A/U: I know, I know I have another story going, but this one popped into my head and my muse is refusing to let me advance with the other one till I get this one at least started. I hope you enjoy it. I am aware that there is some ooc, and I'm going to redo Shuichi's family for the sake of the story.
Disclaimer: Gravitation does not belong to me sadly (actually that's probably a good thing)
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The mid morning sun shown down on the white sand streets, glittering off the multitude of colored fabrics that lined the streets of the bazaar. Merchants had their many wares displayed for all to see in hope of attracting buyers as they filled the air with their songs edifying their goods. Camels were lead through the crowds, and even the rare horse could be seen. There were booths selling exotic fruits, tents full of rugs, another selling lamps, their merchants calling forth all kinds of promises.
One booth claimed the promise of many pretty baubles and jewels. It was this one that he made his way towards. He gazed over the pieces of jewelry looking for something that might catch his eye, and on in particular did. It was a chained diadem that had a large Amherst in the center of it.
The merchant watched the cloaked figure through narrowed eyes. He was well aware of the ways of street urchins and usual shooed the thieves off before they got so close. He had been prepared to do the same with this small creature when he realized that the cloak was made of a rich silk. No street thief would have been able to keep that even if they had stolen it. Perhaps a rich mans daughter or wife.
His suspicions seemed to be confirmed when a delicate hand reached forward revealing an elegant piece of jewelry that wrapped around the middle finger, several intricate gold beaded chains reaching for the wrist where they connected with a beautiful gold bangle, emblazoned with diamonds.
"Hiro, what do you think?" the cloak figure asked holding up the diadem.
"I think we shouldn't have left the palace." The merchant took quick notice of the person who came to stand next to the mystery figure. He was dressed in fine silks as well, with a cloak draped over his shoulders though he had the hood pushed back to reveal his face and red hair. The girl's lover perhaps.
Noticing the frown on the young man's face, and the prospect of losing a sale, the merchant stepped forward to address them.
"A lovely piece of art isn't it," he cooed watching as the cloaked figure continued to admire the piece of jewelry.
"It is very lovely," any surprise that the merchant might have had from the soft masculine voice was washed away by the sweet lilt it held. "How much is it?"
The merchant felt himself caught in the trance of the voice. "Two naedr my lord." The merchant took the coins a smile playing at his face, euphoria sweeping over him as the young man thanked him and walked away.
"Must you do that Shuichi?" Hiro hissed in his ear as they continued on their way.
"Do what Hiro?" Shuichi had pulled the piece of jewelry into the folds of the cloak to slip it in one of the small pouches around his slender waist.
"You know what. Really Shu we should not be out here, at least not without an escort."
Shuichi sighed at his friend. "I am sick of staying cooped up and having people hovering over me constantly. I just want a little freedom."
"Well couldn't we have at least experienced freedom on a flying carpet or something," Hiro complained as he tapped his sandal to the ground dislodging a pebble. Shuichi looked down at his on delicate slippers seeing they were ruined.
He shrugged at his friend but continued walking taking in all the wonderful sites. "If we had brought a carpet, we would have drawn far too much attention."
"Yes like the attention of the guards who would take you back where you should be."
Shuichi looked over at his friend and sighed. "Please Hiro just a little longer and we can return. I get so tired of being locked up."
"Shu, you know it's for your own safety." Hiro had not been born into privilage and knew just how harsh living on the streets could be. "There are those that would capture you and abuse…" He stopped mid sentence noticing that they had strayed to the part of the bazaar he had wanted to keep his young friend away from. "Shuichi," he grabbed the younger man's arm pulling him away, "I think we should leave."
Shuichi had noticed at the same time Hiro had where they were. His body went ridged, his hands clenching into fists, and though you couldn't see it, his face bore a scowl. He had not heard what Hiro had said but realized his friend was trying to drag him the opposite way. With a jerk he freed his arm and marched further into the masses. "I want to see," he growled out to his friend.
Hiro groaned and followed Shuichi into the slave auction. In front of them was a raised platform, where a young girl, scantly clad stood. She did not cry, did not fight just looked around curiously. Bids were placed the auctioneer called out the winner and the girl obediently followed him.
"This is disgusting," Shuichi said, bile rising in his throat. "These are people, not animals. It's not right."
"Shu, I think we should go back now," Hiro was getting a bad feeling that his friend was going to do something stupid, when the cloaked figure turned to walk away.
Both stopped a moment latter and turned to see what the racket on the auction platform was. There in the center of the stage was the most beautiful creature Shuichi had ever seen. He swept his eyes the legs clad in the traditional baggy gauze fabric that end where golden skin began. That golden skin stretched over well defined muscles that were currently straining against the two guards on either side. Shuichi's eyes traveled over the eloquent chest muscles to the magically enhanced slave collar, up to full lips that were twisted in furry to the golden locks that framed gorgeous golden eyes.
Shuichi's breath caught, his heart stopped and he began to feel faint.
The auctioneer's calls snapped Shuichi from his musing as he heard people put a price on a priceless beauty. This is wrong, his mind screamed, this is so wrong, I have to do something. He listened racking his brain for some possible answer but nothing came to him.
A hundred naedr the one fifty, two hundred, Shuichi couldn't breath, two-fifty, three hundred, he had to do something, three fifty, three seventy-five, why was he just standing there.
"Five hundred naedr," purred a voice off to the left.
Gasped could be heard all over the auction grounds. "Five hundred naedr," gasped Hiro in Shuichi's ear, "That's unheard of."
Five hundred naedr was a lot, even for the rich, but then Shuichi wasn't the rich.
"Five hundred once," An over dressed woman was making her way to the auction platform smiling triumphantly. "Five hundred twice, So…"
"Five thousand naedr!"
A shocked silence fell over the crowed as they parted making a clear path between the auctioneer and the speaker revealing the small cloaked form.
The auctioneer stood staring at the figure for several moments, taking in the size and voice, this was a mere child. "I do not have time for games you whelp," spat the auctioneer, his face contorted in rage.
"Five thousand naedr."
"Why you stupid, guards." The auctioneer motioned for the cloaked figure to be grabbed as the hoity woman stomped onto the platform to claim her prize, a prize that was staring death at her.
The guards advanced on the small figure who stood his ground. "Get over here you runt," snarled a particularly ugly man as he reached forward.
"Do not touch me." As the words were spoken an unimaginable fear crept into the guards making them back away.
The small figure strolled closer to the stage. "I said five thousand naedr, if I am not mistaken that makes mine the highest bid so far."
The auctioneer sneered down at him, "And how would a rat like you have that much naedr," he quipped rhetorically.
"Because," the small figure said pulling the cloak off with a flourish, "I am Prince Shuichi."
The intake of air from the collective gasp was over whelming, as everyone sunk respectfully to their knees. Shuichi's eyes bore into the auctioneer, then turned to the woman who was now sinking shakily to her knees, then to a pair of beautiful gold eyes.
"I take it there will be no further argument," inquired Hiro as he rushed to his prince's side. The auctioneer mutter something he could only assume was Shuichi's claim to his slave. He then leaned down to Shuichi, "Hurry up and get him and let's go."
Shuichi snapped out of the trance of those golden eyes and back to the matter at hand. He walked forward and pulled a mark out of his small silk pouch handing it to the auctioneer. "I take it that will suffice." The auctioneer nodded, knowing he would be able to turn the mark in to the royal treasure for his funds.
Shuichi turned to walk away, looking over his shoulder, "Well come," he said with a smile. The blond sneered at him a moment then his face twisted in pain, his hand shooting to his throat where the collar encircled his neck.
"Shuichi!"
oooooooo
Eiri tossed one of the slave trader's guards aside, ignoring the pain shooting down his spine. He punched another as the man tried to grab him.
"We need to intensify the spell on his collar," snapped the trader turning to the black art mage next to him.
Eiri lunged at the man as he neared only to find his body once again frozen in mid air. Words like greasy, foul, rank came to Eiri's mind as he watched the finger reach out and touch the lock on the leather strap. Pain wracked his body forcing his breath out in a hiss.
"Impressive," the mage stated drolly. "You may actually get a decent price for this one." A long black fingernail traced the line of Eiri's jaw. "Yes a very good price." He spun to face the trader, "It will cost you double for the enchantment though."
The slave trader snorted and tossed a bag of coins at the mage. With a wave of his hand the mage dropped Eiri to the ground. "Grab him," ordered the trader. Obediently the guards grabbed Eiri's arms forcing him towards the auction platform.
Collar or no collar he was not going quietly. He tightened his muscles straining against there hold till the pain from the collar forced him to release. Slowly the guards were able to drag him up the steps before the crowd. Again he tightened his muscles trying to pull free.
He almost laughed as the auctioneer started babbling about his qualities. They knew nothing of him, hell they didn't even know who he was and had only slapped the name Yuki on him as a way to identify him. He of course was not going to correct them and give them his true name, that would have been full hardy.
As the bidding started he stared out at all with hate filled eyes as the price on him rose.
Idiots, he thought, you buy nothing but your deaths, all of you.
The price for him reached three hundred and he almost scoffed. If they really knew who he was they would be bidding three times that.
Suddenly a voice rang out, "Five hundred naedr." Eiri's eye scanned the crowed and fell upon a rather comely woman. A trophy wife by the looks of her, he thought, spending her husband's money for her own pleasure. The woman started forward a look of triumph on her face as Eiri snarled.
"Five thousand naedr!"
Eiri's head snapped around in shock. Even he knew that under the circumstance's that was an outrageous price. His eyes narrowed as the crowed cleared a line to the speaker. Eiri allowed his eyes to travel over the speaker, never dropping the scowl on his face. The figure was small, petite, but the voice had definitely been male. Probably some dumb kid playing a prank, was his first thought, but then his eyes noted the fabric of the cloak, it was expensive. He could also see delicate slippers sneaking out from beneath the folds of cloth. Who was this person? He was undoubtedly more than he seemed.
"Five thousand naedr," the voice repeated. Eiri heard the auctioneer snap something but his attention was drawn to the movement of the woman who had originally bid for him. She was oozing with victory as she made her way on to the platform. Her overwhelming perfume permeated his sinuses forcing him to keep from gagging. The first chance he got he was going to break her neck.
"What the?" The whispered disbelief from one of the guards drew Eiri's attention back to the small cloak mystery that was now approaching them, the guards who were ordered to remove him now slinking off in fear.
"I said five thousand naedr, if I am not mistaken that makes mine the highest bid so far." Man this brat was cocky. While Eiri of course considered his value far above a measly five thousand naedr he knew that there were very few who could throw money away like that.
With a swirl of fabric the cloak fell away to reveal a rather effeminate young man. Eiri watched as the fools around him fell to their knees. The young man in front of him moved his eyes from the idiot auctioneer to the stupid ditz before locking on Eiri's. He had to consciously keep from gasping as he looked into pools of velvet violet. He could almost feel himself being drawn into their depths.
Another young man moved up beside the first making those violet eyes turn away. Eiri growled as he handed the auctioneer something then began to walk away.
The velvet eyes turned back to him, "Well coming?" Eiri snarled. If this brat thought he was just going to be at his beck and call… pain shot through Eiri's spine making him grind his teeth, involuntarily he reached for the collar.
oooooooo
"Rom what are you doing here?" whined Shuichi as he looked up at the man seated on a cream colored horse.
"Shuichi the entire palace is in an up roar because you are missing." It was very obvious that the Captain of the guard was not at all happy over the situation as he dismounted from his horse.
Shuichi ignored Hiro's biting glare. "I have only been gone a few hours, it's no big deal."
"Shuichi it wouldn't matter if you had only been gone ten minutes." The tall dark skinned man reached over and pressed the gem on his wrist watching it light up before turning his attention back to the young man. "What are you doing here anyways," he said making a sweeping gesture towards the auction grounds.
"He bought a slave Rom," Hiro said in exasperation.
Rom looked at Hiro in disbelief before bursting into laughter. "Very funny Hiro," the man said hitting Hiro on the back.
"I'm not laughing," was Hiro's only response.
Rom looked at him then down at the prince and look of astonish on his face. "By the sands you did." He looked around the immediate area before looking back at Shuichi. "Well your highness, where is she?"
"He," spat Hiro. That had Rom quirking an eyebrow as he scanned the vicinity again, his eyes landing on the blond and narrowing.
"Your highness I must contest."
"And what right do you have to do so," snapped Shuichi now losing his temper. He spun and walked back to where Eiri still stood on the platform. "You, come down now." He knew he should not snap, but the situation was irritating him.
He watched as the man jumped gracefully off the platform to stand directly in front of him. Up close he was even taller then he had seemed. Shuichi swallowed as he looked back into the golden eyes. He watched as those eye trailed from him to something else a look of disgust washing over them.
Shuichi turned to see a large flying carpet hovering not to far from them and sighed. His outing was obviously over. Dejected he walked over to the carpet and took the hand Rom offered him to step gently of to the floating tapestry. He sat down gracefully waiting for Hiro to join him. Once his friend joined him, Rom made a gesture for them to leave.
"No wait," cried Shuichi.
"What is it your highness?"
"He is coming with me," Shuichi indicated to his newly purchased slave.
Rom scowled deeply at him, "I really must protest."
"No you mustn't," snapped Shuichi. "He is coming with me and that is that." With that Shuichi turned to his blond. "Slave come here, sit next to me." It took several minutes for him to obey, but with a growl joined the prince.
oooooooo
Eiri watched the exchange between the one he gathered was a royal guard and the young man who had foolishly purchased him. He took time to observe the prince. He watches as the sun sparkled through light pink locks, which accentuated those violet eye. His milky skin betrayed a life that was sheltered from the sun and emphasized lush pink lips that were pouting at the moment. His slender arms were adorned with numerous bangles that jingled every time he moved. The silk vest and flowing pants he wore matched the dainty slippers that adorned his feet.
Eiri was taking in the curves of the young man's lips wondering if they would still pout while he had the brat screaming in pain for degrading him like this when he noticed the guard's eyes narrowing on him. Eiri was giving the guard his best death glare, enjoying the look of uncertainty on his dark face, when the prince turned as started towards him again.
"You, come down now."
The brat had just snapped at him. Eiri jumped lightly off the stage, hiding a smile when he realized his close proximity had startled the prince. His eyes locked with the violet ones again when an unnatural movement out caught his attention. His gaze drifted past the younger man's shoulder to the object that was now floating a few feet away. Revulsion washed through him as the magical item beckoned to be ridden.
He watched as the prince begrudgingly stepped on the enchanted tapestry and sat, followed by his friend. Eiri looked at the thing with contempt and mistrust. He hated all things magical.
His musings were interrupted by a command that came with a shriek of pain down his spine. "Slave come here, sit next to me." For several minutes he fought with the binding telling himself there was no way he was getting on that thing. The collar around his throat said other wise. He soon found him self sitting next to the brat, growling threats under his breath.
oooooooo
Shuichi watched as the bazaar slowly slipped away before falling backwards on the carpet, startling his slave. He looked up to see the Hiro was giving him a pensive look. "Ok what did I do now?"
"Shuichi I don't get you," Hiro said shaking his head. "You have a beautiful palace, huge gardens and everything you need to live comfortably. You have the perfect life, why are you so unhappy?"
Shuichi snorted, "Yeah, the perfect life," he repeated dismally.
"How can you say it like that Shu?" His friend shook his head.
Shuichi rolled onto his stomach propping himself up on his elbows. "Because, the beautiful palace and huge garden come with a very tall fence. Hiro it's nothing more than a cage." He crossed his arms and dropped his head staring off at the mount range to the north. "Don't you ever want to just get out and explore?"
"No Shuichi I don't. I know how cruel the real world can be." Shuichi had not missed the emphasis on the word real.
"But Hiro don't you ever wonder what other places are like?" Shuichi lifted his head looking longingly off into the distance. "Like what are the people like over that mountain range."
"Shuichi those people are mage hunters." The alarm in his friend's voice was apparent as all the blood fled from Hiro's face.
"Mage hunters are just bedtime stories Hiro," he said lazily.
"No Shuichi they are not." A shiver swept through Hiro, "I have seen them Shuichi." He looked the young prince in the eyes. "They would kill you and think nothing of it. They would kill for no other reason than you were born with a gift."
"Hiro, I didn't ask to be born with this ability." There was sadness in the prince's voice.
Hiro patted the boy's head as he watched the palace come into view. "I know Shuichi. Come on sit up, we have a welcoming comity."
Shuichi sat up facing forward and groaned.
oooooooo
Eiri sat grinding his teeth as the carpet spiraled up into the sky. He sat there tense staring straight ahead, sure that the thing was going to drop out from beneath him. He started when the body next to him suddenly fell backwards. His muscles tensed sure that something dreadful was about to happen.
"Ok what did I do now?" His brow furrowed as he looked sideways at the prince. Did the fool child know how far off the ground they were and that they had trusted their lives to an abnormality of fabric and thread?
"Shuichi I don't get you,"
What was there to get, the boy is an idiot of a brat who had ordered him onto this blasted thing that should be shredded and burned, that's all there is to it.
"You have a beautiful palace, huge gardens and everything you need to live comfortably. You have the perfect life, why are you so unhappy?"
Because he is a spoiled idiot brat that trusts magic, what's wrong with you that you can't see that? The idiot brat rolled over causing the fabric to sway making Eiri groan as he anticipated plummeting off the side to his demise.
"Because, the beautiful palace and huge garden come with a very tall fence. Hiro it's nothing more than a cage."
Selfish idiot brat, you have a good life and yet you complain. A nagging in Eiri's on mind reminded him that it was that very thing that had ended him in this position. He had wanted to escape his own cage.
"Don't you ever want to just get out and explore?"
Yes, on the ground, on my own two feet, or on a horse, not on this stupid flying contraption.
"No Shuichi I don't. I know how cruel the real world can be."
Real world huh, well if you think… Eiri gasped as the carpet made a sharper than normal turn, but the two other occupants didn't seem to notice it. Get me off this thing.
"But Hiro don't you ever wonder what other places are like? Like what are the people like over that mountain range."
You wouldn't even make to the mountains much less make it over them. Besides that the people there don't like your kind, you're an abomination, an abnormality.
"Shuichi those people are mage hunters."
Smart boy to be scared.
"Mage hunters are just bedtime stories Hiro,"
Idiot brat, just wait I'll show you how stupid you really are. See if you still say that when you are shrieking in pain.
"No Shuichi they are not. I have seen them Shuichi. They would kill you and think nothing of it. They would kill for no other reason than you were born with a gift."
Oh they would think something of it, they would think they were ridding the world of its disgrace.
"Hiro, I didn't ask to be born with this ability."
Eiri paused for a moment. Why did the boy sound sad? It doesn't matter.
"I know Shuichi. Come on sit up, we have a welcoming comity."
Eiri heard the groan next to him, but he was a little to busy dealing with the movement of the carpet from the prince's change in position.
The carpet came down to rest in a room full of people, none of whom looked to please. With relief he stepped off the carpet, swearing to burn the thing.
Well at least now I know he is a mage, I will have no regret killing him knowing that.
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Thank you for reading, I hope you are enjoying. Reviews and Corrective Criticism are welcome.