Delicate Matters 2/8

By: Hotaru

Warnings: AU, yaoi stuff…yeah.

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Wufei stood up from his rather large bed and walked to his window. It was nearly as big as the wall itself and it looked down upon the garden, which was within jumping distance. "The only place we can go is the garden." He said, turning back to Duo, who in turn replied, "That's fine with me. I bet you have a really nice garden." Wufei smiled and opened the window.

"I hope you don't mind jumping." He said, stepping onto the sill. Duo's eyes widened. "No, jumping onto a roof and sliding to the ground isn't dangerous or scary at all." He replied sarcastically. Wufei sighed. "You're willing to hide in this palace from your parents and yet you are afraid to jump out of a window?" he asked, not quite understanding Duo's tactics.

Duo in turn shook his head. "Well, if I jump out the window, I'll get hurt. If I hide out in China I won't." he replied. Wufei shook his head and leaped out the window, onto the roof and then to the floor. Duo, after much pursuasion by Wufei, did so aswell. "That wasn't so bad." He said as they strolled down the aisles of flowers and bushes.

"I do it on a regular basis much to my father's disapproval. He always tells me it is necessay to stay locked in my room when there are important people in the palace." Wufei replied, shivering slightly as a chilly wind blew by. Duo, who was still gazing at the wide assortment of flowers nodded. "Maybe he's afraid that you won't seem…I don't know…like a fit enough king or something," he mused, picking a white flower and sticking it in his hair.

Wufei stared at the ground. "Father seems to forget that I am not an adult just yet. I still have a child hood to live out." He said quietly. Duo licked his lips. "These are really beautiful gardens ya got here. I wish I could have ones just like them." He said slowly. Wufei smiled and they continued walking. "Duo—do you know anything more about this conference? Father merely told me that it was about trading." Wufei asked as they sat on a wooden swing in the middle of the garden.

Duo put his hands behind his head. "Well…my parents did mention something about foreign affairs…and opening the ports to other ethnicities. That's about it though." He said, pushing the swing back and forth with his legs. Wufei looked around the garden and sighed. "I'm guessing your relationship with your dad isn't too great huh?" Duo asked softly, not wanting to anger his new friend.

"Not exactly. But when your father is the king of China, you can't expect a normal life…although I do wish I had one." Wufei replied, resting his chin on his hands. "Well…I suppose we shoud be getting back now. We don't want anyone to worry." Duo said, hopping off the swing. He could tell Wufei wasn't used to the whole friends thing, but he'd get used to it eventually…right?

Wufei helped Duo climb onto the roof of the washroom. "Okay, how the hell are we going to get up there?" Duo asked, looking at the window to Wufei's room which was quite a distance from their standing point. "It's simple, we climb up that stockade and then crawl in from the top." Wufei replied, walking to the end of the roof. Duo shook his head and managed to follow Wufei. "I told you it was simple." Wufei replied as he climbed into his room.

"Chang Wufei!"

Wufei's body froze. "Uh, a little help?" Duo asked, kicking his legs in front of Wufei's face. The Chinese Prince helped Duo in before turning to a very angry king. "Yes father?" Wufei asked as he and Duo kneeled to the floor. "We need to talk about some very delicate matters." Chen said hotly. Wufei pushed Duo into his closet again and stood sheepishly in front of his father. "You wanted to talk about something father?" he asked, wincing slighty.

Duo pressed his ear against the door but he still couldn't hear anything. "What is the meaning of this?! Who is that boy and why are you out..playing with him?" Chen growled. Wufei licked his lips. "We ran into each other father, and he wanted to see the garden." He replied softly. "Is he the boy that is missing?" Chen asked calmly. Wufei nodded once and stared down at his hands. "Well," Chen began, "The boys parents want him back now. Tell him to go back to them."

Wufei knew that he shouldn't do what he was about to do. But dammit, he was gonna! "No." A strong hand slapped quite hardly against Wufei's cheek. Wincing, Wufei turned his head. "Why should I listen to you after what you've done? You have dishonored me, mom and my trust!" he threatened, only to have another hand slap the opposite cheek. "You cannot threaten me!" Chen snarled.

Duo, who managed to hear most of the conversation was getting awfully worried. Those noises sounded like slaps and slaps hurt. "Well father, that is your choice. You can either make me give up my friend and you will lose the last ounce of respect I have for you and I will report this affair. Or you can let me keep him and I won't tell." Wufei said, wincing and expecting another slap. Chen stared down at Wufei with his dark eyes. He then turned and stalked out of the room. Duo, hearing the opening and closing door, pushed open the closet door.

"Hey…you okay?" he asked, noticing the two pink spots on Wufei's cheeks. Nodding slightly, Wufei pulled off his white coat, for it was uncomfortable and restricting. "So…what say you and me go get some food?" Duo offered, crossing his arms. Wufei shook his head. "We can't. I'm already on hostile terms with my father. If someone told him that we actually went out…it'd be all over." He said sadly. Duo frowned and hopped onto Wufei's bed.

"Well then have one of your servants bring you something." He suggested, playing with the end of his braid. Wufei turned and shook his head again. "I don't like putting them to work. Father does that enough." He replied. Duo rolled his eyes. "Come on Wufei! You might as well use them while you can." He pursuaded. Wufei finally gave in and called down to the garden for some food.

Duo, while waiting for the food, looked around Wufei's room. "And you have your own private bathroom?" he asked.

"Yes." Wufei replied.

"And no one uses it but you?" Duo contiued.

"That's what private means right?" Wufei asked with a slight smile.

"…It's yours?"

Wufei threw a small velvet pillow at Duo's head. "Hey, I was only asking! Besides, it's not going to be just yours. I'll need to use it too!" Duo said, smiling. Wufei raised an eyebrow. "Who says?" he asked. Duo stuck his tongue out and walked into the large bathroom. A huge tub was in the corner, covered by a pretty screen. The toilet was very much like a throne with a silken curtain going around it. "Wow…this place is nicer than my room. That's pretty sad when you think about it. A bathroom nicer than a bedroom." Duo said in amazement.

There was a knock on the door, and Duo pulled the door to the bathroom shut. Wufei opened his door and smiled at the large tray of food. "Here you are Master Wufei." She said, bowing. Wufei took the tray and smiled back. "Thank you Miss Ling." He said, bumping the door closed with his hip. Duo hopped out of the bathroom and ran to the plate of food. "Hey! Where are the forks?" he asked as Wufei handed him a pair of chopsticks. "Duo…it's rice and fish. I do not think you need a fork." He said, demonstrating how to use the chopsticks.

"So…" Duo began but finding himself short of words. "Why don't you tell me about yourself?" Wufei asked. Duo grinned. "Well…I guess I can. Let me start out by saying I'm not their real son." He began. Wufei raised his eyebrows. "What do you mean? They adopted you?" he asked. Duo gulped down some tea and nodded before saying, "Yeah, they adopted me not too long ago..I don't know why. They don't seem to like kids very much." Wufei nodded and stared down at his rice.

"I don't mind them that much though. Except my 'dad' uses me for hard labor a lot." Wufei looked up and smiled apologetically. "Hard labor? He makes you work for him?" he asked. Duo nodded. "Yep. I guess I can't complain though. There isn't much else I can do ya know. Adoption isn't that popular anyway.." Wufei put the cover on the tea and dish of food. "What about you? Any interesting stories you have to tell?" Duo asked. Wufei shook his head. "No. My life is very simple. Wake up, eat, learn, study, eat, bathe, sleep." He replied.

Duo's playful violet eyes kept finding themselves attracted to Wufei. He couldn't keep his eyes off the young Chinese noble. "So..uh…um.." Duo desperatly needed to concentrate on something other than Wufei, but he was too damn cute. "Is something wrong Duo? Is there a bug on me or something?" Wufei asked, looking over himself. Duo turned red and shook his head furiously. "No…I just…find you…attractive." Wufei turned white…then red. Duo, who was still in shock of what he just admitted, hid his face in his hands.

"I'm sorry…" he mumbled. Wufei shook his head. "It's alright…you think I'm attractive?" Wufei mentally slapped himself. /Now you sound vain!/ Duo smiled sheepishly. "Well yeah. I don't find myself attracted to many guys, I guess you're one of 'em." There was a knock on the door. Duo slid under Wufei's bed. "Who is it?" Wufei asked. It was Miss Sally. "Wufei? It's time for your lessons. Come on out." Sighing, Wufei whispered under the bed, "Sorry but I have to go now. I'll be back before dinner."

Duo nodded and watched Wufei's feet walk to the door, and disappear. Duo pulled himself out from under the bed. "Hmm…what to do now." He murmured to himself.

--That Evening--

"I don't know how long this will last Duo. You see, the servants bathe me, and I don't know how we'll be able to get you a bath too." Wufei said awkwardly as he pulled out a pair of silk pajamas for himself and Duo. "Well…maybe…is there anyone here you can really trust?" Duo asked. Wufei smiled. "Other than you? Only one person." Duo blushed and looked away. "Oh. And who would that be?" he asked, his voice shaking slighty.

"My tutor, Sally Po. She's a nice woman." Wufei replied. Duo thought for a minute. "Can she bathe you?" he asked. Wufei snorted. "I think I can bathe myself just fine." He said. Duo nodded, and idea coming into play. "Well then, tell her about me…but make her promise on her life that she won't tell, and tell her to tell your bathing lady that she can stay out here while you and I go in the bath room. That way, you and I can help each other, and it can seem like she's bathing you."

Wufei blushed. The idea of another person bathing him, rather not Duo who was attracted to him…it was madness. "…Unless you'd feel uncomfortable." Duo added. Wufei sighed and said finally, "Okay. I guess that will have to work."

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Hotaru

Muahahahahahahahaha! Can ya feel the tension? The sexual tension? :evil cackle: