Ran… as children, we gave him plenty to be happy about. All those times we were there, we never did anything but what we wanted. His power flows from all things that give pleasure, even a child's fun… didn't you realize?"

The mercenary looked after her, his eyes closing. "No, I didn't." That was the way things usually were. His sister was quick to learn all about things while Ran was a natural at things involving combat. Something occurred to him just then - a thought that left him more than a little bitter. Ran wanted to investigate said thought and there was no time like the present.

He rose from his seat and headed for the door, grabbing his sword from it's hooks nearby. "I'll be back later… I need to go speak with someone."

Aya's voice followed him. "Fine… I'll keep dinner warm for you."

The road through the village eventually stopped at the forest's edge, but if one looked hard enough, there was a path that lay further in. Ran took this path, noting how it had overgrown in the years since he and his sister used to come through. It was never used now, obviously, and he felt more secure as he continued on.

The place he sought was almost completely obscured by foliage. Ran moved forward, ready to cut it away if necessary, when a strong hand pulled him back. With a yelp, he fell against a hard, warm body.

"Stay away from there, Ran," came Balinese's concerned voice. "It is no longer sacred to me."

Ran whirled and glared at the deity before him, his violet eyes as frosty as his voice. "You… you knew!"

"I know many things," Balinese said softly. "Why don't you try to be more specific?" His arms crossed, typical of him according to most statuary.

"All those times I wished for my body to be healed… why didn't you answer?" Ran was beside himself in anger. How could the deity leave him like that when he was a child? A child who had practically worshipped him daily!

Balinese looked at the youth sadly. "Yes… I heard you. But, those were wishes, not prayers. Because of the limitations I'm under now, I can do nothing until someone prays to me directly." His eyes regarded the mercenary and then the God frowned. "You can not blame me for this… I will not hold someone who despises me. If you feel so inclined, I can end the bargain for you. That will not be in your favor, however…"

The words jolted Ran out of his anger and made him rethink his position. Regardless of anything else, he literally belonged to Balinese now - body and soul. It was through the God's power that the 'Ruby Demon' still lived. His eyes and voice lowered. "Forgive me… I wasn't thinking."

Long arms reached out, enfolding Ran in their embrace and pulling him closer to the deity. "There is nothing to forgive. Many mortals make mistakes when they try to consider the actions of the Gods. I don't hold you responsible." Balinese pushed his supplicant's head so that it rest on his shoulder. "I would have healed you in an instant had you prayed to me… Please understand this."

"That was a very frightening time for me… I almost died." Ran sighed against the God's skin, enjoying the simple comfort of being held by someone else. It was something that he'd only ever gotten before from his sister.

Balinese smiled into the crimson locks under his nose. "I know. Aya prayed to me to allow you to live." He didn't move in response to the startled gasp against his flesh. "Yes… You lived back then because of her prayer. Though, I don't think she realized what she was doing at the time."

Chuckling, Ran looked up into the beautiful face of the deity. "Probably not." He couldn't help the shiver that ran down his spine when the emerald gaze turned onto his own. "Thank you… for answering my prayer. I know I didn't say it before, but I feel that I should."

He was silenced by a shake of the God's head. "Don't thank me yet, Ran. There is more than you know to my story… things that will fall upon you that I don't wish for you to have to endure." At the raised eyebrow, Balinese spoke again. "Even the Gods have enemies… usually each other. Mine has sent his supplicants to seek out all those loyal to me. Each one that they find is slain in sacrifice to him."

The God's hands moved to Ran's shoulders and held on tightly. "Never… *never* tell anyone of your connection to me. He who knows only guilt and betrayal would use you against me if he found out about you."

"Sch-" Ran almost blurted out the name, but was silenced by soft fingers.

"No. Don't say his name." Balinese warned. "Never say the name of a God if you do not want their attention. Calling their name attracts them." He shook his head sadly. "There is only one place you can speak their name and not have them notice… in the realm of another deity." His eyes clouded for a moment and then he leaned forward, touching his lips to the redhead's tenderly.

Sparks blazed across Ran's vision at the first touch of the kiss. His body remembered the last time such an act occurred and he felt himself harden at the memory. His arms snaked around Balinese's neck, closing the distance between their bodies, and he moaned softly.

When it broke, he found himself standing in the blond's arms and surrounded by the most beautiful exotic flowers he'd ever seen. His violet eyes cast about in wonder until they fell upon Balinese's face. "Where are we?"

"My realm, such as it is right now." The deity led him to a rock near the series of pools that graced the center of the garden. "It's time to tell you the truth of what happened to me. It's time you know why Schuldig - the God of Lies, Betrayal, and Guilt - is my enemy."

{End Part III}

---