Fubuki no Kaen
Authors: Xan and Vallen
Rating: R
Warnings: One thing… Or, lot's of things: This is a story with eventual
yaoi/shounen ai/slash, whatever you want to call it. If that sort of stuff
isn't your thing, then don't read it. But, we hope that you do…
Disclaimer: The characters Marth and Roy, plus
"Altea", do not belong to us. We just use them for our pleasure.
Feedback: Yes. (That means we would love to hear from you and what you think!)
xan: well, this one is out a helluva lot quicker than the last one, i'm glad to say. I did the thankyous this time, so I hope you have fun reading this chapter! It's more tense this time! Dum dum dum...
vallen: Everyone give Xan treats and goodies, I mean it!
Thanks to: Foame369 (Thank you! We pride ourselves on not being typical that way – Marth and Roy really have to WORK for each other in this, which makes it all the more fun, if you ask us. ^_^ Then again, we're evil sadists, so… Yay, spread the word about FNOK!), LilFilipinoGurl (Yeah, some people ARE disturbing… It happens when you get too much power, it corrupts you and stuff. Luckily, Marth and Roy are still un-disturbing. Disturbed, yes. Disturbing, no. ^_^;;), tikimoof ('tis okay. We're rather used to long rants from a friend of ours. *coughs*zandra*coughs* so yeah… Glad you liked it though!), Sinnatious (^_^ That one was my cliffhanger, usually Vallen does 'em. Glad you liked it though. Ah yes, the lion's den… Very appropriate comparison. It's probably quite true, as well. You'll just have to wait and see-ee.), Sere-chan (Of course we're going to continue it! All of you guys would probably track us down and kill us if we didn't… Thank you for thinking our fic is so well-written, we really try.), Sphinxlabyrinth (*bows humbly* I am soo sorry! It's my fault – but we were busy with end-of-school year stuff like finals and whatnot and THEN it was Akon, so… Updates almost NEVER take that long, so updates will be much quicker.), Dark Comet (Don't worry. I can't even draw stick people Marth and Roy, so any kind of fanart is good fanart. ^_^ Yeah, Marth is very convincing when he wants to be. He's so damn reasonable, that's the problem.), Persian Kittie (No, unfortunately Gwen never really gets a STRONG personality, but she is quite significant in the future and in the sequel, so she grows to become more likable as the story wears on. And she's very important to our boys, so… Can't really blame her for the way she is though. Marth and Roy were in Trave's for only a few weeks and they were scarred for life. She was with him for several years [possibly her entire life], so… Cut her some slack, okay?), Sake Girl Duelist (Marth is generous! It's the entire royalty thing kicking in… Here's a new chapter for you!), Morias (Oh I'm so glad to hear that you liked it! It was a very "them" intensive chapter, so more character development – yay!! It's alright, we excuse business, it's the reason why that chapter took so long to get out. *nervous laughter* Oh yeah… and the chapter looked weird 'cause I had to put it up instead of Vallen and I had never done it before. The rest of them will be like they're supposed to be, so don't worry about that. And thank you, four hundred reviews makes us very happy! We're both fine, thanks for asking! *pleased* They care about us!), Ryuke-Naoe (Ha, you won't hunt us down! We'll never finish the fic if you do that and THEN where will you be? *runs away, cackling* Bwahahahaha!! And you know that we've given you worse cliffhangers, so nyah!), YoshiMars (*grin* Yep! Hopefully, we keep the story nice and twisty-turny so it's not too predictable for all you guys. Look, don't stress yourself out over drawing junk for us – it's not mandatory or anything, but it is nice to see. Shows that people appreciate our work enough to give back! That and it also shows that we insparate (read- inspire in xan-vallen talk ^_^) you to draw and put pretty pictures in your heads and that makes us happy. *sweatdrop* No, it wasn't hard, but it did kind of screw up. Oh well. Hopefully, Vallen can stick the rest of them up and we can avoid that problem entirely.), FOmar Fan (Glad you think so! We do too. *glomps Marth and Roy*), Shea (Yep, I remember you! Yu Yu Hakusho is a fun series, but we're glad you still like FNOK! Check back soon and don't forget about us! *sniffs* And yes, we are very silly!!)
"If you get picked, I'm not just going to sit in here and wait," Roy growled in a low voice.
Marth reached for Roy's hand and squeezed it subtly, sitting beside him. "Nor I if you get chosen. Perhaps we can get him to choose us both."
"Wishful thinking."
Roy gave Marth's hand one squeeze before pulling it away and closing his eyes with a sigh.
'Not really…' Marth thought to himself. 'With a little effort, I probably could force the thought into my uncle's twisted mind…'
"His majesty is coming! Make yourselves presentable, wenches!" One of the eunuchs who warded the harem cried abruptly, causing all the women and boys to flutter about in a mild state of panic.
Roy snorted and stretched, lounging and refusing to do what they said, but watched as all the others primped themselves for King Gaimen's arrival.
"It would probably be better if you stayed somewhat out of sight," he told Marth, or Miranda. "It would be a waste if he recognized you right off the bat."
"Considering that I'm the tallest 'woman' here, that is going to be slightly difficult," Marth said back to his "cousin." Indeed, the prince was a full head taller than the next tallest person there.
"Fine, don't listen to me. Go and have your uncle do gods know what things to you…" Roy snapped, staring directly at none other than Gaimen as he strode in.
Marth's body stiffened and his eyes became hard, his skin blistering cold.
'Don't ever say that to me again.' He hissed, digging his fingers into Roy's skin. He stopped abruptly as Gaimen walked through the door.
Orange eyes, graying black hair that contrasted his powerfully built body and a handsome face, exactly as the prince remembered. His intense, burning blue eyes focused on the older man's lips, those full, sensuous lips that had touched his skin, ravished his mouth and finally declared him a traitor and in exile. Marth forced himself to tear his gaze away and tried to sit demurely, his head bowed and shoulders hunched so that he looked shorter.
Roy watched as well, the mere sight of the man disgusting him to no end. Gaimen had humiliated him in front of high Altean authority before the boy had defeated him, something that he would never forget. But instead he found fuel in his anger, and didn't notice the fire places in the rooms roaring to life.
Marth noticed, however and elbowed Roy sharply.
'Control yourself before everybody in the castle notices us!'
Roy blinked and came out of his heated reverie, fighting for the control that he did not have.
'I've got it,' he thought, closing his eyes with a shudder.
He did not see the dozens of girls and pretty boys throw themselves at the tall man's feet, didn't see the way they begged for the attention of the lecherous Gaimen. Marth watched however, as Gaimen's hands traveled over the faces of the slaves at his feet. He stopped at a boy, beautiful of face with soft golden hair and emerald eyes.
"Elliryk, you shall accompany me tonight." The false king commanded, his voice deep and husky.
The boy, Elliryk looked up at Gaimen with plain terror in his eyes, but looked back down quickly and nodded, his face growing pale.
"Yes, your Majesty." He whispered.
Marth stared, feeling a lump rise in his throat. The boy could not have been older than Roy and this was probably the first time that he had been called to the King's chambers. He remembered his own fear, the many cold hours spent in pain that he could never reveal.
Gaimen looked up and spotted the two new women amongst the thrall.
"Who are those two?" He asked to his head eunuch.
"Two new ones; cousins, Majesty. The red-haired one is Margaret and the other is Miranda. They just arrived today."
Gaimen nodded, studying them.
"Pity they aren't boys. Their features are a little masculine. But no matter. Prepare Elliryk and send him to my chambers when I summon him." He turned and strode out.
Once the guards had broken their formation and returned to their usual posts, Roy let out a growl.
"Pedophile. He likes them young, the bastard…" He said under his breath.
Marth nodded, swallowing the lump in his throat.
"No need to tell me."
He got up and walked over to Elliryk, crouching down beside the boy as best he could in the skirt.
"Are you afraid?"
Elliryk nodded numbly, his arms wrapped around himself.
"Is it your first time?"
The boy shook his head.
"No, but I've heard stories about what Gaimen does to all the pretty boys… None of them ever come back the same. They picked me up in a whorehouse in the brothels of the city. They had executed my parents for not being able to pay the tax and I had to work somehow to feed my little sisters, but I haven't seen them since his Majesty's men picked me up and brought me here."
Marth felt his heart skip a beat. The tax was even forcing children into prostitution… What had Gaimen done to his country in the time that he had been gone…?
"Elliryk, what did you want to be when you grew up?" Marth tried to smile.
"A knight."
"Maybe Prince Marth will come
back and you can still become a knight."
Elliryk's eyes darkened and he spoke with a voice dripping with scorn. "No, Prince Marth is a coward. He won't come back. He's too afraid of King Gaimen."
Marth felt a shiver run down his spine and his blood turn to ice.
"Is that what everyone says?" He asked in a dangerous, quiet voice.
"Yeah."
Marth stood up and returned to Roy, walking stiffly.
'We need to act soon. The people are beginning to lose hope.'
"Maybe tomorrow." Roy answered, gesturing for Marth to sit on the couch with him.
There had been a week of "maybe tomorrows," but Gaimen still had not picked either of them.
"If I was just a bit younger…" Roy said irritably to Marth, sometime around noon when they were eating.
"Age is not what's keeping us from being picked – we're not pretty enough as women. If he knew we were male, we'd be summoned every night." Marth mused quietly. "We may have to do something desperate if he doesn't pick one of us soon."
"Well, I figured that, but this is just so irritating… I just want to jump up and scream 'Pick me! I really want to kill you now!'"
Marth smothered a snort, imagining Roy doing just that.
"Perhaps not that desperate…"
"Hey, I wasn't trying to be funny." Roy scowled. "I don't have a sense of humor, remember?"
"I know. Neither do I."
"Great, we're both rocks with no sense of charisma…" The boy-general replied, examining his legs. Funny, they looked a lot longer in the skirt.
"Margaret and Miranda…" Gaimen mused, stroking his short beard as he sat in his chambers.
For some reason that the false King could not identify, the two strange women had been plaguing his thoughts for the last week. He simply had not been able to get them out of his head.
"There is just something about them," he declared. "And it's not as if they're astoundingly beautiful women – they're not – but they seem so familiar…"
Gaimen thought back to all the many people who he had slept with over the long years… No, no that wasn't it…
Abruptly, his mind stopped at Marth, his favorite among all his many partners. Gaimen's ember-orange eyes widened as he came to a startling realization.
"No…" He breathed. "It couldn't be Marth…" But he had seen those eyes, those same intense blue eyes that promised death on the face of that girl. Those eyes could only belong to one person, his beautiful nephew.
But wait… somebody else also had those eyes.
"If Miranda is Marth, then Margaret must be…" Gaimen thought for a moment, focusing on that rich auburn hair. "Roy! That arrogant little upstart! I knew I never should have exiled them together…" Gaimen growled, then a cruel smile curved his lips.
"But think of the fun I can have with them…" He chuckled deep in his throat. "If you children think that you overpower me, then you are sadly mistaken."
"You two…" A eunuch announced, stepping up to Marth and Roy and motioning to them. "Will be his Majesty's entertainment for tonight. He says that he appreciates your patience."
Roy stood slowly, but did not look at Marth so as not to rouse any sort of suspicion. Everything had to go like clockwork.
Marth stood as well, patting his hair somberly.
"We are honored." He spoke submissively, in a soft tone. Inwardly, he was quivering with anticipation. It was almost enough make him overlook the strangeness that Gaimen had conveniently picked them at the same time. But there was no time to worry about that now as the two of them were led to Gaimen's chambers. The door was locked behind them, the lights were low – everything seemed fine.
"Welcome…" Came Gaimen's deep, smooth voice. He was seated in a large armchair in the room and was looking at the two young "girls" with a smirk on his face. "Strip completely of your clothes and place yourselves on the bed."
Marth stood quite still, just looking at Gaimen through icy eyes. Wordlessly, he unlaced the bodice and held the string in his hand. It was painfully obvious now that he was no kind of woman.
Gaimen's smirk deepened and his orange eyes gleamed.
"Hello Marth. And Roy."
"You knew all along?! You sick bastard!" Roy yelled, clenching his fists and stepping forward. He then noticed at least half a dozen fully-trained guards waiting in the shadows, bearing the insignia of the elite king's personal guard. "I'll tear you apart…"
"Boy, I would love to see you try. Now, I am only going to ask you once more – strip completely and place yourselves on the bed."
Marth thought the situation through rapidly. They had been caught and were now surrounded and outnumbered. They could probably have taken them, but they were completely without weapons and revealing their magic at this point would have been unwise – their magic was their only trump card and they could not reveal it too soon. The only logical thing to do was stand down.
He sat on the bed, fully clothed and gestured for Roy to do the same.
With a huff, Roy stripped off his shirt and false chest, throwing them to the ground and plopping on the bed a little ways from Marth. He eyed Gaimen suspiciously.
"Don't drag this out, Gaimen. Get to the point – what are you doing to do with us now that we have returned after being exiled? You won't get out of this alive!"
The guards looked warily at Roy, sensing as he was being the more violent at the moment. Already the room's temperature was rising.
Gaimen laughed, gesturing for the guards to tie the youths up.
"Do not threaten me idly, boy. I may get offended by it."
Marth sent a magical link to Roy, soothing him.
'If you don't control your powers, he'll get suspicious. Our magic is the only trick we have up our sleeves – don't give it away.'
The boy-general gave Marth a look that simply said "Screw yourself" but did not struggle. He closed his eyes tightly and worked on controlling himself.
Gaimen walked over to Marth, roughly removing the prince's dress, running his hands over the cool, smooth skin. Marth didn't movie, his face fixing itself into that scarily blank icy mask. Gaimen frowned slightly, reaching up to touch Marth's sculpted lips.
"So submissive… I had expected more resistance from you, little princeling."
Marth still didn't move, eyes empty and void of anything. Gaimen's frown deepened and he let his hand drop. His nephew was beautiful, but very frustrating at times. He turned to Roy, his orange eyes catching sight of a strange jewel hanging from his old rival's throat.
"That is an interesting stone you wear, General. Where did you come upon it? If there are more, they are surely worth a fortune." The king fingered the gem.
"Don't touch it." Roy jerked away, but his movements were limited because he, like Marth had his hands tied behind his back. His eyes flashed dangerously and the flame within the ice grew brighter. That was the only present that he had from Marth and he didn't want Gaimen to touch that as well. "And don't touch Marth either."
Gaimen threw his head back and laughed at the general.
"Initially, I had wondered what under the heavens kept the two of you together, but I had never guessed that the two of you were lovers. Jealous lovers at that. I do apologize Roy, but Marth was mine first." He claimed Marth's lips with his own, ravishing the Prince's mouth.
There was a tiny spark behind the ice in Marth's eyes and he twisted his body to kick Gaimen in the stomach, slamming him into the wall behind him.
Gaimen grunted as the breath was knocked out of him and looked up at the two teens, eyes blazing with rage.
"Take them to the dungeon." He ordered his guards.
TBC…
Xan: Heh! I typed this entire thing up in one night- go me! Jeez, the entire review thing had me freaked out. None of them were showing up on ff.net, so I thought that nobody was reviewing until Vallen said "Duh, you idiot go check the email." So I did and y'all DID review! ^_^ I was so happy. Oh yeah, there's a reference to Rocky Horror Picture Show in this chapter and whoever can find it gets extra ultra cool bonus points! ^_^
Vallen: She's so silly sometimes. But don't worry… I'm putting my loving touch on this one. ^^