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The Shadowman	By : ColdSilence Category: Gundam Wing/AC > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 2328 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Wing/AC, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 14
- 15
- 16
Title: The Shadowman

Author: Cold Silence

E-Mail: writer.coldsilence@gmail.com

Category: Alternate Universe. Medieval Times.

Pairings: Revealed so far = 4 x Relena, Odin x Catherine, 5 x Merian, 1+2, Tsuberov x 9

Warnings: Potentially NC-17, Yaoi, OOC, (I'm TRYING to keep them IC...but I don't think I've succeeded.) Death. Squick. Incest. Angst. Rape.

The Shadowman

-Chapter Fourteen-

Adjusting to palace life was an arduous task, but things continued to run smoothly in Castle Sandrock despite the new additions to the workforce. Whether or not Relena's program was a success depended on the upcoming ball: Many of their most important supporters were expected to arrive, therefore they had to put their best faces forwards in order to assuage any fears of the Winner dynasty coming under attack.

As the final hours of preparation befell them, the ones feeling the most pressure were the servants. They rushed to tie loose ends together and attended to those tiny details that would make it a night to remember. In the kitchens, delicious aromas permeated the air as the evening's feast was prepared ahead of time.

"Where is that boy, Heero? There are about a million things to do and I haven't seen him all morning!" With a huff, Sally continued to stir a pot of soup with a long ladle.

Lounging beside her, Howard let a small smile creep over his wrinkled face. Bony fingers lazily strummed his lyre, causing an easygoing tune to mingle with the sounds of the kitchen. "Last I saw him, he was with Lord Chang."

"Lord Chang!" She stopped stirring so that she could use her apron to wipe her hands. If it weren't for the gossip, the long days spent working in the castle would be so unbearable. "What could he possibly want with that boy that's more important than letting him finish his chores?"

"That, my dear, you'll have to take up with the Shadowman. Duo thought the boy could use a few sword lessons, so he conned Chang into teaching him."

"Really, what is a former shepherd going to do with sword lessons?" She clucked and shook her head. "Just what is a man's fascination with weapons?"

"Simple! They make us feel more manly!" The bard playfully twitched his mustache. "But it goes beyond that. I suppose Duo got tired of seeing the boy mope about, so he signed him up for it to cheer him up."

"That poor boy. I heard he lost his family in the fire. If it weren't for Duo spiriting him off every now and then, he would do nothing but work." She bent down to retrieve a steaming tray of brownies from the oven, which drew hungry looks from the bard. "But do you think it's right for the Shadowman to befriend peasants?"

"Oh let the boy have his fun. Its not like he has many friends."

"He's been friends with the King and Lord Chang for years." Noticing the way Howard was close to drooling over the brownies, she gave the old man a warning look that clearly said "stay away from the food."

"Bah, they're too busy for him. Friendship is something you have to work at."

"And since when did you get so wise, hmm?"

"Well my dear, intelligence comes with age, and at my age I'm practically the smartest man in the world. Not to mention, the fastest!" With a twinkle in his eye, he waved a brownie at Sally. Somehow, he had managed to filch it off the tray without her noticing.

"Howard! You put that back this instant!"

"To the victor, the spoils of war." Grinning triumphantly, he took a bite out of the chocolate flavored confection, only to end up gagging and spitting the half-chewed pieces out. "What in blazes...! I've tasted better rocks than this!"

"What are you talking about?" Frowning, Sally pinched off a piece from one of the remaining brownies and tasted it. Her eyes widened in shock, and then narrowed in anger. "That Duo! He switched the salt with the sugar again!"

"Heh heh, looks like the boy played you for a fool!"

"Not today he's not! I've worked too hard for too long just to make this ball a success for him to ruin it with these childish pranks!" Marching over to a corner, she plucked a broom off the wall and then waved it threateningly. "Shadowman or no Shadowman, I'm going to give him a piece of my mind!"

"He went off with Trowa somewhere, good luck finding him." The old man chuckled as he watched Sally storm off in search of a mischievous Duo.

---------------------------------

"Trust me, you're going to love this!"

Trowa gave his braided companion a dubious look. In the few days he had stayed at Castle Sandrock, he had come to learn that Duo was an incorrigible prankster. He suspected that it was either a ploy to gain attention, or that he simply really was that bored. So far, he hadn't found himself at the receiving end of any of his jokes, but he was always wary just in case.

Although he was shocked upon discovering Duo's secret, recent events have caused him to rethink his ideas on what he considered good and evil. Marie and Meia were the main reasons; he had known them all his life, and the fact that they were Mystics did not make them evil. The boys often visited them in the dungeons, and oftentimes marveled at the way their cell was beginning to look more like a luxury suite everyday. Sometimes they were even allowed to walk freely about the castle, so long as the Shadowman was there to accompany them. Politics kept them from being completely free, but Duo was still working on convincing the King otherwise.

His thoughts turned back to the present. Currently, they were traveling through the lush gardens that grew atop the plateau towards the stables. They had done this many times before, so it was with piqued curiosity that he followed Duo. When they arrived, he instantly saw what had Duo grinning so widely - Stepper was waiting in the stalls, along with her newborn foal.

"By the Light, you found them?" One of Trowa's infamous little smiles creased his lips. He immediately reached out to pet the white mare, and was delighted to find that he was still recognized.

"Yep, Wufei said he found them both wandering around the countryside. It's nothing short of a miracle that they're still alive." He smiled down at the colt nudging his hands in search of some blocks of sugar. Duo still had particularly fond memories of the little creature.

"Arigatou, Duo. Heero will be glad."

"You think so? Then it's yours."

Trowa gave the other boy an odd look. "They were mine before you found them."

"Of course the horses are yours. I'm talking about the stable." With a huge grin on his face, Duo waited for the reaction from the other boy.

He wasn't disappointed. Green eyes widened upon realizing the gift he was being given. All his life, Trowa was always forced to work for someone else's stable, and now to own one himself.. it was nothing short of a dream come true. "Duo..."

"DUO WINNER! There you are! You've terrorized my kitchen for the last time!"

Both boys looked up to see Sally ambling towards them with broom in hand. Duo lifted his hands in feigned innocence, a gesture that never quite worked anymore.

"Sally! You wound me with these accusations; my heart is breaking. Do you have proof that it was me?"

"If your name is Duo that's all the proof I need!" She took a swing at the Shadowman with the broom, only to find that he was very quick to dodge. Easy laughter fell from his lips as he sank into the long shadow cast by the stable walls.

"You can't hide forever! Sooner or later even Lord Duo has to eat!" A soft chuckle distracted her from her ranting, and she canted her head to find Trowa hiding his smile behind that fringe of hair.

"Really, that boy is a bad influence on you."

Trowa could only answer with a mild shrug and another hidden smile as he stroked Stepper's mane.

---------------------------------

In another section of the gardens, there was a strangled yell as Duo stepped out from the shade of a willow tree. Hot on his heels were the maws of a hideous creature that lurked in the same shadow. With a muttered curse, he kicked the monster back into the portal, and hurled a fireball after it for good measure before closing the gateway.

Sometimes he was such an idiot. Between the upcoming ball and all the time he had been spending with Heero and Trowa, he would oftentimes find himself lulled into a false sense of peace. It was because of this that he stupidly jumped into shadows from time to time, completely forgetting that there was an army of monsters in there waiting to rip his head off. Annoyed that those beasts managed to shred a hole in yet another shirt, he glanced at his surroundings to discern where he was.

Luckily, the shadow he blindly exited from didn't take him too far from the castle. He was still in the gardens, though it was a considerable distance away from the stables. His first impulse was to return to his room and change his clothing, but the sound of familiar voices caught his attention.

"Feet apart, knees bent. Good, now keep your chin up. Balance is the key."

Duo followed the words to their source, an unbidden smile gracing his lips upon seeing whom it was.

In front of one many fountains that were scattered throughout the maze of flowers, there stood Heero and Wufei. The shepherd was barefooted and dressed in loose white pants; as well as a long tunic that went all the way down to his knees. Duo recognized it as the outfit young warriors in training from the Dragon Clan wore.

Wufei was also barefooted, though he remained in the usual red and black gear. Both teacher and student were moving in sync with exaggerated, slow movements; flowing from stance to stance with a grace that was almost inborn.

Duo was glad that Wufei agreed to give Heero sword lessons, though he had no idea what this kind of exercise had to do with it. It was hard to tell what the shepherd thought of it all. Even though he wasn't as silent as when he first arrived, he still wore that blank expression on his face.

Perhaps it was coincidence that the shadow led him here. He was constantly running into Heero although the both of them managed to be busy. Sometimes he could go a whole day without seeing Trowa, but the Prussian-eyed boy was almost omnipresent, turning up when he least expected it. However, he didn't mind this at all. There was something exhilarating about him, something different about Heero that sent little thrills of excitement spinning in the pit of his belly.

"You are like the water, smooth, never-ending..."

The rest of Wufei's words didn't register when both boys slowly lowered to the ground in complete splits. Phantom pain centered itself around his thighs and crotch in sympathy with Heero, though the other boy was apparently unaffected by the move.

Not even a blink. I wonder if he can do that in bed.

Duo shook his head. Those kind of lewd thoughts had been creeping up on him a lot lately as well. Normally, he didn't mind the occasional hormone induced images in his head, but when they started casting Heero in THAT kind of light.. it was time to worry. The first time it happened, he blamed it on the sake and figured that would be the end of that.

Unfortunately, right then he wasn't drunk. He hadn't imbibed a single drop of alcohol all week, and yet everything Heero did took on certain suggestiveness. The way he walked, the movements of his hands, the shape of his lips, the way pieces of his hair draped over his brow and the slope of his nose. It was in that low, nasal voice that took on such a pretty quality when he spoke Nihongo, the hollow of his neck exposed at the top of his shirt, even the way his Adam's apple bobbed when he swallowed and...

Ok, this is just wrong. I don't like guys. Maybe its because he looks like a girl.

The rationalization made him feel better, though in truth, there was nothing feminine whatsoever about Heero Lowe.

"Take a good look Heero. That is what we refer to as a 'voyeur'. "

Duo snapped out of his thoughts upon hearing Wufei's dry comment. The two boys had stopped their exercises, and were currently staring at the transfixed Shadowman.

"I'm sorry, was this a private male-bonding session?" He plastered on one of his fake grins in hopes of masking his embarrassment.

"You are distracting Heero. Since you are the one that convinced me to take precious time out of my day for these practices, I will assume you're not disrupting them on purpose."

"Wufei has so many different ways of saying 'go away Duo', it's almost an art. Fine, I'll leave you guys to contort yourself into pretzels all you want. Who knows, maybe Heero will be wearing his hair in a ponytail the next time I see him." The boy continued to rant as he walked away, his voice dimming with distance.

Heero watched the sway of the chestnut braid until he was completely gone, and then spoke to Wufei. "Why can't I tell Trowa or Duo who I am?"

"You are the last free Warrior of Light." He resumed the fluid movements Duo had interrupted earlier, and after a bit of watching, Heero began mimicking them once more. "Most members of my clan are purely of the blood, including Nataku. But we are sworn to protect the King. Any pure-breed outside of our clan are either executed or swear fealty to King Winner and the Dark."

"My blood is not pure." A brief frown caused his brows to knit. "My otousan (1) was just a farmer."

"So he would have you believe. He was also of the Light, but his powers remained dormant."

"Will I be the same way?"

Wufei paused, and then straightened from the stance he was holding. "Perhaps a test is in order." He waited until Heero stood as well before continuing. "If it is your destiny to be a warrior, then it is in your nature to fight. Your heart will choose a weapon to express this will to survive. What does your heart see, Heero?"

"A sword." The answer came without hesitation. All his life, the blade had fascinated him, and suddenly the idle moments he spent pretending didn't seem as silly as before.

With a curt nod, Wufei bent towards the things he set aside before beginning their practice. Plucking a sword from the pile, he tossed it to Heero. Catching the blade easily, he then slid into the offensive position Wufei had taught him. "What's your weapon?"

As he tucked his gloves on, a slow grin crept over his lips. "My body is my weapon."

Before Heero could make heads or tails of that answer, a barrage of slashes from Wufei's claws assaulted him. The attack was so fast, it was all he could do to hold onto his sword before it was knocked right out of his hands.

"People of the Light are guardians of nature. We believe our talents are meant to protect life."

Heero resisted a grimace as a particularly hard blow left his wrists aching.

"Our power comes from creation. We are at our strongest when we are true to ourselves. Do you follow your emotions?"

A well placed kick nearly sent the shepherd falling into the fountain. Why did Wufei have to lecture him now? Not to mention, he disagreed with what he had to say. His true self was alone, afraid. He was vaguely aware that beneath the blanket of emptiness, more unpleasant feelings awaited him, like grief and despair. How could such emotions ever give him strength? He would not let himself feel them, or he would truly be weak.

"Did you not mourn the passing of your parents? Or are you so disrespectful as to shed them no tears?"

A flash of anger caused Heero to growl. Suddenly, Wufei was put on guard as the boy broke through his offensive and launched a counter attack with skilled blows. The Dragon Leader grunted in satisfaction; this was what he was looking for. Trying to draw Heero out of his self induced apathy had rendered many failures, except for one. The boy had an inclination to get angry, and with that passion came the revelation of his true skill. Wufei preyed on this, hoping that one day there would be no need to insult him just to get him to hold the sword right.

Blinded by his emotions, Heero pressed forwards, uncaring if he was winning or not. In his mind's eye, he kept seeing the fire and Trowa's tears. His best friend had never cried since he was a child, even when enduring the abuse at the hands of the richer people. Everything that was stable and familiar to him was gone, and people were always going to see him as a worthless peasant. Why bother feeling, why bother caring? It was all going to hurt anyway.

A metallic snap drew him out of his haze, and he realized Wufei's claws just cleaved his sword in half. The severed blade arced through the air, before landing with a splash into the fountain pool. Disbelief colored his stare, breath coming in short pants as beads of sweat slid from his skin.

"..That'll be the end of today's lesson."

Heero's gaze lifted from the broken sword, and he bowed awkwardly to Wufei. "Gomen.."

"Just leave that piece here, you have chores to do."

Obediently handing over the broken hilt, the shepherd bowed one last time before hurrying through the gardens back to the castle. Left alone, Wufei peered into the fountain, where the goldfish were giving inquisitive little pecks at the shard of sword.

If he hadn't broken the blade in half, it would have been his severed head in the pond instead.

"That boy is something else."

---------------------------------

"I've hit an all-time career low. From Shadowman to the royal beef of the King's market."

"Oh stop the melodrama Duo, it's just a ball." Relena admonished Duo lightly, while trying to peek through the curtains that separated their small party from the rest of the ball.

"You call this just a ball??" Also poking his head through the thick, dangling fabric, Duo gestured wildly at the grandiose scene before them. The main hall was practically glowing. Large, elegant and crystal chandeliers fractured gold candlelight throughout the enormous room, which was lined with tables filled to capacity with exotic food. Lilting music came from talented musicians playing instruments, each note reverbating from the marble walls and high ceiling. The scene alive with men and women dressed in their finest silks, dancing and socializing.

"Quatre is throwing the party of the century!"

"All the more reason for you to be on your best behavior." Smoothly interrupting Duo's anxious commentary, Tsuberov broke into the conversation. "From this point on, you represent the king, and that means no shenanigans."

"Whooo, me? Aww, you wound me deeply--"

"AND," the old man proceeded to talk right over Duo's words. "You must treat the ladies with respect. Be chivalrous, comment nicely on their dress; don't step on their toes when you dance."

"Alright already! This isn't my first time meeting a woman you know."

"At the very least, you should talk like someone with high social standing, rather than articulating as if you were a stable boy."

"Oh yeah?" Straightening up, Duo began speaking in his most haughty voice. "I shall have you know, I am a dashing gentleman and I will sweep those maidens off their feet."

"I daresay the women are out to sweep you off your feet tonight." Relena interjected with a bit of a wistful smile. The Queen herself had never experienced the romance of a matchmaker's ball. Once Quatre had picked her to be his wife, all those fanciful dreams of finding "the one" among the thousands who would try to win her heart came to a shattering halt. In the end, she supposed it was a childish notion, but she couldn't help feeling as if she missed something intrinsically important in her life.

"It's time!" A hint of excitement entered the old man's voice. Beyond the curtains, King Winner was ascending the dais to take his place by the throne.

"Good luck." Relena smoothed the pleats of her long gown one last time before sweeping past the curtains to make her own grand entrance next to her husband.

"Remember, be a gentleman! The house of Winner is counting on you to make a good impression." The old tutor left to take his place among the hundreds of guests, leaving Duo to wait for his cue.

"I can't believe I just took relationship advice from a man who's probably never seen the inside of a woman's bedroom in his life."

---------------------------------

There were hundreds of guests, and among them were hundreds of women. This had to be the single most worst part of the entire ordeal; to stand and bow to each and every single eligible maiden that was presented. His lower back began to ache with the continual bobbing up and down, and the names that were read off the list became a muted buzz in his ears.

"Don't you dare fall asleep Duo!"

Violet orbs flicked to his left, where the Queen was giving him a reproachful look. That was easy for her to say. She got to sit in the throne while he had to stand up the entire time!

As if to help keep the Shadowman from dozing off, Relena began whispering a running commentary on each lady that was presented to him. "The Lady of Chansbury is known for her wonderful cuisine."

Right, that's just what I need. To be reminded that I'm wife shopping. If anything, Duo began slouching even more.

"Now presenting Miss Noin of house Lucrezia, and Miss Hilde of house Schbeiker."

A somewhat amused look flitted across the features of Duo's face as two women practically mauled each other to get to the front of the line. To his left, Relena gave a delicate little grunt before whispering.

"Those two houses have been feuding for years. Their daughters compete in everything, whether it is in dress or the man they catch. I'd stay away from those two."

Inspecting the two women, he noticed that they wore the same short hairstyles - and even sported the same cut of dress, only Hilde's was a pale blue while Lucrezia's was a light violet. Animosity radiated between them, even though they were trying their best to pretend the other didn't exist. Immediately, he was inclined to agree with the Queen; he was going to have to avoid them somehow.

"Miss Dorothy from house Catalonia!"

A murmur went through the crowd as a woman clothed in black swept through the guests to present herself before the Shadowman. Platinum locks contrasted sharply with the obsidian veil that swept to her mid back. Spreading her skirts, she bowed into a deep curtsy, but unlike the other females, ice blue eyes were not cast towards the floor. Instead, they met squarely with Duo's, as if in challenge.

A chill went down Duo's spine. For some reason, she struck him as familiar, but he couldn't quite place the face.

"Hmm… I don't know quite what to make of her. I don't remember putting Catalonia on the guest list," murmured Relena in a subdued voice.

Any further musing on the matter was cut short, for Dorothy was the last guest on the list, and it was finally time for the party to begin.

---------------------------------

"Dag-nabbit, who do you see out there?"

"Shush Howard! Just give me a moment." Sally gave the old man an irritated look before peeking through the curtains once more. An excited smile crossed her lips upon seeing the gathered guests enjoying themselves. Nothing was more satisfying than a job well done. "The Lucrezias and Schbeikers are at it again. They have the exact same dress!"

Howard chortled in amusement. "A pair of feisty lassies, why if I was 20 years younger -- "

"Sssh! They'll hear you!" After a short pause, the woman suddenly began waving her hands in excitement. "Oh no! That's..!"

"Who?"

"That's--!"

"Just spit it out woman!"

"Khushenada! Treize Khushenada!"

"WHAT! They invited that scandalous heathen to the party?" Without waiting for an answer, Howard poked his head through the curtain in the space beneath Sally. "Bless my bones, it's him! Better hide all the kitchen boys!"

"Howard!" Taking firm hold of the bard's collar, she yanked him away from the curtains. "It's only a rumor! Who knows if it's true that he…he…"

"It may be a rumor, but all rumors have at least one grain of truth." Straightening up, he brushed invisible dirt off his outfit and swished his mustache. "Anyway, there are more important things, like wishing me and my boy Trowa luck. We're off to wow the crowd!"

"Knock 'em dead, old timer."

"I'm not old, just experienced!"

Sally sucked her teeth in a low 'tsk' and shook her head as the royal bard went in search of his prodigy.

---------------------------------

"Marvelous! Wonderful!"

Quatre gave his wife a sideways glance. Ever since Howard and the new court jester managed to rivet everyone's attention towards their stunning performance, Relena hadn't stopped the compliments yet. He had to admit, the boy was very good for a beginner, but in his opinion, he wasn't doing anything that he hadn't seen before. "My dear, you act as if you've never seen anyone eat fire before."

"But isn't it exciting each time? Oh, look how he dances! Splendid!"

The King bit back an annoyed look. Ever since this "Trowa" had arrived to the castle, he was all Relena would talk about. She followed his accomplishments closely, claiming that he was the poster child of all her efforts to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. Perhaps it was just a passing fancy, but for some reason it made him uncomfortable.

They were not the only ones watching the performance closely. Momentarily forgotten by the milling throngs of people, Heero took a spot by one of the fluted columns and observed his friend. He knew Trowa was upset over his role as the rich people's entertainment, but even the green-eyed boy had to admit that the things Howard was teaching him were interesting. Hidden beneath the gaudy layers of paint and mask, there was a hint of contentment that Heero could detect. Perhaps he would come to like his job after all.

Shifting his gaze away, he scanned the ballroom until his eyes alighted on a long, chestnut braid. Duo was barely visible among the mob of women that surrounded him at all times. His smile was a little too big, indicative of a man who would rather be anywhere else than were he stood at that very moment. Heero's own lips began to involuntarily stretch, before he realized what he was doing and stopped. The Shadowman's presence always caused unwanted emotions to surface where they weren't wanted. Though maybe he should have, he didn't blame the other boy for this. It was a problem that arose from deep within. Something was inherently wrong with him, but whatever it was he hadn't a clue.

Further musings were interrupted by a riotous applaud. Apparently, Trowa's act was finished, and the boy was exiting the floor with Howard in tow, praising him for a job well done. The King stood from his throne and thanked the royal bard and jester for putting up such a wonderful show, then announced the music segment of the evening.

One of the patrons waved to get his attention, reminding Heero that he had work to do.

---------------------------------

"Lord Duo! You are a marvelous dancer!"

"Thank you, Lady Hilde." The young man astutely refused to look downwards, where the woman's beasts were squashed firmly against his chest. To think that he actually feared that he would fall in love tonight with one of these squabbling girls! Granted, many were pleasing to the eye, but he didn't find their blatant advances or their thirst for power attractive at all. Quatre was just going to have to cook up some other scheme to get him "interested" because this sure as hell wasn't working.

"Bravo!" Speaking of the devil, the blonde king rose from the throne and showed his appreciation of the music through clapping. The rest of the crowd followed suit, honoring the veritable orchestra that was gathered in a corner of the ballroom. Anticipating some type of announcement, the symphonic sounds were dimmed to allow the King to be heard.

Finally. Relieved that at last they have arrived to the dinner part of the celebration, he quickly released Hilde and dipped into a short bow. In the corner of his eye, he could see Lady Noin gnashing her teeth and looking as if she was going to tackle him for the next song. Thank the Dark, the dancing is over!

"Before we gather for the feast, I think we should have one last dance. One especially for the guest of honor." Quatre's gaze held a glint of amusement as all eyes turned towards a nervous looking Duo.

When the music began a slow waltz accompanied by bells, the Shadowman immediately paled. Every potential suitor surrounded him in a large circle, hungry looks directed at him from all sides.

Not this song! This isn't fair!

Any further mental protest vanished as the melody caused his blood to warm and thrum with the beat. He hated this song, because every time he heard it, he simply had to dance. It was as if he was a puppet, and some greater power was pulling at his strings. Once, he had tried to resist, only to find that his limbs would move of his own accord. It had something to do with his Mystic ancestry, but for the most part it was just one big pain in the ass. A woman's sonorous voice began to echo throughout the hall, and he began to move, unable to stop dancing if he wanted to.

This rose is our destiny, hikisakare.

futari no te wa hanarete-itta...

(This rose is our destiny, ripping us apart.

Our hands have been torn apart...)

The change in atmosphere was tangible; an air of anticipation settled upon the ballroom as all eyes fell upon the Shadowman. Unable to understand the importance of this dance, Heero positioned himself where he could see Duo easily. As far as he could tell, the movements consisted of intricate steps, and every woman had a turn to step forwards and dance with him. No, that was wrong… they tried to dance with him. There was no touching whatsoever involved in the process, although their bodies always remained barely a centimeter apart. Their hands were curled as if they were holding each other, and each dip and turn was done without the support of the lead.

Nemuru toki mo

anata e no yume idaki nagara

todoke! sekai no hate made

(Even when I sleep,

as I embrace my thoughts and dreams for you,

they reach to the ends of the world!)

A tingle settled at the base of Heero's spine. The dance had the undertone of sensuality, and Duo moved as if in a dream. The music infected him, causing the callused hands holding the tray to become cool and clammy. Alarmed, he darted his gaze around him, checking to see if he was the only one being affected this way. Everyone's attention was riveted on the dance, unawares of the servant's plight. He knew he should stop looking and leave, but his feet felt nailed to the ground.

Toki ni ai wa tsuyoku

hito no kokoro wo kizutsuke mo suru, keredo Ah

(At times, love is strong,

so much it even wounds people's hearts, but Ah)

Once more, he felt that resonance, only infinitely more powerful than he had ever felt it before. It pulled at him like a powerful gravity, conquering him, inducing an almost trance-like state as he took one step forwards. The ballroom blurred at the edges of his vision, Prussian eyes only registering Duo's fluid movements. He was drawn to that heat, already feeling the way it would seep from beneath those clothes and warm him if he got close enough, maybe burn him if he removed a few layers of fabric..

Violet orbs drew open, and they met intense blue staring from across the room. At that moment, Heero knew what he wanted.

He wanted to dance.

Yume wo atae yuuki no naka ni

itsumo hikari kagayaki hanatsu

hitotsu no chikara ni...

(In the midst of the courage that grants our dreams,

a light always shines forth,

becoming a single power...)

Duo continued to move, locking gazes with Heero whenever he was turned in the right direction. His heart pounded in his chest as the other boy came closer, feeling as if this moment was about to become perfect. The ladies came and went, each failing to draw his attention the way Heero did. Unaware, he didn't notice when the woman in black broke from the circle and joined him for the dance. The crowd was instantly awed by the way she flowed with such grace and confidence that no other suitor dared to take her turn afterwards.

This rose is our destiny, michibikare

futari wa ima mou ichido deau.

(This rose is our destiny, leading us

to now meet once again.)

Dorothy immediately noticed Duo's distraction. Her plan was moving along swimmingly, and this dance was bringing her a step closer to tangling the Shadowman in her web. When the opportunity came to move in the direction he was staring so intently at, her piercing blue eyes swept the crowd for the potential threat. When she found him, she nearly hissed with rage.

That boy lives. Have the threads begun to mend despite my work? Curses!

Even as she danced, already she planned ways to rectify the current situation.

Donna toki mo

ano yakusoku wasurenaide

yatto koko made kita yo!

(Because I've never forgotten

our promise,

I've finally made it this far!)

Closer. Duo was waiting for him. Multitudes of shadows, caused by candlelight and the outlines of women standing in a circle, beckoned to him. The Shadowman's embrace was tempting, and he walked towards it willingly. Blind to the world, he didn't notice the tall figure approaching his way. The tray in his hands tilted dangerously towards the floor, but calamity was avoided when someone's fingers cupped beneath his palms to help steady his load. This action startled him out of his enchantment, and he only had a moment to clear his head before the stranger blocked his view of the dance floor.

Ginger hair was swept back from a handsome face, where a pair of blue eyes scrutinized the young servant. This man was definitely a noble, he could tell that immediately from the light hair and eye color. Annoyance bubbled up from the interruption; this person's presence felt wrong somehow. He was not the one Heero wanted to dance with, the one he wanted was --

What was he thinking? The one he wanted?

Toki ni ai kedakaku

hito no kokoro wo tsuranuku you ni motome Ah

mamoru mono ni mamorareru mono

itsumo hikari kagayaki hanatsu

hitotsu no chikara ni...

(At times, love nobly

seeks out, to pierce people's hearts. Ah

The ones protected by the ones who protect

They always shine forth

To become a single power...)

"It would be a shame to waste a perfectly good vintage wine."

The amused baritone of the stranger pulled Heero further back to reality. Noticing that the man's hands were still supporting his own, he resumed properly holding the tray of his own volition. Satisfied that the servant wouldn't be shattering glass all over the floor, the stranger pulled his fingers away.

"Is this your first time watching the Dance?" When his inquiry didn't receive an answer, he smiled at the boy's supposed shyness and continued anyway. "It's a tradition that was picked up from roaming Mystics. On a night of a full moon, they dance just like this, and it is said the spirits themselves will guide them towards their true love. Even the song has been passed down for generations, and is said to hold a bit of black magic. It has become quite popular with the nobles, and now every lady knows the Dance by heart. "

His words made Heero freeze with sudden realization. Every cell in his body refused to acknowledge that there was some truth to this man's superstitions, that he was being drawn towards Duo in that way. He struggled to rein his feelings back under control, suddenly becoming lightheaded and sick.

Toki ni ai wa tsuyoku

hito no kokoro wo kizutsuke mo suru keredo Ah

yume wo atae yuuki no naka ni

itsumo hikari kagayaite

(At times, love is strong,

so much it even wounds people's hearts, but Ah

in the midst of the courage that grants our dreams,

a light always shines forth.)

When the stranger suddenly blocked his view, Duo was filled with an unbidden sense of jealousy. He didn't notice how the gathered women were beginning to look defeated, for he had continued to dance with Dorothy for the past few minutes. The guests were beginning to whisper among themselves, calculating how this mysterious House Catalonia would divvy up the power of the Winners. The song's spell over him began to recede, leaving an empty feeling inside of him. Something major was left incomplete, and for the life of him he couldn't think of what it was.

Ai wa tsuyoku

hito no kokoro wo ugokashite yuku dakara Ah

futari de iru kitto sekai wo

kaeru tame ni soshite subete wa

hitotsu no chikara ni naru

(Love is strong,

so much so that it can move people's hearts, but Ah

If we are together, then without a doubt

we can change the world, and everything will

become one power.)

"It appears Lord Duo has found his soulmate after all. The Dance never lies."

Heero took in the scene before him once more, and sure enough the guests were murmuring about the "lovely couple" who were just finishing the last motions of the dance. At that moment, he felt like such an idiot for thinking the things he did about Duo. Such illicit thoughts about another boy were indecent. It was almost enough to make his cheeks burn with embarrassment.

In an effort to force a change of topic, he offered the man some wine in a subdued voice. "Would you like some drink, sir?"

"Please, call me Treize."

After pouring the sparkling alcohol into a glass, he offered it to the noble and hoped he would go away. This whole encounter made him uncomfortable; it was not normal for the upper class to chitchat with the servants like this. Add the informal way he was given the man's name and it was obvious there was something odd about this person.

Tilting the glass to his lips, Treize swallowed a sip of the warm liquid before slowly licking the taste of it from his lips. His eyes glinted with some hidden emotion as Heero hastily bowed before him and took his leave. His eyes continued to follow the boy's retreating behind, his tongue lazily dragging back and forth against the rim of the glass.

---------------------------------

Dorothy stalked through the crowded ballroom, making her way towards an unpopulated corner of the room. Zechs was waiting for her, and he bore a bemused expression.

"I didn't know you danced so marvelously, Widower."

The woman gave a haughty sniff. "How dare these so-called nobles distort our faith! Only a true Mystic can Dance properly, and they wouldn't know one if I sent hail into their faces." She brushed a few pale strands of hair from her face, and managed to flick one of her forked brows as well. "Is it done?"

From within the confines of his dark cloak, he produced a slim vile of blood red liquid. Its interior gave off a dull, crimson glow, and he handed it over to the woman. "Dabbling in potions of the heart make me feel like a headstrong teenager again."

Carefully, she took the potion and tucked it beneath her black gloves. "I shall own everything of that man, even his desires."

---------------------------------

Quatre looked over his guests with dismay. Half of them were completely inebriated, and he knew exactly who to blame for that. An accusatory glance was sent in Duo's direction, which was answered with an innocent smile.

"Is something wrong, your Majesty?"

"Duo. Was it really necessary to spike the drinks with so much alcohol?"

"Was it really necessary to make me do that stupid dance?" Violet eyes narrowed into a glare. The King was surprised to find such venom in that gaze.

"Why does it bother you so much? The Dance is held at every ball. It is not as if it caused you to fall in love, although you did stay with Lady Catalonia for quite some time."

At his words, Duo stopped glaring at the king. It wasn't Quatre's fault that strange feelings came to him while he was dancing. They existed before the ball after all; the Dance just seemed to magnify them for a few moments. Unbidden, his eyes lifted and caught Prussian blue doing the same, and then he darted his gaze back to his food. It was the tenth time that night that they had accidentally locked gazes, and it was slowly driving the Shadowman to insanity.

He stood from the table, intent on getting some fresh air to sort out his thoughts, but he got no further than two steps when both arms were firmly latched onto.

"Are you retiring so soon Lord Duo? Its not polite for the guest of honor to leave so early!"

He held back a groan at the sound of Hilde's voice. Don't these women EVER give up?!

"If he wants to leave, then a proper lady would let him do so. Lord Duo, allow me to escort you to your room." Noin spoke from her place clinging to his left arm, a challenging look sent in Hilde's direction.

"There is no need for that, you still look hungry. I know you are quite fond of cocktails, and you'll be sure to find plenty of them here."

Silently seething from the hidden insult, Noin unthinkingly dug her fingernails into Duo's arm, causing the poor boy to wince. "I suppose you would know, since you've tried them all already!"

Somebody save me!! Duo mentally wailed to himself, and wondered if suddenly breaking into a run would be considered rude. He noticed someone walking towards them, and he prayed whoever it was would save him from this situation. However, when a drunken Tsuberov came into view, all hope deflated.

"Good evening -hic- Duo! I see you took my advice well enough with the ladies."

Both women averted their eyes from the drunken tutor, attempting to be polite by ignoring his current mental state. Duo suddenly had the sinking feeling that spiking the drinks wasn't such a good idea. "Uh, Tsuberov, I think you might have had one drink too many."

"Nonsense! You know I don't drink. I've had nothing but punch all evening." Yep, he was sure of it now. Spiking the drinks was a baaaad idea. "By the way, -hic- if I had to pick one lady it would be the pretty one on the left, because she has such nice birthing hips."

Hilde expelled an affronted gasp, and Noin hid her chuckles against a handkerchief. Embarrassed beyond belief, she murmured something about getting a drink and took her leave of the situation. Yes! One down, one to go. Just when Duo was thinking of ways to dump Noin on Tsuberov, the matter was taken out of his hands.

"May I have a word with you, Lord Duo?"

Dorothy's presence had a humbling effect on the other patrons. Both Tsuberov and Noin bowed to the couple before walking off; the old man mumbling drunkenly the whole way. Left alone with the mysterious woman, the Shadowman felt apprehension, but hid it behind a wide smile.

"What did you wish to talk about, my Lady?"

"Please, lets drop the formalities. How about a drink to help clear your head?"

At the boy's nod, she turned around and took a couple steps towards the table. Using her body as a shield, she uncorked the hidden vial and poured the red liquid into a glass, before mixing it the rest of the way with punch. To avoid suspicion, she fixed a glass for herself - minus the potion - and returned to Duo's side. The tainted one was handed to him.

"Thank you." He swished the amber liquid around, and stared at his reflection on the glass.

"Tell me Duo, are you afraid of love?" At his shocked look, she continued with a small smile. "Or rather, you are afraid of vanishing from existence, like your forefathers before you. Our king is generous and kind, but he will do anything to make sure the dynasty lives on. Even if someone has to be sacrificed."

She observed Duo's movements begin to slow. Taking a sip of her wine to hide an indulgent smile, she saw the grains of doubt begin to blossom in those violet eyes. Yes, your destiny is mine.

"In my eyes, you are a strong man for enduring the curse you have been born into. Personal executioner of the Winners." Elegantly waving her hand to indicate the King and Queen sitting at the table, she continued smoothly. "Eventually tossed aside like a used bauble and forgotten."

"I appreciate your sentiment Dorothy, but I believe you've got it all wrong." The words sounded harder than he meant them to be, but he didn't like the things she was causing him to think. His glass was lifted to his lips, the brim barely a centimeter from those tiers before it paused. Something in the distance had caught his attention, enough that he forgot what he was about to do. Annoyed at the hang-up, Dorothy spun to face what it was that had distracted Duo.

It was none other than a blank looking Heero, flanked by Lord Treize. Before she could do anything, Duo was heading in that direction, and she cursed under her breath as she followed. For the spell to work, she had to be the first person he saw after sipping the potion. That shepherd boy was not going to ruin her plans!

Rudely interrupting Treize's conversation, Duo tapped his friend on the shoulder and flashed a sardonic grin. "Heero, aren't you supposed to be laundering my coats?"

At first, the shepherd glared at Duo for his pompous question, but upon realizing the opening he was given, his eyes softened with gratefulness. "Aa. I'll get it done now, my Lord."

"Wait, I believe this servant still owes me a drink." Treize prevented Heero from going far by curling his palm over one of his shoulders. Witnessing the way his touch lingered caused Duo's skin to crawl with anger.

Why that no good pedophilic bastard! Well aware of this man's reputation, his suspicions were confirmed when he saw the way he interacted with Heero.

Eager to get out of this discomforting situation, Heero quickly poured the man a glass of wine and practically shoved it in his face. Treize took the proffered glass, his fingers brushing minutely against the shepherd's. Openly glaring at the older man, the boy spun on his heels and stalked away from him.

"Your servants could stand to learn a few lessons in manners."

"I can think of a few nobles that could as well." A dark look accompanied Duo's remark.

A bemused smile spread over Treize's lips as he took a sip of his drink, and promptly stopped before he gagged. The wine was leaden with extra alcohol, a prank that was no doubt caused by the very person he was speaking with. "That boy, Heero I believe? Is he your personal servant?"

Duo gaped at the man's innuendo, before collecting himself and retorting in an angry tone. "He is not my **personal** servant. How dare you suggest such a thing?"

"How dare I suggest you have a personal servant? Did I say something wrong?"

As the men engaged themselves in a verbal spat over what Treize was really trying to say, Dorothy stood off to the side, and was becoming increasingly annoyed. Duo set his glass down so he could argue better, causing the woman further distress. Deciding to take the matter into her own hands, she interrupted the escalating argument by stepping in.

"Please, my Lords, I'm sure it was just a simple misunderstanding. Let us take a drink and forget about this petty quarrel, hm?"

"A fine idea Lady Catalonia. In fact, I believe it is past my time to retire for the night. Enjoy the rest of the festivities, my Lord." He gave a curt bow, before snatching his glass of wine off the table and stalking off with it.

"Jerk. Uh, that is, excuse my language, eh heh heh." Duo was getting tired of having to talk "proper" for the evening, and was looking forwards to going to bed himself. As he reached for his drink, he missed the way Dorothy's ice blue eyes bore into his, as if he could be devoured with their depths. He sipped from the amber liquid, a grimace tainting the features of his heart shaped face.

Then, he tilted his head down to hers, a tentative smile painting his lips. Perhaps her look arrested him, because he hesitated upon meeting that stare. After a few awkward moments of silence, he gave a curt bow. "If you'll excuse me, I think I'll take Treize's lead, thanks for the lovely dance." And he left.

He left! That was NOT supposed to happen! Was the potion ineffective? She scowled down at the table, wondering where did everything go wrong. Suddenly, it hit her. Of course the potion would work, Zechs never made a mistake. The reason nothing happened was that Duo didn't drink it. Which meant..

... By the Dark...

---------------------------------

Treize casually made his way down the long hallways of Castle Sandrock, eager to turn in for the night in his guestroom. A noise made him pause, face tilted to listen to approaching footsteps, before ducking into a nearby alcove. The last thing he wanted right then was to engage in another long, boring conversation with another noble. Sometimes being polite was a curse, especially when all one wanted to do was to sleep.

However, the figure that came into view was not another noble, but that intriguing servant he had met earlier. He was busy lighting candles in the hallway, banishing the shadows that blanketed the marble floor and ceiling. From the first moment he saw this boy, he was interested. He had a glow about him, as if the light itself clambered to those somber features. Emotionless and beautiful like a statue, it made him wonder what would need to be done to drive him to passion, and break that perpetual blank mask.

It's just as well, he is probably already taken. Holding back a laugh, he took a sip of his wine as he indulged himself with watching the way the boy's backside moved.

As the liquid was swallowed, the pupils of his eyes constricted. His gaze slowly lifted to that bronzed face, unaware that the drink tasted overly sweet, or that he had stepped out of the confines of the alcove. Suddenly, the man had a care for only one thing, and his blood rushed in anticipation.

---------------------------------

A minor setback. There is more than one way to get what I want.

Many people found that they had to get out of Dorothy's way or they were mysteriously thrown to the ground. Her ultimate destination was the throne, where the King and Queen still entertained some of their guests. Plastering on a fake smile, she approached the dais and curtsied deeply towards the sovereignty. Quatre gave her a small smile, before motioning that she was allowed to speak.

"If I may be so bold your Majesty, something has come to my attention that worries me deeply."

"Speak freely Lady Catalonia, what is it that troubles you?"

"I have heard rumors that you are harboring two Mystics in your castle. Is it true?"

A gasp rippled through the gathered guests, and the King's smile tightened ever so slightly. "Actually, it is true, though I wouldn't use the word 'harboring'. They were captured a few days ago, and are kept in the dungeon. I assure you they are no danger to anyone."

"But we are at war!" Clasping her hands together, she feinted concern and fear. "Surely with their powers, they would be able to escape! How can you be so lenient while your people are dying, and others are vanishing left and right? Why, anyone of us in this room could be next."

Once more, murmurs of concern were voiced among the gathered noblemen. Quatre exchanged a look with Relena, before canting his gaze back to Dorothy. "Those girls are harmless, they only know healing magic. What more would you have us do to them?"

"Is it not the Winner tradition to kill all Mystics? Or do you plan to go against tradition?"

Alarm began to spread through the people. Most were under the impression that if the Winners forsake tradition, the Shadowman would turn against them all. Already, they feared for their lives due to the goings on in the kingdom, and the fact that the King was holding Mystics right in this castle, harmless or not, was very frightening.

Quatre's fingers dug into the arms of his throne. He could predict where this was going. It would not be long before his court demanded the death of those innocent girls. If he did not give them what they wanted, their support could waver, and this was a time when they needed to be unified while such a large threat was upon them. Worst of all, those women were Duo's friends, and he could already see how this was going to hurt him. Judging by the thoughtful look on Relena's face, he knew she was thinking along the same vein.

"Before we come to a decision regarding this, Dorothy, I'd like to consult my advisors. Thank you for bringing this matter to my attention."

"Oh no, thank you your majesty!" She curtsied one last time, before spinning on her heels and walking away from the dais. She didn't need her powers to know that the ties binding the King to the Shadowman were becoming dangerously weak, a thought that brought a smile to her lips.

You won't escape me, Duo Winner.

---------------------------------

Except for the guards on night duty, the hallways of Sandrock were devoid of life. It was the dead of night, and Heero was alone, walking with a tray of red wine in his hands. Sally had held him back in the kitchens, and told him one of the guests requested that he send up a drink to his room. It was odd that he was specifically named to be the one to do it, but they were used to the eccentricities of nobles.

Upon reaching the oaken door of the room, he balanced the tray in one hand so that he could knock with the other. At first, silence greeted him, and then the entrance swung open. No one was visible on the other side; only an empty bedchamber illuminated by candlelight awaited him. He figured he would just lay the tray on the nightstand and leave, so he walked inside.

The boy didn't go further than a few steps when the door suddenly shut behind him and clicked. He canted his head over his shoulder, in time to see Treize remove his hand from locking the doorknob. His eyes were dark and brimming with unfulfilled lust.

---------------------------------

He couldn't sleep. Duo figured that after the night that transpired, he would have slept like a rock, but that wasn't the case. He couldn't stop thinking about the strange phenomena that occurred during the Dance. Was he the only one that was affected, or did Heero feel this strange pull as well? What did it mean? Unable to sort through his thoughts, he wandered through the hallways in hopes to clear his head.

A delicate sounding grunt caught his attention, and he changed his course to find the source of the noise. It led him to one of the balconies, where Hilde was bent double over the railing trying to reach something that was in the vines growing along the base of the structure.

"Whoa, don't fall over!" When he saw the woman begin to slip, he caught her by the hips and pulled her back to her feet.

"Oh!" A light blush settled across her cheeks at the situation. She had been caught in an unflattering position, and in her nightgown to boot; although Duo was also dressed in his bedclothes. "How embarrassing.." Her voice trailed off into nervous chuckles.

"It's alright." Outside of politics and the social games they had to play, Hilde really was a good person inside. He could see that now in the way she ducked her head with shyness, with a tinge of red staining her cheeks. Her dark hair caught the silver rays of moonlight, and he had to admit that she was very attractive. "Mind telling me why you were leaning over the balcony like that?"

"My earring." She smiled softly and pointed down to the tangle of vines she was trying to reach. A sliver of gold dangled precariously among the leaves, matching the one that still dangled from her left ear. "They were passed down from my mother. It would make her very sad if I lost them." A sad sigh spilled from her lips.

Violet light began to illuminate the fallen bauble, encasing it in a sort of cocoon before it began to rise in the air. Hilde gasped and took a step back as it floated over the balcony railing, and came to a stop hovering just over Duo's outstretched palm.

"There. Now your mother won't be sad." He smiled warmly at her, and waited for her to take her earring.

Tentatively reaching, she curled her palms over the jewelry. The light faded upon contact, and she hugged it close to her chest, a bright smile on her face. "Thank you so much! I forgot that you were the Shadowman."

Her words struck him deeper than she realized. The only other people who didn't see him as the Shadowman were Heero and Trowa. "You really forgot?"

As if in answer, she surged forwards and pressed her lips against his. Shocked, the boy could only stand in disbelief as the softness lingered. It was his very first kiss. Then she pulled away, wearing one last shy smile of thanks before turning around and running back to her room.

For several minutes, he stood still, trying to digest what had just happened. Eventually, he walked away from the balcony, though he had no destination in mind.

His first kiss.

Empty hallways greeted him, with only the candles to bear witness to the event that just happened. However, with each step, there was a growing sense of urgency, though he couldn't pinpoint the reason. Something seemed off, and it nagged at the back of his mind. Seconds ticked, and the oppressive feeling increased; this strange, sixth sense becoming almost unbearable. His eyes darted back and forth, trying to find the source of the danger that was haunting him.

He stopped walking, and pressed his fingers to his forehead as if he had a headache. Pressure. Something was wrong. Was it Quatre? No, if the king were in trouble he would know immediately. This was something else, maybe even someone else. A gust of wind sent the candlelight dancing, as if taunting his dilemma.

Twilight colored eyes flew open in realization. "HEERO!"

He took off down the illuminated hallways, the lights wavering in his wake as if to urge him on.

It was his first kiss.

And he felt nothing.

---------------------------------

"Kso! (2)"

Heero banged his hip against a table, adding yet another bruise to the growing collection on his body. When the pervert made his intentions known, he was pissed off enough to forget his place and punch him across the face. Unfortunately, things began to escalate from there, and now Treize had a sword in his hands, and all he had was the silver tray to defend with.

He barely ducked out of the way of another swing, which shattered a potted plant to pieces. He was so angry, he couldn't decide whether to try and wrestle the sword out of his assailant's hands or to make a break for the locked door. Torn between fleeing for his virginity or regaining his dignity by kicking some noble ass, he hesitated.

"Ah ah ah. There is no way you will make it to the door in time." Treize smiled wantonly at the young lad, noticing the way he was eyeing the only exit out of the room. "The truth is, I've been playing with you the whole time. My ancestors were warriors of the Light, and I have been sworn to the Dark as required by the Winners."

To demonstrate, he lunged at Heero, forcing the boy to lift the tray in defense. The silver was cleaved directly in half with a single blow, leaving the servant with nothing to protect himself with. There was no time for the victim to so much as blink; the sword's movements were too fast for even the eye to detect. Pieces of Heero's clothing were ripped off, exposing the bronze of his abs, the soft skin of his thighs, the top of his chest; like a gift quickly becoming unraveled. One pass of the sword cut deeply into his shoulder, causing him to fall to his knees and hold his arm in pain.

"There, we are even. Your bleeding shoulder, for my bleeding lip. Now," tucking his blade beneath Heero's chin, he made those furious Prussian eyes lift towards him. "We have experienced pain. Shall we move on to the pleasure?"

Teeth gritted, he winced at the sharp sword angled towards his neck. For the first time, he began to feel fear.

---------------------------------

Fuck this huge castle! Where can he be!

A quick trip to Heero's room confirmed that the boy wasn't in his bed. Alarmed, Duo shook Trowa awake to ask him where the shepherd had gone. With sleepy eyes, he answered that one of the guests had requested he take some wine to them, but he didn't know which one. When asked if anything was wrong, Duo merely responded that he was looking for him and took off.

People might think him odd if he told them that he somehow knew Heero was in trouble. It was one thing to feel this way about the king, but his powers were for the Winners and only the Winners. His friend was just a commoner, and therefore had nothing to do with the pact between the Shadowman and Quatre's family. It made no sense; it wasn't part of his job description!

He let out an exasperated groan when he finally made it to the guest wing. There were over 60 different rooms, and no way to tell which one Heero was in. Sprinting to the very first door, he yanked at the doorknob only to find it locked. Growling with frustration, he channeled a sliver of razor sharp air to slice through the doorjamb. He pushed the frame open, only to find a bewildered guest sitting upright in his bed with a fearful expression on his face. Cursing, he slammed the door back shut and repeated the process for the next room.

Needless to say, many guests were rudely awakened, but no one dared asked why the Shadowman was running around in his bedclothes, opening doors in the dead of night like a crazed lunatic. Most figured that the best way to stay alive and healthy was to turn a blind eye to this odd nocturnal behavior and pretend it never happened.

"Heero!" He opened one more room, and froze stiffly for about five seconds before slamming that door shut. Apparently, Noin had taken a liking to Tsuberov, and had invited him to her quarters for the night. What he had just seen was not meant for his sensitive eyes.

"That just shot my sex life to hell." He had the sudden urge to giggle. What he was doing was sheer madness, but that insistent feeling wouldn't go away.

Twenty-five rooms later, there was still no Heero. Duo realized he was becoming frantic. He raked his hands through his bangs, on the verge of panic. At the corner of his eye, he saw a guard who was pretending there was nothing out of the ordinary going on.

Of course! I'm such an idiot!

The man's eyes widened when the Shadowman approached him at a jog, and beads of sweat began to gather along his forehead.

"Have you seen Heero?"

"Excuse me my Lord, but I don't know any Hee--"

"He had to have come by this way! Brown hair, dark blue eyes, he's a servant, about this tall!"

The guard fell silent for a few moments as he searched his memory, before suddenly recalling whom Duo was talking about. "Ah yes, he was walking along the halls rather late. I saw him go into Lord Krushenada's room."

"He went where?!"

Wincing against the yell, the man pointed towards a door down by the end of the hallway.

---------------------------------

"Hanase!" (3)

"What a beautiful language you speak, I must someday convince the King to preserve it."

The mattress muffled any protests. Treize had managed to tie Heero's hands behind his back using pieces of his ripped breeches, and now had the boy turned over the edge of his bed. His advances were met with furious kicks, which caused him some degree of annoyance. To solve this problem, he pushed himself between the boy's legs and pressed his body against Heero's back, effectively pinning him down.

With growing horror, Heero saw the sheets turn red from the blood seeping from his shoulder. The bedclothes drowned his yells, and that pervert was tugging the remains of his breeches off his hips. His cheeks flushed with anger and humiliation, his inner voice screaming that this shouldn't happen, that he couldn't allow it to happen. Piteous struggles did nothing under that crushing weight, and his eyes sealed closed at the brush of those hands against his most intimate parts.

Neither noticed when the door began to shudder from its hinges, and slammed open. Eyes wide with rage, Duo splayed his fingertips at Treize, and a burst of wind knocked him off Heero and slammed him into the wall.

"What in the hell did you think you were doing!!"

Treize blinked unseeing eyes at the Shadowman, the color of his irises nearly swallowing all of the obsidian of his pupils. "I was spending quality time with love. Why are you here?"

His entire body began to shake with pure anger. He was so mad, he could barely grit the next words out. "When you wake up, I want you out of this country. Or I will personally drag your good-for-nothing filthy carcass over hot coals before delivering you to Shinigami!"

Splaying his fingers once more, he sent another burst of wind at the man, forcing his head to crack against the marble behind him. Immediately, he slumped with unconsciousness, a trickle of crimson beginning to seep from his forehead to join that from his busted lip.

A sick feeling settled into the pit of his stomach upon seeing Heero straighten up from his place bent over the bed. His shirt was in tatters, the breeches were completely ruined, and a steady stream of blood flowed from his left bicep. He walked to his friend and helped him remove the bindings from his wrists, wincing at the welts that were just beginning to form there.

Almost as soon as he was free, Heero turned to the limp body of Treize and began kicking the life out of him. Duo stood by, waiting for his friend's anger to dissipate. Perhaps it was a tad cruel, but in his opinion it was nothing the noble didn't deserve. When he was done, the shepherd stood over his work, shuddering violently as if he were freezing.

The Shadowman gathered an unsoiled sheet from the bed, and wrapped it around the other boy's form. "Come on. Lets get you some clothes, then ask Marie or Meia to heal that."

For the first time since he came into the room, Heero looked at him, and a lump formed in his throat at the anguish he saw in those Prussian depths. Then they left the room together, neither bothering to look back.

---------------------------------

Hidden behind one of the wide columns that lined the castle, Dorothy and Zechs watched as the two boys quietly made their way down the halls. Pale blue eyes darkened to violet, and a mirror was pointed at their retreating backs. Its reflective surface displayed their bodies, surrounded by red tendrils that intertwined, and then vaporized before forming new ones, as if they couldn't decide whether to come into existence or not.

"This night is marked with both victory and defeat."

The sour mood radiating from his companion prompted Zechs to keep his mouth closed, and to simply let Dorothy finish her little soliloquy.

Remembering the incident gone awry with the potion, the Widower's hands tightened into fists. "This is the first time fate has ever toyed with me."

"If I may say, Widower, you are dealing with an enormous predestined force. That is something that cannot be easily manipulated."

"No, it can never be easy." Her voice was quiet, and she continued to watch the boys go further and further away. "Their innocence sickens me. Take care of it."

A slow smile stole across the Puppet Master's lips, and he answered in that deep, sensuous tone of his. "As you wish."

End Chapter Fourteen

(1) Otousan: Father

(2) Kso: Shit

(3) Hanase: Release, or in this case, "Let me go"
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The Shadowman