After 8 long months of writer's block as well as lack of motivation, Here I am giving you guys a new chapter. It's been a while so if I dissapoint some readers, I apologize. So without further ado, here's chapter 21, I hope you like it.

Chapter 20: An enemy no more?

Back at the castle, Maa was interrogating Hiro about the events of the past three months. The red head insisted that nothing out of the ordinary happened during that time span. But the King's new advisor and a surprise in store for him; One that would turn everything around.

"*Chuckles* you are quite an amusing victim But not as convincing as you lead on. *pulls out some papers* Do you recognize these documents?" Maa asked.

"Just what are those?" Hiro asked back.

"Now, Hiroshi, You shouldn't answer questions with another question, that's not very polite. But if I need to remind you, these are the king's top secret and forbidden documents. Such papers are not to be read or tampered with in any way. And I found some these forbidden papers in your room. But something tells me that you didn't put these there or take them out. Stealing from the king is bad but stealing the kings forbidden papers is considered an act of treason, such a crime results in being put to death. You don't want that, Do you Hiroshi?"

"J-Just what are you talking about, Maa?" Hiro asked. "I know nothing about any of those papers or who took them from the king!"

"tsk tsk tsk. Lying won't get you out here any faster my friend." Maa taunted. You know who took these. Tell you what, I'll make you a deal, you tell me the name of the perpetrator and I let you go free. Refuse and I will charge you with Treason, have you tried and executed. I know that you know who it was! Now talk!"

It was then that Hiro's memory began to sink in about what happened over that course of time. And quite obvious that he was caught in a lie. But could he really turn on a friend? Was freedom really worth becoming a traitor? Not in Hiro's mind it wasn't. He was a loyal friend through and through and no amount of threats would be enough to turn him against anyone.

"I told you, I haven't seen those before! And I don't know who stole them! So fuck off!" the sorcerer snapped at his so-called warden. That would be a decision he would later regret. Maa knew how to break his victims; he had different methods for different prisoners. He figured if offering him a deal wouldn't be enough for the red haired teen, then maybe another method would get him to talk. He figured Hiro's body was much too attractive to leave marks all over, so he would torture in the second best way he knew possible and a bit more effective.

"Still in denial I see…" he began. "And now you have the audacity to swear at me when I'm the one in control? I must say you have balls of steel to be this defiant with me. But even the most willful prisoners have been broken by my torture. And you Hiroshi won't be any different! You think you're so tough, don't you? You think you can lie your way out of here and protect the real thief, do you? Well, think again, because one way or another you will talk! Now wait here."

Hiro knew that whatever was in store for him, he would soon be in for a world of hell. Then again, in his mind he was already in hell. And it wouldn't be cooling down anytime soon. All he could think of other than his current situation was whether or not the others are in a similarly bad or even worse position than he is.

It wasn't long before Maa returned with what appeared to be lit candles. Could he be planning to hex the sorcerer into giving up the ghost?

"Now, Hiroshi, you'll see why even the most willful men crack when I'm finished with them first hand, I hope you're ready." he said slyly. Restrained, Hiro could only cringe at the thought of what was coming.

"Guards!" Maa shouted. "say this man on the bench!" as per their request, the guards loosened the chains on the teen and placed him on the nearby bench, awaiting their next order. That of course took barely any time.

"Strip him down until he's stark naked!" the new advisor ordered again.

"WHAT?" Hiro screamed out. It was then that he realized just what his captrurer had in mind for him. And he didn't like it. Little by little the gurards removed every fabric of clothing on the young sorcerer until there was nothing left on his body but skin. Maa then stood over him with one of the lit candles, lit so brightly in fact that wax was dripping from the bottom. Some of said wax started to drip on the teen's body, it was nearly as hot as being burnt by fire itself. Hiro suppressed his cries of pain. For as long as he could, for he knew the worst was yet to come.

"So, will you cooperate with me now, Hiroshi?" Maa asked in a devious tone.

"G-G-Go to hell!" The sorcerer responded.

"*Chuckles* okay, have it your way." The blond man replied.

Back in Taki's room, Shuichi was pondering whether or not he and K would be able to trust the had recently learned a spell that would allow him to unchain K and Taki, but wasn't sure if he should use it on his former enemy. While it may seem that Taki being betrayed by his master would be enough for him to wise up and join them in taking him down. There was still a chance that he would doublecross them. An event that they would have to be ready for at some point. Even if the king's former advisor did team up with them, they would have to know his true intentions; and considering Taki's history, trusting him was not Shuichi's first choice.

"psst. K," Shuichi whispered.

"What?" K groaned at him. He was already annoyed by the man he was fighting earlier, he hoped that whatever Shuichi was going to tell him would be useful.

"I know a spell that can get you out of these chains, and I can cast right now so we can get to the bottom of what's happening." He replied. That was when the former soldier began to very thought of Shuichi using magic was more frightening than any death threat he got from anyone. After all, to his knowledge, the teen couldn't even control his magic and whatever spell he might cast would be catastrophic.

"Thanks,but I'll find a way out myself." He said. Before he could however he found what appeared to be a talisman on his chain. That talisman couldn't have possibly came from Taki, he thought; he was bound by the chains as well and with his body bound would not be able to perform any spells. At that point, K was preparing for the worst. Much to his surprise, he wasn't blown into thousands of pieces, he was indeed freed from the uncomfortable restraints. Taki on the other hand was not pleased at the thought of being left behind by the other two men.

"Excuse me!" the wizard snapped. "You're forgetting someone flamingo head!"

"I don't thnk we should waste any time, Shuichi let's go." K suggested pushing him out of the door. Normally Shuichi wouldn't think twice about leaving an enemy behind but he somehow got the feeling that Perhaps Taki might have wised up after being betrayed by Usami. He still had his doubts of course but it couldn't hurt to give the wizard a chance.

"Lord Taki, give me one good reason, I should get you out. And another reason why K and I should believe that you're on our side now. Only then, will I decide whether or not to free you." Shuichi proposed. It was clear that K did not like where things were heading. As far as he knew, Taki was the last man they should trust.

"Shuichi, have you lost your mind?" he ciricized. "Have you forgotten that this monster tried to have you killed many times. That he poisoned Hiro and put a spell on us to get us to kill you and outed you as a prince? You aren't really thinking of letting him go to do any of that again are you?"

"I'm aware of what he did in the past, but maybe now, Lord Taki has wised up and realized what an evil bastard, the king really is. Even if he did cause a lot of trouble for us, I'm sure somewhere deep down, he can be redeemed. And the only way, I can know if that's true is if we set him free,K." Shuichi answered. It was just like the pink haired teen to believe that there was good in someone no matter how horrible they seemed. The harsh reality was, however was that while most people can be redeemed, there are some in the world that are simply Pure evil. Was Taki one of them?

"I really hope you know what you're doing kid." K responded back. 'sometime's I think you're just too sweet for your own good.' It was time For the king's former advisor to make a plea for why he should also be released from his chains, although in his mind, they would fall on deaf ears.

"Shindou you have every single right to despise and mistrust me for my misdeeds to you, and if you wish you can kill me where I stand. But I assure that after the king has turned on me, I have nothing but hatred towards him and want nothing more than to see him get his just desserts. Despite my actions, I never had any personal grudges against you, I was simply following orders. As for what happens when this is over, I cannot promise anything, but for now, you have my alligance."

The other two men looked at each other, then turned their attention to Taki's chain. Was he being truthful?Only time would tell and for them time was of the essence. They still had their doubts about the wizard but they would have to ask questions later.

"Very well, Lord Taki." Shuichi said placing a talisman on the chain. He still had second thoughts about whether or not he was doing the right thing. But consequences were secondary. "If you try anything funny, I won't be so forgiving next time." He warned the former advisor. What none of the men realized was the Shuichi's talisman unintentionally had another effect on Taki. Not only did it free him from the bonds of the metal chains. But it also had an effect on Taki's soul, though he didn't feel it at the moment, most of the resentment and negativity that he had inside him for years seemed to melt away. All of the hatred he had for other's besides the king seemed to be nothing more than a memory. At least for the time being.

"I still don't know, Shu." K said to the teen. He was equally as reluctant trusting the wizard and was sure that he could easily revert back to his old ways.

"I know, I know, but we have to get to the bottom of this." Shuichi replied. With those words, the three men exited Taki's bed chambers to find the king and get to the bottom of his sinister plans. It wasn't long before they heard the cries of a familiar voice. A voice they knew all too well.

"Hiro!" K half shouted. He began to run ahead of the other two men to find his distressed lover, only to be stopped by one of his companions.

"You fool! We could be running right into a trap!" Taki pointed out bluntly.

"I know that," K agreed. "But Hiro is-"

"Hold on, someone's coming!"Shuichi interrupted. He heard footseps of someone approaching where they were, though they appeared to be sneaking around.

"God dammit Shindou! We don't have time to be fooling around!" Taki shouted at the boy.

"You two, go on ahead, I'll see who it is." Shuichi commanded. He then went into the opposite direction sneaking just like whoever was sneaking around the castle. The other two men went ahead, baffled at their pink haired companions behavior.

"Damned idiot, He'll get himself captured." K said. Taki simply looked back at his former target. Although for the most part his personality seemed the same, his hostility toward Shuichi was slowly starting to go away. One could say that he was beginning to feel some sort of concern when Shuichi parted ways with them.

'wherever you're going, you better come back alive Shindou.' He thought to himself. 'at least live long enough for me to give you my graditude.'

Meanwhile, the newly discovered prince seemed to be getting closer to the person sneaking around. Too close in fact. The young man stumbled over a lifted floor tile onto something or someone soft, yet strong. Picking himself up he sees the last person he ever thought he would see for a long time. That blond hair, the cold eyes, it couldnt' be!

"Eiri..." he said.

Yay, cliffhangers! Anyway, that was chapter 21 I hope you all enjoyed it, please review and I will see you guys soon, bye.