Part 28:

Masa, at first, found this place hellish, if hell were made of nothing but snow and ice and constant night and ghoulish torture devices. Oh, and one psychotic, foul-mouthed, lazy-eyed, old man addicted to gossip. Masa Ueda had been confined in a cell that had a sleeping area called a bed rather than a futon. That was a blessing, because the floors were marble. For some reason, these barbarians thought the stuff should be used not just for statues, but also floors.

He admitted the food wasn't all bad, but he learned to scrape off any white goo he spotted. It was called sour cream and it left the foulest after taste in his mouth. He had felt lonely and angry for a while, but he had a visitor every morning, noon, and night that helped cheer him up.

Judge Vlad, and this wasn't his cheery visitor, appeared in a flurry of pink magic and bag of his usual pastries. "You'll never guess about lover boy and his girl now! He even went to go get advice from Oscar and..."

At this point Masa tuned out Vlad's gossip about some person he called "lover boy" that had basically tricked his wife into marriage. These barbarians were magically locked into marriage for life from what he gathered. This only reminded him he wasn't fond of his own wife. He did his marital duty with her to get kids, and he was lucky to get two kids very early. He wondered what possessed his mother to saddle him with that woman.

The ice king's maid would be here soon with his lunch, and Vlad would stop gossiping to him for a while. Masa found the ice king's maid very pleasant; she had answered his every question about Celes. She had asked polite questions about Nihongo in return. It had helped him feel less homesick. She had that odd, gold colored hair, but brown eyes. She had the strangest name: Milcent. He couldn't even really pronounce it properly.

"...and then Oscar tells me that Sergei, who's no Spring Chicken, may ask..." Vlad stopped with the annoying gossip and said, "Lunch is here. I hope it's borscht."

"I don't," Masa muttered under his breath. He really didn't understand these people's obsession with beats. Milcent came into view of the cell and gave him a friendly smile.

"Millie! I ran into lover boy this morning at Oscar's pastry shop. It looks like I might win my bet, after all. Not that I wanted to. I really wanted him and the girl to work out, but she started getting pissed off about being married to him. I told Zash that would happen, but no, she didn't listen to me."

"Oh you shouldn't tease Zellen, Judge Vlad. I know he's a very brave and loyal friend of the prince's." Masa saw something in the maid's eyes. She suddenly looked very uncomfortable. "Anyway, cod was on the menu."

"Ah nuts. Tell that chef of Ashura's he's going to march naked on the battlement if he doesn't stop with these fish dishes."

"He's just getting out his stress over having to cook around Duke Fai for all those years."

"Bullshit! That kid cooked for himself. That jerk is just trying to piss me off," Vlad groused.

Milcent gave that charming chuckle she had that Masa had grown to really enjoy. "Well, let me feed Masa and then I'll be out of your hair."

Masa wasn't used to being addressed by his first name. It was a barbarian custom he didn't enjoy. He just didn't know how to get them to stop and use indirect address instead. They didn't seem to understand the concept he should be called "prisoner from Nihongo." When he suggested that, Vlad had then countered with a few foul and nasty names that infuriated Masa.

She entered through the barred door after Vlad opened it. The barred door had what was called a hex on it, so Masa found out the hard way when he first got here. Not even these mages could use magic to get out of the cell, when sealed. She set the meal on the table and left the cell. Vlad cast the hex again.

Suddenly, there was a glow of green magic. Milcent and Vlad both bowed their heads.

"Ashura, nice to see you back," Judge Vlad said with a cheery tone.

"Nice to be back. My poor Fai is a bit on the cranky side, so I'm just stopping by to get him some treats. Also, to announce he is now pregnant with twins. Have Mayor Dayken make the proper announcement and have him officially prepare to record them down in the royal linage. They will be in line to inherit Celes' throne after Fai or until Yuui has his own children by blood or adoption."

"Well, when I thought I had heard of everything. Never in a million years did I think your son would actually get pregnant with your grandchildren." Then Vlad had a deep blustering laugh. "I bet Demetri is in the Spring Lands just laughing his ass off right now."

"What? How can that be?" Masa blurted out. "The mage of Celes is pregnant? Is it Kurogane's?"

"Which mage of Celes? There's a bunch of us!" Vlad bellowed for the hundredth time at Masa's indirect address name for Fai.

The ice king gave Masa a genial smile and walked over to the bars. "Speak not to me. You're very close to freedom. I'd hate to see you remain a guest until you learn how to tame your tongue." He then turned back to Vlad. "Anyway, my time in Piffle World was very enjoyable. A place brimming with wonders. I even plan on taking up a new hobby when I take Fai back."

"Good for you," Vlad said with an enthusiastic smile. Masa was still unclear why Vlad could get away with being so casual with his king.

"Is my youngest son back?"

"Nope, I was about to go see what the hold up is. Boris is being so slow. Then again, I remember old man Demetri telling me that bear cub was always meticulous."

A constable came running in, spotted King Ashura and Vlad. He bowed and said, "There is a dispatch from the governor of Valeria."

Now Masa wanted to cringe and cower a corner. Whoever that man was, he was the most detested person in all of Celes, and then some. Masa thought he had it bad with accepting stolen goods from Kurogane's mage. Whatever that governor had done must had been ten times worse.

The governor was some sort of pet of the ice king's and a very close friend of the prince's. He must have gotten away with murder, gaging by the nasty words the judge used when gossiping about him.

"That blasted son-of-a-Yettie! That piece of reindeer shit better not have screwed the pooch and have gotten Yuui into trouble. I'll skin him alive and uses his balls as Yule tree decorations!"

"Prince Yuui is in jeopardy," the constable confirmed with a pale face and trembling shoulders.

"Come on, Ashura! Let's go get your little boy and bring him home," Vlad said, grabbing up his staff. "I don't feel comfortable leaving such a babe in the woods being looked after by that particular, grouchy bear."

Ashura frowned and shook his head. "I'm not allowed to go to Yuui's side. I wish you to stay here, as well. Have faith in Boris like I do. He feels deeply for Yuui; it's a strong, affectionate bond most people would have difficulty understanding." Then Ashura's face grew very dark. "I detest the bond with the ninja my child is forming, but that... ninja... is needed in the future to keep Yuui safe." Masa heard the frost in the ice king's voice over the word "ninja."

Vlad's gossip had come in handy at hearing about Ran Fujiyama. Apparently, Ran had taken the vow of fidelity to the despised Governor Boris Nemtsov. That meant he would have renounced the famous swordsman, Shinon, and left his Wakashudo relationship without completion.

That would be a grave dishonor in Nihongo that would follow Ran for the rest of his life. He would be considered a shiftless, dishonorable ronin when he got back and would be forced to wander as a pariah for the rest of his life. Why Ran would choose such a thing was beyond him.

"I have to get back to Fai. He's having difficulty with his new family," Ashura said, grimly.

"Ashura, you said you weren't allowed to go to Yuui. Never since you brought him here have you ever not attended to his every need and safety. Why are you leaving him in Valeria now?" Vlad asked, with a scowl.

Even Masa could tell the king looked as if his heart was breaking. The look in those brown eyes spoke of torment. "If I wish him to grow strong enough to rule Celes after me, I must forsake him for a little while. If I love him, I will not go to him. I made a wish at the Wish Caster's shop. If I approach him at this time, he'll lose something precious to him and do himself a grave harm."

Vlad looked thunderstruck. "But I don't understand."

"I made an exchange with the Wish Caster. I would forsake my son for a short time to spare him some future pain and make him stronger. That's all I wish to say about the matter."

"If that's your wish," Vlad said with a sad shake of the head.

"You made a deal with the Witch of the Far East?" Masa asked, horrified someone would deal with that woman. She cursed and blessed at the same time. To ask for something large would have required a great sacrifice from the ice king. He was certain that the price ran deeper than just staying away from his son for a little while.

Ashura nodded, and Masa was surprised at that placid look in his brown eyes. "I'm at peace with my wish and its exchange. Well, I do have to get back before Fai kills Kurogane, or vice-a-versa. I hope your father comes up with gold and fluorite soon, Masa Ueda, so I can replace Fai's staff."

"Then can I go home if my father pays the ransom?" Masa asked, anxious to get warm again.

Vlad and Ashura looked at each other and then let out mocking belly laughs. Ashura tossed his hair over his shoulder and said, "Where do you think Fai learned his fibbing ways from?"

With that, he and Vlad left. Now Masa felt hopeless. Was he doomed to stay on Celes forever?

"Please, Masa, eat something," Milcent encouraged.

He nodded to her. He watched her pull up a chair beside his bars and make herself comfortable with her knitting. "So, Masa, tell me me more about your sons. You seemed so happy talking about them."

Masa loved his two sons with his whole heart. Hirofumi and a Jiro were a joy. So he started telling her more about them. She patiently listened and knitted while he talked about their archery accomplishments.


Fai clenched the futon and ground his teeth. He'd never felt such pain in his life. It was so intense he couldn't concentrate even on simply counting from one through twenty. Receiving his phoenix binding had been nowhere near this painful.

His hips felt like they were on fire. He felt as though he couldn't get cool enough. He was starting to wish he was on a Celes sleigh ride right at the moment. He rolled onto the wood floor in desperation for coolness. It worked, and then he had to change positions because he kept warming up the floorboards.

"Mage! What are you doing?" Kurogane demanded, coming in with more of that blasted miso soup he was getting sick of. Fish, fish, fish!

"Getting cool, now leave me alone to suffer," he said in an anemic tone.

"You idiot. Laying on the floor will only hurt your back."

"Right now the pain in my back is only second to the fever I feel. You've got to understand, right now I have to rank the things I feel and deal with them. It just all feels so horrible, so I have to deal with what's the most intense. Right now, it's me feeling like I want to run around naked on Celes."

"Don't do that! You'll die!"

Fai shot Kurogane a narrow eyed look and was about to say something sarcastic when his father appeared.

"Fai, I brought you some treats. How are you holding up?" Then Ashura seemed to get irritated. "Why is Kurogane making you sleep on the floorboards!"

"It's not my fault!" Kurogane bellowed. "The little donkey..." Suddenly Kurogane stopped, took a deep breath. He said, "No, I asked my father to stop with the name calling, I must do the same. My mage decided he'd be cooler on the floor. I tried talking him back into the bedding."

"Fai, get up on the cushions right now or you won't get your ptichie moloko."

"But, Father..."

"Please," Ashura said with an intense gaze and an assertive tone. Kurogane was shocked to see this side of Ashura, he was too used to the pushover. Fai did sit up and let Kurogane tuck him in. Kurogane figured there was a point where the ice king wouldn't allow himself to be pushed, and Fai knew where that point was.

Ashura then bestowed Fai with the treats from Celes. As Fai was eating his food, Ashura announced, "You're brother is in profound trouble. You may not go to him."

"But..."

"No. If you go to him, you'll end up sealing him in a very tragic fate. Be with him in your dreams, but do not go to him in person. Concentrate on your children."

Fai finally nodded and then slowly picked at his Celian food with a scowl. Kurogane figured Fai would be happy, because Ashura did think to bring him a fork.

King Ashura rose and said, "I'm going to go talk to Hondo about that Ueda whelp. Try to cheer up."

Once the king was gone, Kurogane sat beside him on their futon and avoided looking at the mayonnaise mixed with the pickled beats. Fai watched Kurogane's nose crinkle. "Want some, Kuro-ki?" Fai asked, just to tease his lover.

Kurogane sneered and shook his head. Then he grew serious. "You're worried about Yuui."

"Terribly. I can't seem to get good sleep, so I can't make a connection. If only I could talk to him."

"Eat and then try to get some sleep."

Fai was silent for a while, but then asked, "So what did you talk to your father about?"

"About giving you more respect. And I need to ask the same of you. Do you think you could at least make some moves towards respecting my father and his steward? I'll tell you the same thing I told him. Our children will adopt whatever attitude that is modeled around them. If you show my father disrespect, then our children won't respect him. We can't have that in our family. Mutual disrespect will only tear us apart."

Kurogane was suddenly looking very angry. Fai flinched back. The ninja said, "What does it take to get it through your head that you're a part of my family now? You have a place here."

Fai felt a tight rage bubble up at his treatment over the last several months. It didn't help that a wracking pain hit his abdomen. He burst out, "Then stop treating me like an outcast or animal that needs to be trained! Until you can do that, leave me be!"

"What would you have me do as proof?"

"Let me talk to Ashura tomorrow," Fai said. "There is something we may be able to do."

"Only if you talk to my father tomorrow, too," Kurogane said firmly.

"It's a deal."


Yuui felt Ran's hot, uneven breath on his neck. The ninja held him tightly when Yuui struggled to push away reflexively. Yuui couldn't help his shivering when Ran stopped moving his hands over his back and they rested on his hips. Yuui whispered, "Please don't do this to us Ran."

"Never pity me, healer," Ran snapped. "You shame me with it again. I refuse to see you maimed."

"Then don't touch me for Boris' sake. Don't you respect him at all?"

"You don't think I have the utmost respect for him? To return you to him maimed would be a grave dishonor," Ran hissed with a narrowed, amethyst eye.

Yuui suddenly felt sick to his stomach. He whispered, "Then Boris didn't tell you about me."

Ran gave him a baffled expression. Yuui felt a flood of concern, regret, and dread coming from Ran. "What I did was even worse than I know, wasn't it?" Before Yuui could nod, there was a sigh from Milliardo.

"Enough talking," Milliardo said in a soft casual tone, leaning forward. "Make him submit to your desires now, or he'll lose his whole right hand. I'm tired of waiting."

Ran looked into Yuui's eyes. Yuui suddenly sensed a cold calm come over Ran. He was terrified of this Ran, more so than the one that had kidnapped him. This one didn't give a damn about himself so long as his goal was complete. He was more an automaton than human right now. Ran took Yuui by his right wrist and whispered, "Just trust me."

"You won't hurt me," Yuui affirmed softly and then relaxed.

Ran grabbed Yuui by the shoulder and was jerking him towards the woman with blond braids. Ran shoved Yuui to the ground and he lay prone and still, having faith in Ran's plan. Ran kicked the blond woman in the stomach so quick it was almost unseen. He wrenched a short sword from her belt as she flailed backwards.

Yuui steeled himself. Ran was about to cause a lot of pain. Yuui had to push through any violence Ran was about to inflict on these people. Ran was about to fight and just not care, so long as his goal was met.

Ran jerked Yuui up by the arm and said, "Don't move. Just submit."

Ran swiped at the ginger haired woman that came at him with throwing blades. He deflected two of them and and tugged Yuui with him towards the door.

Milliardo started chuckling and the women stood down. Ran paused and sneered at the blond haired man. "You can leave if you wish, but the prince will stay with me."

"What?"

Ran gave Yuui a questioning looked. Yuui felt heat come to his face as he admitted, "He cast a tether spell on me. I'm not able to travel a great distance from his side. It was a summoning spell he used to get me out of the castle, but then... when he got me here..."

"What'll happen if you do leave?" Ran asked.

Milliardo answered, "He'll start fighting tooth and nail to get back to me. If you keep him apart from my presence, he'll get sicker and sicker until he falls into a deep, enchanted sleep."

"Then what!" Ran growled at Milliardo, clenching Yuui's wrist tightly.

"Test me," Milliardo said, a wicked, playful smile at his lips. "Now stop your futile attempts and do as I bid."

"Ran," Yuui whispered moving closer. "Get me to Boris. A tether sleep is a distant cousin to necromancy. There is a chance he could break it. Once I leave this tower, there is not one thing I won't do to get back here."

"But you'll fight me if I take you?"

"Then you must strike me. Hard enough to make me unconscious."

"No," Ran hissed through clenched teeth. "I can't. How can you trust me to do this? I've harmed you. You really can't seriously trust me."

"You must. It's not just about you, me, and Boris. That man has to be stopped, or my people could be in danger." Yuui felt himself gather some strength, and he firmed his voice. "If you have allegiance to me, you'll do as I order."

"Forgive me," Ran whispered before he drove his fist into Yuui's temple. Yuui felt blackness coming over him as he fell into Ran's arms.

To be continued.