Disclaimer: I don't own it.
A/N: Well, this story is coming to a close. I figure one more chapter after this one and then it will be over. Oh well. I have two other to work on. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Read, Enjoy and Review.
The candlelight glinted off the blade of the dagger, freezing Rei in his spot. Kai rose into a half-crouch, legs tensing against the mattress. The candle was lifted higher, throwing Verandos' face into sharp relief. Verandos' eyes held a slightly mad look, candlelight flickering off of the black with an almost demonic quality. "You must die Kai Hiwatari. You and your Cat Whore." The knight lunged at the steward, keeping one eye on the knife.
They hit the floor hard, Verandos breaking Kai's fall. The candle rolled from the man's hand sputtering against the floor before dying, plunging the room into darkness. Rei could see in the dark, another attribute of his neko-jin heritage. Slowly a green orb started forming above his hand, light gradually brightening the room. He was careful not to brighten it too much, not willing to blind Kai at a crucial moment.
Somehow Verandos get free of Kai; his cold, dead eyes focused on Rei. He approached the neko-jin, knife glowing green in the light. Rei scribed a quick rune in the air before dodging to the left, falling off the bed. The steward yelled, edge of his tunic smoldering. He hit the ground hard, the knight slamming into his back. Kai pressed hard on the man's elbow, breaking it with a loud crack against the stone floor. He pulled the dagger from numb fingers before turning the man over, paying no heed to the broken limb. Verandos cried out, eyes wide with pain.
Candles sprang to life, replacing the green light. The steward stopped breathing as cold steel tickled his throat; frigid mahogany eyes pinned him in place. "Care to tell me what the hell is going on?" The knight's voice was emotionless, which scared the man even further. "Please My Lord, Voltaire's spirit came to me and told me to kill you and the neko-jin." his sentence was cut off as the dagger pricked his skin. Rage danced in the mahogany depths. "I'm bonded to a spirit blade. I would know if Voltaire's spirit was in the castle. And it's not." Verandos opened his mouth to say something, only to be stopped with pain when Kai's fist slammed into his nose, breaking it. There was pounding on the door and Kai got to his feet opening the door to reveal two guards.
The guards picked Verandos up, paying no mind to his broken arm. The older one looked at Kai, waiting for their orders. He took one look at his former steward, eyes filled with disgust. His voice was cold when he finally spoke. "Hang him." The guards nodded and dragged their burden from the room, closing the door behind them.
Rei was standing next to the bed; eyes fixed on the door. Kai moved to stand in front of the neko-jin, one hand reaching out to brush the lightly tanned skin. Rei jumped slightly, before smiling weakly at the slightly taller figure. "Sorry. I'm still a little freaked out." Kai just nodded, thumb brushing gently over the neko-jin's cheek. "Are you alright?" Rei nodded, leaning into Kai's touch, a rumbling purr filling the air.
*****
Kai pulled a sleeveless shirt over his head when two marks on his arm caught his eyes. They were just below his left wrist, grey in color and shaped like claws. He rubbed at them briefly, but when they didn't come off, he shoved the marks to the back of his mind and went to wake his raven- haired bedmate.
"Rei, wake up. We have to get going." Rei rolled over, away from the knight's heat desperately trying to go back to sleep. Kai sighed and grabbed the blankets pulling them off of the neko-jin. One golden eye looked up at him balefully causing him to hide his grin. "What the hell did you do that for?" Rei sat up, blinking like an owl. He slid out of the bed and changed, drawing on a pair of blue pants and a long-sleeved white shirt. He quickly bound his hair and turned to Kai arms wide open. "Happy?" The knight nodded, and opened the bedroom door. The left the room, Kai leading the way to the stables.
*****
"Well here it is. Dalara Castle." Kai nudged Altair's flank urging the great horse into the courtyard. He dismounted and watched as Rei jumped from Altair's back landing with the grace of a feline. He unlatched the saddlebags and handed the reins to a passing page before motioning for the neko-jin to follow him. They entered the castle through the kitchens, Kai wanting to avoid the main hall of the castle for the moment. He was in no mood to deal with his fan group.
They had almost made it to his room when the King and the Court Mage, Naoll appeared at the head of the stairs. The King's eyes lit up as he saw the knight and neko-jin "Ah, Sir Kai you're back. I take it everything went well?" Kai nodded, not liking the way the mage was looking at Rei. The strange feeling he had was back, the presence of the man like rubbing salt in an open wound. Naoll moved closer to Rei, eyes wandering over the lithe form.
"Oh yes, Your Majesty. He is the key to the spell." The King clapped his hands, looking like a little child who had just gotten what he wanted. He grabbed Rei's arm and started dragging him off, chirping like a little bird about Rei's rooms and the Court party they would be having the next day.
Kai got one last glimpse of terrified golden eyes before the raven-haired neko-jin was taken away by the king and mage. He threw open the door to his room and dropped the saddlebags on the floor, digging a long-sleeved shirt out of his chest. He pulled his armor on, and closed the door to his room. He strode down the hallway, long fingers clenched painfully around Dranzer's hilt. *I wonder where Tyson is? * He smirked, ready for a 'friendly spar' with the younger knight.
*****
"Have either of you seen a black haired, golden eyed neko-jin come by?" Max looked at Tyson, before meeting the older knight's mahogany eyes. He nodded. "Yeah, He went into the stables about ten minutes ago." Kai nodded his thanks before taking off at a run for the stables. The knight had not seen Rei for the rest of the day, yesterday and frankly it had him worried. He was the only person at the castle the neko-jin knew and he didn't like having that mage around his kitten.
The stables were almost entirely silent, the only sound the noises associated with horses. He walked down the aisles, knowing exactly were he would find his errant neko-jin. Rei and Altair had formed a special bond on their trip and Rei spent impressive amounts of time with the horse, most of the time grooming the stallion till he shone. He was rewarded with the sound of quiet sniffles when he reached Altair's stall.
He quietly opened the stall door, trying not to disturb horse or neko-jin. He winced when his boot rustled straw on the floor. Rei looked up from his task, golden eyes glazed with tears. He dropped the brush, before throwing himself at the knight. Warm arms wrapped around him, breaking the final dam. The stood like that for several minutes, before Rei's breathing calmed down to a semi-even rhythm. Kai kissed the top of Rei's head, before voicing his question. "Rei what happened?" The neko-jin tightened his grip on Kai's shirt, voice muffled against the black fabric. "Naoll forcibly drained off some of my magic."
Rei could feel the knight's lean muscles tense and he tightened his grip even further, as though trying to keep the knight from killing the mage. "Don't do anything stupid Kai. Just take me someplace I can sleep."
*****
Tala turned the handle to Kai's room; not surprised to find it locked. He set his hand against the lock and pushed some of his magic into the lock and was rewarded by the soft sound of the tumblers falling into place. He opened the door to reveal an empty sitting room, with the bedroom door open on the far wall.
He stopped in his tracks, shocked at the sight in front of him. Kai was sitting against the bed's headboard; arms wrapped around a figure bundled in the down comforter. Mahogany met blue and Kai tilted his head to one side, silently letting Tala know it was okay to enter. The blue-eyed knight sat down on the bed next to Kai, eyes on the sleeping neko-jin. "Who is this?" he asked quietly, not wanting to get on his friend's bad side. "You know that lovely task I had to do for the king?" Tala nodded. "This is the task. His name is Rei." Kai shifted slightly, unfolding his legs, which were starting to go numb. He settled Rei more comfortably against his chest, gently brushing back a piece of raven hair.
"He's a minor mage and Naoll drained off some of his magic. He fell asleep as soon as I got him here." Tala slowly moved a hand towards the neko-jin, hand stopping just short of the black locks. He half-closed his eyes, white- blue light gathering around his hand, before flowing into the sleeping figure. Rei moved restlessly for a second before a deep rumbling purr filled the air. Tala sat back, blue eyes wide in shock. He looked at the other knight, noticing the content light in the mahogany orbs. "He purrs?" Kai settled against the headboard, laying his head on Rei's. "Only when he's content." Tala got to his feet, ready to leave and go see to his own roommate. "Are you going to be at the party tonight?" His only answer was a 'Hn." Which he took to mean in the context of "I don't have much of a choice do I."
He closed both doors, making a silent promise to himself. He would help protect Rei if the neko-jin had that affect on Kai. Tala knew the slate haired knight's entire tale and he was glad that he had finally found some happiness in his life.
*****
"Do I have to go?" Rei tied off the end of his hair, long braid brushing his ankles. "Yes, you do. The king put this on entirely for you." Kai pulled his silk shirt on and smoothed it out, upset that he had to go. Rei walked into the sitting room, putting the final touches on his outfit. He was dressed in black pants with a long-sleeved white shirt and a silk knee length charcoal grey tunic. His normal red headband had been replaced with a grey one embroidered with a white tiger. Kai was tempted to blow off the party and stay in his rooms, particularly the bedroom with the alluring neko-jin. Kai was once again dressed in black and silver, making him look even paler than usual.
The hall was lit by hundreds of mage globes, hanging at various heights throughout the room. The ladies were dressed in gowns of silk and other expensive fabrics, ranging in color from pale pink to darkest blue. The walls glowed, light reflecting off the veins of clear minerals in the stone. Balconies opened to the cool night air, keeping the room comfortable. Half of the room was designated for dancing while the second half was reserved for talking and refreshments.
Kai and Rei managed to locate an open area near one of the balconies, providing them with an escape from the mass of people if they so desired. Kai had just returned from the refreshment table with two goblet of wine when Tyson and Max accosted him. Max was dressed in sky blue robes that matched his eyes. Tyson was dressed in a dark blue silk shirt with billowy sleeves and black pants. "And what god hates me today?" Max and Tyson just smiled at his comment and followed him back over to where Rei was.
"Thanks." The neko-jin took the goblet from Kai's hand; golden eyes focused on the two young knights. Kai held out one hand, gesturing to Max and Tyson. "Max, Tyson, this is Rei." He left introductions there, watching to see how the three would get along. They actually hit it of rather well. He let his attention wander from the three younger men, eyes drifting over the crowd. He noticed many people had at least one eye on this part of the room, hoping to get a glance of the mysterious new Court resident.
Tala watched Kai and Rei discreetly, noticing the way the two interacted around each other. Kai's attitude was very possessive. The closest any one had gotten to the neko-jin was Max and Tyson. Tala was sure that had something to do with the fact that Max and Tyson couldn't hurt a fly. Anyone else that tried to approach had been driven off by a cold glare. He watched Kai tuck a piece of hair behind Rei's ear, fingers lingering longer then absolutely necessary. He slipped behind a group of giggling courtiers, coming out slightly behind the oblivious neko-jin.
Kai looked behind Rei, and was rewarded with the sight of his best friend. "Tala, would you stop acting like a child?" The knight in question just smiled, and came around to stand next to the slate haired knight. "And is there any reason you haven't formally introduced me yet?" Tala asked, voice dripping honey. Kai shook his head, trying to avoid snapping at his friend. "Fine, Rei this is Knight-Mage Tala Baylin. Tala, this is Rei. Happy?"
Tala nodded, taking immense pleasure in getting under his friend's skin. He was about to ask Kai about his holdings when something caught his eye. The king was on a course with them, one of the Duke's daughters in tow. "Um, Kai now might not be a good time, but I think you're about to get ordered to dance." Kai easily found the king and was tempted to jump out of the window. That unfortunately would leave Rei alone. He ran a hand through his hair, stopping when he saw the look on Tala's face. The blue eyes were focused on his left arm, or more precisely on his wrist. "What are those?" He glanced down at the grey marks and shrugged.
"Don't know. I've had them for about two fortnights now. They don't come off. If you'll excuse me." Kai passed by Rei, fingers briefly brushing against Rei's. He stopped the king and bowed, face impassive. The Duke's daughter attached herself to the knight with startling speed, practically dragging him to the dance floor. The knight and neko-jin stood in silence for several minutes before Tala voiced the question that had been plaguing him since he had seen the marks on Kai's arm. Rei was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of Tala's voice. "Could you repeat that please?"
"Why were you so shocked when you saw those marks?" Rei looked down at his feet briefly before looking up to met blue eyes. "Because," he pushed up the sleeve on his right arm to reveal two marks identical to the ones on Kai's arm. "Because I have them to."
"What the hell does that mean?" The knight watched the neko-jin take a sip of the wine, patiently. "There mate marks. Neko-jin magic chooses the best mate for that particular neko. Each neko-jin has a different mate mark." Tala's eyes were wide with shock. "Are you telling me your magic thought that Kai would be the best mate for you?" Rei nodded eyes riveted on the floor. When he spoke again his voice was so soft it was almost lost in the buzz of voices and music in the background. "This wasn't supposed to happen. I have no control over who it chooses." Slightly callused fingers lifted his chin up, blue meeting tear-hazed gold. A soft thumb brushed away a crystal tear. "Don't worry about it. If I had a choice I would stick you with Kai. You are the only person who has been able to get that far into his shields." Rei gave a slight smile, fangs just barely showing. "Thanks Tala. I really appreciate it."
"No problem. I'll be leaving you now. Your mate is returning and I have to go deal with mine." The neko-jin followed the knight's gaze and was surprised at what he saw. Standing in one corner of the room was a lone figure, almost blending in with the wall behind. Pale purple hair brushed against a white shirt and pale, almost white eyes scanned the room, obviously searching for one person. Tala moved his left hand slightly and disappeared, reappearing next to the purple haired figure.
Kai appeared at this side and took the goblet from his hand, downing it in one go. He handed it to a passing servant before running a hand through his hair, again flashing the grey marks at Rei. Rei knew that he should tell Kai, but something was preventing him. The fear of rejection was more than he could handle at the moment. The knight noticed tenseness in the neko-jin and he moved one hand to the small of Rei's back, slowly moving higher in a circular motion. "You ready to leave?" Rei nodded and the slipped out on to the balcony, silently making their way back to Kai's rooms.
*****
Kai pushed on the library door open; careful not to bump the pile of books that was behind the door. It was beyond Kai how anyone could find anything in the library let alone find the diminutive master of the library. "Kenny, where the hell are you?" His only answer was a sneeze from the very back of the huge room. After several minutes of winding through the canyons of books, the knight found the object of his first search. Sitting at a table underneath a window, was a small petite brunette, small seeing devices balanced on his head. A huge tome was on the scarred table revealing arcane writing. Kenny looked up at the knight, closing the tome. "Sorry Kai. I couldn't hear you. What do you need?"
"A book on neko-jin." He watched as the librarian got to his feet and disappeared into the stacks of books only to return seconds later with a small leather bound book. Kenny settled back down at the table opening to the appropriate page. "Okay. Neko-jin were created hundreds of years ago by mages who bred cats and humans together, trying to get perfect warriors. Over the years, neko-jin started breeding with humans, which lead to the neko-jin looking more human over the years. All neko-jin have some magic ability. No matter how much magic they have all have a protective beast." Kai held up a hand, silencing the librarian. "Back up and explain the protective beast thing."
"All neko-jin have a protective spirit. The spirit is a manifestation of the neko's magic and is sentient." Kai thought back to the vagabonds that had jumped them on the road and the three that had been slashed with what looked like claws. Kenny continued oblivious to the knight's train of thought. "A neko-jin has no choice in their mate. Their magic chooses the best person, usually a person the neko-jin has spent a great deal of time with. A mark forms on both partners, usually within twenty days of meeting each other. Each neko has a different mark. The marks are impossible to remove and if one mate dies, the other will become lethargic and slowly waste away. Anything else you need?"
Kai shook his head and got to his feet, nearly killing himself in the process. Winding between his legs was a tawny cat, apparently hell bent on tripping him. Kenny jumped to his feet and grabbed the cat. "Dizzi, what am I going to do with you. I don't know why you feel you must trip everyone."
*****
Kai looked down at the grey marks on his arm, thoughts going a mile a minute. He finally had an answer to the strange marks. The thought that he was mated to Rei was surprising, but that wasn't bugging him. What was bugging him was the fact that Rei hadn't told him right away. The second thing was the high pitched shrill he could hear. It had started shortly after lunch and hadn't abated in the three hours since. And the sound was not high on his list of things to worry about.
Rei had managed to disappear. Neither Tyson nor Max had seen him, which surprised him. He had thought that the neko-jin would be off with his new friends. The only place in the castle he hadn't checked was Tala's rooms. It was a place of last resort. He knocked on the door and was rewarded with it opening almost immediately. Tala rather than asking what was wrong went back to the couch and knelt down.
Kai walked over to behind the couch and was shocked to see Tala's lover sprawled out on the couch, face lined with pain. "Is now a bad time?" The red headed knight shook his head and placed a cool compress on Bryan's forehead. "No. What do you need."
"A couple of questions answered. First what's with this shrill sound?" Tala sat back on his heels, eyes drifting to the possessed blade that sat on a chair before answering. "Someone's setting up a huge spell. Most people can't hear that sound. Only natural mages or people bonded to possessed items can hear it. That's part of Bryan's problem. Not only is he a powerful mage but also he's bound to Falborg, which adds to his magic. Until that spell is released or used this is going to continue. Your second question?"
Kai ran a hand through his hair, mussing the usually tame strands. "Have you seen Rei? He disappeared after lunch. Nobody's seen him." Tala rewet the towel, taking several minutes to think. "I saw him talking to Naoll, shortly after lunch. I haven't seen him." Before he could complete the sentence Kai was out of the room.
*****
"Shit." The door to the mage's room was warded and the only way he could break it was to spill all of his blood, which was obviously not an option. Kai stood several feet from the door, not willing to get burned to a crisp. No one had asked what he was doing, something he was glad about.
"Kai, what are you doing?" Tyson and Max stopped next to their captain; curious about the strange way he was acting. They nearly jumped out of their skin when he finally spoke. "Go get Tala, he should be in his room. And make sure he brings Wolborg. And move your asses." They took off at a dead run, not wanting to be on the receiving end of their superior's anger.
All three knights were back several minutes later. Kai had not moved mahogany eyes still focused on the iron door. He didn't bother to acknowledge their presence, instead moving right into his problem. "The door's warded. I was hoping that you could do something about that." Now, Tyson being the person he is knew very little about magic. So, in his infinite wisdom, he decided to touch the door and see what would happen. Seconds before he touched the door, strong fingers closed on his shirt collar and dragged him back.
Tala smirked, enjoying watching the younger knight make a fool of himself. He unsheathed his sword, diamond glittering in the blade. White-blue magic crept along the blade, reaching out slowly to touch the door. White and black swirled together, the black slowly eating the white. Mahogany met blue, silently questioning. "It's going to take some time." He turned back to the door ready to try again when Max's voice broke his concentration. "Umm, we have a slight problem." Kai and Tala turned to find seven palace guards bearing down on them.
The men were huge, considerably taller and bulkier then the four knights. The palace guards eyes were vacant, a sure hint that they were being magically controlled. Unfortunately they were armored, another advantage over the knights. Purple, blue and red joined the white light, jewels flashing with an internal light. "Kai we don't have time for this. That spell is going to be complete within fifteen minutes. I don't have time to break the ward and fight them. You're going to have to find another way." Tala's eyes never left Kai's, showing the urgency in his words.
The light of the sun reflected off the floor length windows, giving Kai an idea. "Tala, start working on the ward. Tyson, Max stop the guards. Kill them if absolutely necessary." There was a tinkling of breaking glass and a fresh wind blew through the hall.
A/N: Well, this story is coming to a close. I figure one more chapter after this one and then it will be over. Oh well. I have two other to work on. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Read, Enjoy and Review.
The candlelight glinted off the blade of the dagger, freezing Rei in his spot. Kai rose into a half-crouch, legs tensing against the mattress. The candle was lifted higher, throwing Verandos' face into sharp relief. Verandos' eyes held a slightly mad look, candlelight flickering off of the black with an almost demonic quality. "You must die Kai Hiwatari. You and your Cat Whore." The knight lunged at the steward, keeping one eye on the knife.
They hit the floor hard, Verandos breaking Kai's fall. The candle rolled from the man's hand sputtering against the floor before dying, plunging the room into darkness. Rei could see in the dark, another attribute of his neko-jin heritage. Slowly a green orb started forming above his hand, light gradually brightening the room. He was careful not to brighten it too much, not willing to blind Kai at a crucial moment.
Somehow Verandos get free of Kai; his cold, dead eyes focused on Rei. He approached the neko-jin, knife glowing green in the light. Rei scribed a quick rune in the air before dodging to the left, falling off the bed. The steward yelled, edge of his tunic smoldering. He hit the ground hard, the knight slamming into his back. Kai pressed hard on the man's elbow, breaking it with a loud crack against the stone floor. He pulled the dagger from numb fingers before turning the man over, paying no heed to the broken limb. Verandos cried out, eyes wide with pain.
Candles sprang to life, replacing the green light. The steward stopped breathing as cold steel tickled his throat; frigid mahogany eyes pinned him in place. "Care to tell me what the hell is going on?" The knight's voice was emotionless, which scared the man even further. "Please My Lord, Voltaire's spirit came to me and told me to kill you and the neko-jin." his sentence was cut off as the dagger pricked his skin. Rage danced in the mahogany depths. "I'm bonded to a spirit blade. I would know if Voltaire's spirit was in the castle. And it's not." Verandos opened his mouth to say something, only to be stopped with pain when Kai's fist slammed into his nose, breaking it. There was pounding on the door and Kai got to his feet opening the door to reveal two guards.
The guards picked Verandos up, paying no mind to his broken arm. The older one looked at Kai, waiting for their orders. He took one look at his former steward, eyes filled with disgust. His voice was cold when he finally spoke. "Hang him." The guards nodded and dragged their burden from the room, closing the door behind them.
Rei was standing next to the bed; eyes fixed on the door. Kai moved to stand in front of the neko-jin, one hand reaching out to brush the lightly tanned skin. Rei jumped slightly, before smiling weakly at the slightly taller figure. "Sorry. I'm still a little freaked out." Kai just nodded, thumb brushing gently over the neko-jin's cheek. "Are you alright?" Rei nodded, leaning into Kai's touch, a rumbling purr filling the air.
*****
Kai pulled a sleeveless shirt over his head when two marks on his arm caught his eyes. They were just below his left wrist, grey in color and shaped like claws. He rubbed at them briefly, but when they didn't come off, he shoved the marks to the back of his mind and went to wake his raven- haired bedmate.
"Rei, wake up. We have to get going." Rei rolled over, away from the knight's heat desperately trying to go back to sleep. Kai sighed and grabbed the blankets pulling them off of the neko-jin. One golden eye looked up at him balefully causing him to hide his grin. "What the hell did you do that for?" Rei sat up, blinking like an owl. He slid out of the bed and changed, drawing on a pair of blue pants and a long-sleeved white shirt. He quickly bound his hair and turned to Kai arms wide open. "Happy?" The knight nodded, and opened the bedroom door. The left the room, Kai leading the way to the stables.
*****
"Well here it is. Dalara Castle." Kai nudged Altair's flank urging the great horse into the courtyard. He dismounted and watched as Rei jumped from Altair's back landing with the grace of a feline. He unlatched the saddlebags and handed the reins to a passing page before motioning for the neko-jin to follow him. They entered the castle through the kitchens, Kai wanting to avoid the main hall of the castle for the moment. He was in no mood to deal with his fan group.
They had almost made it to his room when the King and the Court Mage, Naoll appeared at the head of the stairs. The King's eyes lit up as he saw the knight and neko-jin "Ah, Sir Kai you're back. I take it everything went well?" Kai nodded, not liking the way the mage was looking at Rei. The strange feeling he had was back, the presence of the man like rubbing salt in an open wound. Naoll moved closer to Rei, eyes wandering over the lithe form.
"Oh yes, Your Majesty. He is the key to the spell." The King clapped his hands, looking like a little child who had just gotten what he wanted. He grabbed Rei's arm and started dragging him off, chirping like a little bird about Rei's rooms and the Court party they would be having the next day.
Kai got one last glimpse of terrified golden eyes before the raven-haired neko-jin was taken away by the king and mage. He threw open the door to his room and dropped the saddlebags on the floor, digging a long-sleeved shirt out of his chest. He pulled his armor on, and closed the door to his room. He strode down the hallway, long fingers clenched painfully around Dranzer's hilt. *I wonder where Tyson is? * He smirked, ready for a 'friendly spar' with the younger knight.
*****
"Have either of you seen a black haired, golden eyed neko-jin come by?" Max looked at Tyson, before meeting the older knight's mahogany eyes. He nodded. "Yeah, He went into the stables about ten minutes ago." Kai nodded his thanks before taking off at a run for the stables. The knight had not seen Rei for the rest of the day, yesterday and frankly it had him worried. He was the only person at the castle the neko-jin knew and he didn't like having that mage around his kitten.
The stables were almost entirely silent, the only sound the noises associated with horses. He walked down the aisles, knowing exactly were he would find his errant neko-jin. Rei and Altair had formed a special bond on their trip and Rei spent impressive amounts of time with the horse, most of the time grooming the stallion till he shone. He was rewarded with the sound of quiet sniffles when he reached Altair's stall.
He quietly opened the stall door, trying not to disturb horse or neko-jin. He winced when his boot rustled straw on the floor. Rei looked up from his task, golden eyes glazed with tears. He dropped the brush, before throwing himself at the knight. Warm arms wrapped around him, breaking the final dam. The stood like that for several minutes, before Rei's breathing calmed down to a semi-even rhythm. Kai kissed the top of Rei's head, before voicing his question. "Rei what happened?" The neko-jin tightened his grip on Kai's shirt, voice muffled against the black fabric. "Naoll forcibly drained off some of my magic."
Rei could feel the knight's lean muscles tense and he tightened his grip even further, as though trying to keep the knight from killing the mage. "Don't do anything stupid Kai. Just take me someplace I can sleep."
*****
Tala turned the handle to Kai's room; not surprised to find it locked. He set his hand against the lock and pushed some of his magic into the lock and was rewarded by the soft sound of the tumblers falling into place. He opened the door to reveal an empty sitting room, with the bedroom door open on the far wall.
He stopped in his tracks, shocked at the sight in front of him. Kai was sitting against the bed's headboard; arms wrapped around a figure bundled in the down comforter. Mahogany met blue and Kai tilted his head to one side, silently letting Tala know it was okay to enter. The blue-eyed knight sat down on the bed next to Kai, eyes on the sleeping neko-jin. "Who is this?" he asked quietly, not wanting to get on his friend's bad side. "You know that lovely task I had to do for the king?" Tala nodded. "This is the task. His name is Rei." Kai shifted slightly, unfolding his legs, which were starting to go numb. He settled Rei more comfortably against his chest, gently brushing back a piece of raven hair.
"He's a minor mage and Naoll drained off some of his magic. He fell asleep as soon as I got him here." Tala slowly moved a hand towards the neko-jin, hand stopping just short of the black locks. He half-closed his eyes, white- blue light gathering around his hand, before flowing into the sleeping figure. Rei moved restlessly for a second before a deep rumbling purr filled the air. Tala sat back, blue eyes wide in shock. He looked at the other knight, noticing the content light in the mahogany orbs. "He purrs?" Kai settled against the headboard, laying his head on Rei's. "Only when he's content." Tala got to his feet, ready to leave and go see to his own roommate. "Are you going to be at the party tonight?" His only answer was a 'Hn." Which he took to mean in the context of "I don't have much of a choice do I."
He closed both doors, making a silent promise to himself. He would help protect Rei if the neko-jin had that affect on Kai. Tala knew the slate haired knight's entire tale and he was glad that he had finally found some happiness in his life.
*****
"Do I have to go?" Rei tied off the end of his hair, long braid brushing his ankles. "Yes, you do. The king put this on entirely for you." Kai pulled his silk shirt on and smoothed it out, upset that he had to go. Rei walked into the sitting room, putting the final touches on his outfit. He was dressed in black pants with a long-sleeved white shirt and a silk knee length charcoal grey tunic. His normal red headband had been replaced with a grey one embroidered with a white tiger. Kai was tempted to blow off the party and stay in his rooms, particularly the bedroom with the alluring neko-jin. Kai was once again dressed in black and silver, making him look even paler than usual.
The hall was lit by hundreds of mage globes, hanging at various heights throughout the room. The ladies were dressed in gowns of silk and other expensive fabrics, ranging in color from pale pink to darkest blue. The walls glowed, light reflecting off the veins of clear minerals in the stone. Balconies opened to the cool night air, keeping the room comfortable. Half of the room was designated for dancing while the second half was reserved for talking and refreshments.
Kai and Rei managed to locate an open area near one of the balconies, providing them with an escape from the mass of people if they so desired. Kai had just returned from the refreshment table with two goblet of wine when Tyson and Max accosted him. Max was dressed in sky blue robes that matched his eyes. Tyson was dressed in a dark blue silk shirt with billowy sleeves and black pants. "And what god hates me today?" Max and Tyson just smiled at his comment and followed him back over to where Rei was.
"Thanks." The neko-jin took the goblet from Kai's hand; golden eyes focused on the two young knights. Kai held out one hand, gesturing to Max and Tyson. "Max, Tyson, this is Rei." He left introductions there, watching to see how the three would get along. They actually hit it of rather well. He let his attention wander from the three younger men, eyes drifting over the crowd. He noticed many people had at least one eye on this part of the room, hoping to get a glance of the mysterious new Court resident.
Tala watched Kai and Rei discreetly, noticing the way the two interacted around each other. Kai's attitude was very possessive. The closest any one had gotten to the neko-jin was Max and Tyson. Tala was sure that had something to do with the fact that Max and Tyson couldn't hurt a fly. Anyone else that tried to approach had been driven off by a cold glare. He watched Kai tuck a piece of hair behind Rei's ear, fingers lingering longer then absolutely necessary. He slipped behind a group of giggling courtiers, coming out slightly behind the oblivious neko-jin.
Kai looked behind Rei, and was rewarded with the sight of his best friend. "Tala, would you stop acting like a child?" The knight in question just smiled, and came around to stand next to the slate haired knight. "And is there any reason you haven't formally introduced me yet?" Tala asked, voice dripping honey. Kai shook his head, trying to avoid snapping at his friend. "Fine, Rei this is Knight-Mage Tala Baylin. Tala, this is Rei. Happy?"
Tala nodded, taking immense pleasure in getting under his friend's skin. He was about to ask Kai about his holdings when something caught his eye. The king was on a course with them, one of the Duke's daughters in tow. "Um, Kai now might not be a good time, but I think you're about to get ordered to dance." Kai easily found the king and was tempted to jump out of the window. That unfortunately would leave Rei alone. He ran a hand through his hair, stopping when he saw the look on Tala's face. The blue eyes were focused on his left arm, or more precisely on his wrist. "What are those?" He glanced down at the grey marks and shrugged.
"Don't know. I've had them for about two fortnights now. They don't come off. If you'll excuse me." Kai passed by Rei, fingers briefly brushing against Rei's. He stopped the king and bowed, face impassive. The Duke's daughter attached herself to the knight with startling speed, practically dragging him to the dance floor. The knight and neko-jin stood in silence for several minutes before Tala voiced the question that had been plaguing him since he had seen the marks on Kai's arm. Rei was snapped out of his thoughts by the sound of Tala's voice. "Could you repeat that please?"
"Why were you so shocked when you saw those marks?" Rei looked down at his feet briefly before looking up to met blue eyes. "Because," he pushed up the sleeve on his right arm to reveal two marks identical to the ones on Kai's arm. "Because I have them to."
"What the hell does that mean?" The knight watched the neko-jin take a sip of the wine, patiently. "There mate marks. Neko-jin magic chooses the best mate for that particular neko. Each neko-jin has a different mate mark." Tala's eyes were wide with shock. "Are you telling me your magic thought that Kai would be the best mate for you?" Rei nodded eyes riveted on the floor. When he spoke again his voice was so soft it was almost lost in the buzz of voices and music in the background. "This wasn't supposed to happen. I have no control over who it chooses." Slightly callused fingers lifted his chin up, blue meeting tear-hazed gold. A soft thumb brushed away a crystal tear. "Don't worry about it. If I had a choice I would stick you with Kai. You are the only person who has been able to get that far into his shields." Rei gave a slight smile, fangs just barely showing. "Thanks Tala. I really appreciate it."
"No problem. I'll be leaving you now. Your mate is returning and I have to go deal with mine." The neko-jin followed the knight's gaze and was surprised at what he saw. Standing in one corner of the room was a lone figure, almost blending in with the wall behind. Pale purple hair brushed against a white shirt and pale, almost white eyes scanned the room, obviously searching for one person. Tala moved his left hand slightly and disappeared, reappearing next to the purple haired figure.
Kai appeared at this side and took the goblet from his hand, downing it in one go. He handed it to a passing servant before running a hand through his hair, again flashing the grey marks at Rei. Rei knew that he should tell Kai, but something was preventing him. The fear of rejection was more than he could handle at the moment. The knight noticed tenseness in the neko-jin and he moved one hand to the small of Rei's back, slowly moving higher in a circular motion. "You ready to leave?" Rei nodded and the slipped out on to the balcony, silently making their way back to Kai's rooms.
*****
Kai pushed on the library door open; careful not to bump the pile of books that was behind the door. It was beyond Kai how anyone could find anything in the library let alone find the diminutive master of the library. "Kenny, where the hell are you?" His only answer was a sneeze from the very back of the huge room. After several minutes of winding through the canyons of books, the knight found the object of his first search. Sitting at a table underneath a window, was a small petite brunette, small seeing devices balanced on his head. A huge tome was on the scarred table revealing arcane writing. Kenny looked up at the knight, closing the tome. "Sorry Kai. I couldn't hear you. What do you need?"
"A book on neko-jin." He watched as the librarian got to his feet and disappeared into the stacks of books only to return seconds later with a small leather bound book. Kenny settled back down at the table opening to the appropriate page. "Okay. Neko-jin were created hundreds of years ago by mages who bred cats and humans together, trying to get perfect warriors. Over the years, neko-jin started breeding with humans, which lead to the neko-jin looking more human over the years. All neko-jin have some magic ability. No matter how much magic they have all have a protective beast." Kai held up a hand, silencing the librarian. "Back up and explain the protective beast thing."
"All neko-jin have a protective spirit. The spirit is a manifestation of the neko's magic and is sentient." Kai thought back to the vagabonds that had jumped them on the road and the three that had been slashed with what looked like claws. Kenny continued oblivious to the knight's train of thought. "A neko-jin has no choice in their mate. Their magic chooses the best person, usually a person the neko-jin has spent a great deal of time with. A mark forms on both partners, usually within twenty days of meeting each other. Each neko has a different mark. The marks are impossible to remove and if one mate dies, the other will become lethargic and slowly waste away. Anything else you need?"
Kai shook his head and got to his feet, nearly killing himself in the process. Winding between his legs was a tawny cat, apparently hell bent on tripping him. Kenny jumped to his feet and grabbed the cat. "Dizzi, what am I going to do with you. I don't know why you feel you must trip everyone."
*****
Kai looked down at the grey marks on his arm, thoughts going a mile a minute. He finally had an answer to the strange marks. The thought that he was mated to Rei was surprising, but that wasn't bugging him. What was bugging him was the fact that Rei hadn't told him right away. The second thing was the high pitched shrill he could hear. It had started shortly after lunch and hadn't abated in the three hours since. And the sound was not high on his list of things to worry about.
Rei had managed to disappear. Neither Tyson nor Max had seen him, which surprised him. He had thought that the neko-jin would be off with his new friends. The only place in the castle he hadn't checked was Tala's rooms. It was a place of last resort. He knocked on the door and was rewarded with it opening almost immediately. Tala rather than asking what was wrong went back to the couch and knelt down.
Kai walked over to behind the couch and was shocked to see Tala's lover sprawled out on the couch, face lined with pain. "Is now a bad time?" The red headed knight shook his head and placed a cool compress on Bryan's forehead. "No. What do you need."
"A couple of questions answered. First what's with this shrill sound?" Tala sat back on his heels, eyes drifting to the possessed blade that sat on a chair before answering. "Someone's setting up a huge spell. Most people can't hear that sound. Only natural mages or people bonded to possessed items can hear it. That's part of Bryan's problem. Not only is he a powerful mage but also he's bound to Falborg, which adds to his magic. Until that spell is released or used this is going to continue. Your second question?"
Kai ran a hand through his hair, mussing the usually tame strands. "Have you seen Rei? He disappeared after lunch. Nobody's seen him." Tala rewet the towel, taking several minutes to think. "I saw him talking to Naoll, shortly after lunch. I haven't seen him." Before he could complete the sentence Kai was out of the room.
*****
"Shit." The door to the mage's room was warded and the only way he could break it was to spill all of his blood, which was obviously not an option. Kai stood several feet from the door, not willing to get burned to a crisp. No one had asked what he was doing, something he was glad about.
"Kai, what are you doing?" Tyson and Max stopped next to their captain; curious about the strange way he was acting. They nearly jumped out of their skin when he finally spoke. "Go get Tala, he should be in his room. And make sure he brings Wolborg. And move your asses." They took off at a dead run, not wanting to be on the receiving end of their superior's anger.
All three knights were back several minutes later. Kai had not moved mahogany eyes still focused on the iron door. He didn't bother to acknowledge their presence, instead moving right into his problem. "The door's warded. I was hoping that you could do something about that." Now, Tyson being the person he is knew very little about magic. So, in his infinite wisdom, he decided to touch the door and see what would happen. Seconds before he touched the door, strong fingers closed on his shirt collar and dragged him back.
Tala smirked, enjoying watching the younger knight make a fool of himself. He unsheathed his sword, diamond glittering in the blade. White-blue magic crept along the blade, reaching out slowly to touch the door. White and black swirled together, the black slowly eating the white. Mahogany met blue, silently questioning. "It's going to take some time." He turned back to the door ready to try again when Max's voice broke his concentration. "Umm, we have a slight problem." Kai and Tala turned to find seven palace guards bearing down on them.
The men were huge, considerably taller and bulkier then the four knights. The palace guards eyes were vacant, a sure hint that they were being magically controlled. Unfortunately they were armored, another advantage over the knights. Purple, blue and red joined the white light, jewels flashing with an internal light. "Kai we don't have time for this. That spell is going to be complete within fifteen minutes. I don't have time to break the ward and fight them. You're going to have to find another way." Tala's eyes never left Kai's, showing the urgency in his words.
The light of the sun reflected off the floor length windows, giving Kai an idea. "Tala, start working on the ward. Tyson, Max stop the guards. Kill them if absolutely necessary." There was a tinkling of breaking glass and a fresh wind blew through the hall.