Part 9

***** Recap for those who may have lost track*****

Quatre and Trowa found a book in the library and were sucked into another world that resembles ancient china. They were separated when they were attacked by slave traders and ended up in two different empires. Quatre ended up in Konan and was introduced to the warriors of Suzaku: Duo (a guy who is posing as a girl in Heero's harem), Heero (the boy emperor of Konan), Relena (a girl in Heero's harem), Hilde (a girl from the cells in Kuto) and Wufei (a mysterious monk). There he was told that he is the legendary Priest of Suzaku and they asked him to call the god to their world.

Meanwhile Trowa ended up in the empire of Kuto. There he met Zechs, the general of Kuto's army. Zechs informed him of his current situation and how his friend Quatre was in danger because when a Priest calls a god they will be killed when that god is sent back to where is came from. Because of this Trowa decided to interrupt the ceremony with Zechs and another warrior by the name of Lady Une.

They successfully stopped the ceremony to call Suzaku and in the chaos kidnapped Quatre, taking him back to Kuto. Now Quatre is staying in Kuto with Trowa, agreeing with Trowa that the only ones they can trust in this strange world are each other. Meanwhile Duo has been sent as a spy to Kuto, dressed in guys clothing for the first time since he entered Heero's harem. Quatre and Wufei are the only ones who know that Duo is actually a male.

***** end of Recap*****


Quatre stepped into the large bedroom and frowned, clutching the pile of new robes to his body tightly. Behind him Trowa bid the servant girl, Anne, good night and the door slid shut. Trowa turned back to Quatre, who still hadn't moved and was just staring at the large room.

"Is something wrong?" Trowa asked quietly.

Quatre shook his head. "No… not really. It just looks a lot like the room they gave me at Konan when they called me the Priest of Suzaku."

Trowa frowned. "Quatre…"

He swallowed. "That and there's… only one bed."

Trowa raised an eyebrow and glanced over at the bed, he couldn't help but smile slightly. "You have a point." He thought for a moment then shrugged. "Go ahead, I need to look at some things in the library anyway."

"Are you sure?" Quatre glanced warily at the door, then at Trowa. He really didn't like the idea of being alone in the Kuto palace, especially with Zechs walking around behind the walls.

Trowa nodded, his eyes growing distant. "There's some things I need to figure out. The library is just down the hall, I'll come back periodically and check on you, all right?"

Quatre nodded and forced himself to slide into the thick blankets covering the bed. "Ok."

"Night, Quatre." Trowa said, sliding the door open and stepping out.

Only after Quatre responded did he shut the door and head for the library. He wasn't tired, not one bit. So instead he figured he'd spend the time in the library, and the first matter of business was looking at that one particular scroll Zechs put so hurriedly away earlier that day.

**

The large metal bolted door slid open to reveal a dark room lit by a scattered amount of candles and a fire burning brightly in the corner. As soon as the door swung open there was the scurrying of movement and very small slippered feet racing into the back corner of the room. The tall yet young woman at the table looked up from her dusty pile of scrolls. She smiled softly and brushed the long bangs from her eyes.

"Lord Zechs."

Zechs nodded to her and stepped into the room, shutting the door behind him.

"I take it the attack went well?" She asked, gesturing for him to take her seat as she stood up and placed a few more logs in the fire pit, adding to the dim light in the room. Zechs' eyes drifted for a moment to the small figure cringing in the corner but then left her, turning back to the other woman. He took the seat she offered.

"A few complications arose but yes, everything fell into place. All that remains now are the loose ends."

The woman raised an eyebrow. "And the scroll?"

Zechs reached into his robes and a moment later came out with the bright red scroll of Suzaku. The woman stepped forward and took it, holding it in her hands as if it were one of the most precious pieces of glass. Almost reverently she slid off the binding rope and unrolled it to scan over the first few lines.

"I was right," she murmured softly. "It starts just as ours does." Glancing back to Zechs she resealed the scroll. "It will take a little research but it appears that our Priest and the Priest of Suzaku are linked, the first lines of this scroll prove it. If this is true, it should lend us clues about this one you call Kirin."

Zechs nodded, rubbing his chin in thought.

From behind the woman the figure in the corner slowly stood to her feet and moved toward them, her eyes locked on the bright red scroll. Gingerly she took a few steps forward and paused, eyeing Zechs. Zechs turned his head and met her eyes with an icy glare, the little girl started and raced back to her corner.

Zechs stood to his feet and frowned. "You really shouldn't let her run around as you do, Noin, she will escape."

The woman, Noin, sighed softly. "Even if she could escape she would become too overwhelmed to go anywhere, you know that. And you also know she won't stray far from me."

Zechs nodded slowly. "She is your responsibility, regardless."

"Yes, I know."

Zechs nodded once more and turned to leave. Yet, he paused as his hand rested on the handle for the door. "And the Priest?"

Noin gave a light smile. "Be patient. It all depends on him. A day or two at the most, then all will be ready."

"Good." Zechs left the room, the door swinging shut behind him. Almost immediately the young girl raced out of her corner and latched onto Noin's leg, quivering lightly. Shutting her eyes she buried her face in Noin's robes.

"Shhh." Noin knelt down and wrapped her arms around the young girl. "It's alright, I know you don't like him. But he's gone now, see?" Noin gently lifted the girl's chin and pointed to the closed door.

The girl looked at the door for a moment, her face blank and her wide, glowing eyes echoing that emotionless look. After a moment she nodded.

"Good. Now, please, I need to work."

The girl obediently released her grip on Noin and backed away, bowing her head. Noin stood up and headed back to the table. Sitting down once more she reopened the scroll of Suzaku, rolling it out onto the table. Next she reached into a small ornate chest and puled out a second scroll, though this one was a bright blue. Opening this scroll alongside the Suzaku one she leaned forward and began to examine the words.

She soon became so engrossed in her work that she didn't even notice the young girl moving for the door. Nor did she notice the door slowly open and shut, all without a sound.

**

Trowa sighed softly as he placed the scroll back in the pile on the shelf. Frowning for a moment in thought he pulled another scroll out and returned to his seat at the table. Sitting down he unrolled it and scanned the words.

Unfortunately it was no different from all the others he'd looked at in the last few hours. All held either an epic tale of the Kuto Empire or some history of the empire and its people. So far not a single one made any reference to the god known as Suzaku. Which seemed in itself very strange. He'd found numerous mentions to Seriyu, the guardian god of Kuto, and a few references to Genbu and Byakko, but still nothing on Suzaku. Frowning deeply he closed the scroll and leaned back in the chair.

His eyes hurt and the candle he'd brought with him to light his reading was nearly out, the wax dripping off the table to create a small pool on the floor. Trowa frowned at the pool of wax, knowing that he'd have to clean it up before he left. Rubbing his eyes he sighed again.

After a moment he reached into his robes and pulled out the cool porcelain mask Zechs had given him. Setting it on the table he studied the pattern surrounding the eye. He hadn't noticed it before, but now that he looked at the mask carefully he saw the pattern was actually two blue dragons interlocking to become one. Absent-mindedly he slid his finger along the outline of one of the dragons.

He could have sworn there was only one dragon or blue design on there when he'd received the mask.

"I would have remembered if the pattern forked off like this," he murmured quietly.

Closing his eyes he shook his head for a moment then looked back down at the mask. Without much thought he picked up the ice cold porcelain piece and fit it over his face. It was strange how the half mask fit him perfectly, covering exactly half of his face, leaving one opening only for the eye. It was even stranger how there was no need for a rope to tie the mask around his head, it fit that well. Something about that seemed wrong to him but he couldn't quite place it so he just shrugged it off, regarding the thought as a result of lack of sleep.

Taking a deep breath he took the mask from his face and slid it back beneath his robes. Blowing out the candle he left the library, not even bothering to clean up the wax, he was far too tired to worry about it.

He arrived at the room to find Quatre sleeping soundly in the bed, curled up like an innocent child. The blond boy wore a set of baggy pants and a robe to bed, but the tie on the robe had come undone, causing his smooth chest to be shown off in the dim moonlight from the windows. Trowa smiled lightly and walked over to the bed, pulling the single thin cover back up to Quatre's chin. Quatre responded by curling tighter together but his sweet cherubim face favored Trowa with a small smile, though he was still sleeping.

Trowa stood there for a moment, just watching the boy. After a while his eyes began to droop and he gave up. Walking over to the corner on the other side of the room he laid down on the floor curled into a tight ball.

He hadn't told Quatre the real reason he'd stayed in the library most of the night and offered him the real bed. It was better the blond boy didn't know. Trowa closed his eyes and curled into a tight ball, preparing for a night of bad dreams, where sleep was little, and far between. Still he did sleep better knowing that Quatre was safe and had no idea what Trowa saw when he closed his eyes.

**

The young girl moved through the palace on soft steps, sliding across the floor as if she were a spirit. As she walked she blinked her glowing green eyes rapidly, trying to watch the strange creature before her. She knew no one else could see it, for she often saw things none of the others could, despite their magic. But still she knew the things she saw were real, because they spoke to her, even if she could not speak back.

Before her, this time, was a small bright bird made of fire. It flew around in circles; its burning tail leaving sparks in the air to fade as they touched the floor. It kept calling her name, begging her to follow and follow faster. She noticed the bird seemed agitated, was it afraid of the large blond man in the blue armor like she was?

She quickened her steps, moving quickly after the bird; meanwhile it flew faster, yelling after her to run even faster. She raced after it, following it down the long hallways until it finally came to a stop before a large room with an angry looking dragon carved in the door. The girl shook her head wildly and backed away from the door. She knew what that dragon meant; it was one of the mean creatures, like the tiger. She wouldn't go into that room.

The bird hovered by the door, flapping its wings and looking at her with pleading eyes. After a long moment she stepped forward and touched the door timidly, as if she expected the dragon to slither off the door and wrap around her in a death grip. Taking a deep breath she slid open the door and peered inside.

The first thing she saw was the boy on the floor in the corner. He was curled into a tight ball, much the same way she usually slept, but he was shivering in his sleep. She knew he was having a nightmare. She watched him silently as he jerked around on the floor, his mouth opening to give silent cries as he tried to pull himself into a tighter ball. She wondered for a moment what he was dreaming about. Did his friends die too? Perhaps. She recognized him from around the palace and knew he was a prisoner here too. Otherwise why else wouldn't they let him go anywhere without the blue creature following him. Her eyes warily went to the quiet serpent sleeping next to him and hissing in his sleep, at least it was sleeping and couldn't see her.

After a while he stopped shaking and settled back to normal sleeping, the dreams ending for a moment's rest. She turned her attention to the bed where the bird was now hovering. Lying in the bed was a boy older then her, with short blond hair and an innocent face. The girl watched as the bird flew around the boy's head, landing quietly near his ear. It cawed once and the boy's eyes snapped open, immediately meeting with the girl.

The girl frowned and stepped away from the door, hoping he would get her hint to follow her out of the room.

**

Quatre sat up in bed, his sleep shattered by a sound he couldn't remember. Blinking the sleep from his eyes he froze as he noticed the door to the room was open and a small figure stood there. It was a young girl, but the strange thing was that her green eyes appeared to glow in the moonlight. Rubbing his eyes he forced them to focus, but when he looked again she was gone. Frowning in confusion Quatre stood up and walked toward the door.

Stepping out of the room he found the girl standing in the middle of the hallway, her head cocked slightly to the side. She had short red hair and light blue eyes, eyes that held a very haunted look. She wore old faded green robes, and they would have looked like something for royalty if they weren't crusted with dust and dirt and wrinkled. Quatre smiled sweetly at her and knelt down so they were the same height.

"Hello," he said quietly.

The girl's head moved slowly, turning to the other side, but she said nothing. Nor did her blank expression change.

Quatre tried again. "My name is Quatre, what's yours?"

The girl blinked at him but nothing more.

Quatre leaned forward slightly and reached out one hand, holding it palm up to her. The girl's glowing gaze drifted to his hand for a moment then traveled back to his face. She blinked a few more times and stepped forward, timidly reaching for his hand. Quatre remained completely still, waiting patiently. Minutes later the girl finally placed her hand in his. And as their skin touched Quatre was bathed in a bright green light, almost blinding. He gasped as he felt like he was falling.

Quatre blinked to find himself standing in a space that was completely white. Just a world of white with soft green colored edges. He frowned and tried to step forward, but nothing around him changed. Kuto was gone, as was the little girl.

"Hello?" He tried yelling out, but no one answered. Yet, slowly, another sound faded into existence behind him. Quatre whirled around as the sound of children's laughter filled his ears. In the white before him a scene faded into view of a young girl. It was the girl from the hallway and she was dressed in a normal school uniform from his world, silver butterfly barrettes holding her hair from her eyes. He noticed that her eyes were not glowing now, instead they were a beautiful light blue.

She laughed as she and a few friends walked together, toward a large school.

Quatre's eyes widened and he stepped forward once more, reaching out for the girl. Almost immediately the image faded and he felt like he was falling again. He blinked and suddenly was back in the palace hallway, his hand still extended toward the girl. Yet the girl wasn't touching him anymore, she now stood several feet back, watching him with worry. Quatre dropped his hand and just looked at her in confusion for a moment.

"You're from my world," he muttered quietly.

The girl nodded.

"Did you get here like Trowa and me?"

She blinked in confusion at his question.

"Through the book. The Universe of the Four Gods?"

Her eyes widened and she nodded quickly, glancing past him into the room to look at Trowa where he lay in the corner. Turning back to Quatre she nodded again, excitedly, yet her face was still blank.

"But why are you here-"

"Marimeia!"

Both Quatre and the girl turned to see Noin and Zechs appear around the corner. Almost immediately the girl ran up to Quatre and wrapped her arms around him, almost in protection. Quatre's eyes widened at the site of Zechs.

Noin frowned at the two. "Marimeia, what are you doing out of bed? Come here, dear."

The girl, Marimeia, looked straight at Zechs who stood next to Noin and shook her head wildly, refusing to let go of her hold on Quatre.

"Let the girl go," Zechs hissed quietly.

Quatre stood up and backed away from the two, Marimeia still clasping onto him, a frightened child. "She's the one who's holding onto me," he said quietly.

Noin glanced at Zechs. "I'll take care of her. You know she won't come anywhere near you. Please, just leave and let me take care of it."

He frowned visibly at her. "The last time you took care of it she ran away."

Noin flinched. "I promise it won't happen again."

"It had better not." With that icy threat Zechs turned and left the hallway, disappearing back around the corner. Noin, meanwhile, turned her attention back to Quatre and Marimeia.

"He's gone now, Mari, you can come here. He won't hurt you."

Quatre remained still as the little girl pulled away from him and slowly approached Noin. Finally, in the last few steps, she jumped forward and wrapped her arm around Noin in a silent gesture begging for protection. Noin smiled and picked the girl up, holding her tightly in her arms. She looked at Quatre and smiled.

"Thank you for finding her. You must be Quatre."

Quatre nodded cautiously. "How do you know my name?"

"Despite the fact that I live in Kuto, the land of Seriyu, I know the name of the Priest of Suzaku. My name is Noin."

Quatre swallowed. "And she is?"

"This is Marimeia." Noin smiled. "If you'll excuse us, I need to take her back to her room, before she gets into more trouble."

Quatre nodded.

Noin turned to walk away but Marimeia wiggled in her arms, reaching out toward Quatre. Noin raised an eyebrow and set the girl down for a second. The little girl raced over to Quatre and hugged him tightly.

The minute their hands touched Quatre received a wash of images.

A school uniform.

A locked box, hidden away.

And Marimeia's face with one finger at her lips, making the motion for silence.

Quatre pulled away for a second and stared at her in awe then nodded. He smiled softly. "Good night Marimeia." Leaning farther forward he whispered in her ear. "I won't tell them."

Marimeia nodded, once, then turned and walked back over to Noin. Quatre stood to his feet and watched them walk away. Then he returned to the bedroom and crawled back into bed with a yawn. His eyes fell on Trowa for a second and he considered telling him he could have the bed, but he decided against it. Trowa looked so peaceful in his sleep that he didn't want to disturb him.

Quatre drifted back off the sleep with images of Marimeia in his mind. Who was she? How was it possible that she came from their world? And if she did… did she hold the keys to getting back safely?

End of part 9