Title: Reign of the Heart
Content: AU, yaoi/shonen ai, non-con in this chapter, but nothing greatly explicit.
Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, but…the story is mine! And this fairy dust! *flings fairy dust around*
Pinku: *sweatdrop*
Lorelei: *becomes seriously and gets all teary eyed* I just wanna thank you people for sticking with me the entire time! I simply love reading reviews from you, and knowing your support…*sobs into Pinku's shoulder*
Pinku: *pats her back* Uh…yeah…*waves sign that says 'Pretend you like it so she gives me pocky!' at the readers*
Lorelei: *sniffs and pulls away* So. Enjoy!
~Chapter Five~
It was a dark room. It had always been dark, with only one window, barred and hidden by thick curtains. Only on some nights, did the moon show through, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Tonight was one of those nights.
Goku felt himself being thrust to the wall, his wrists encircled by not only tight metal slave bands, but by hands. Hands that gripped him fiercely, refusing to let him go. Goku had long since learned not to whimper under the pressure that held him there.
The stone wall was cold and sharp against his bare back, and every inch of his exposed skin the wall bit into. All that clothed him was a frail pair of pants, and those were not hard to remove, as he felt one of the hands searching their waistband. A sharp breath hit his cheek as his captor leaned his face down to Goku's level.
"You're not much of a challenge tonight," the man observed. Goku could just make out his two-toned eyes, and the lines of shadow on his face. The man grinned maliciously. "Something the matter?"
Goku dropped his head, long brown hair falling into and around his youthful face. He tensed slightly when a slender fingered hand traveled down his pants, prickling the flesh it touched. The other hand released its hold on Goku's wrist, cupping his chin and tilting his head to bring his large golden eyes into view.
"Beautiful." The dark-haired man, Homura, stated. Goku held back a wince as Homura's lips traveled down his torso, and his hands gracefully pulled off Goku's pants. The youth's breathing remained even, after so many years of the same routine. The shadows dance across the floor as a breeze swept through the room, the curtains billowing. A hand paused, curled around Goku's hip. Goku sucked in a breath, wondering if he'd done something wrong. His master had seemed to be enjoying himself. "You're used to this, now, aren't you?" Homura asked quietly. Goku felt his eyes widen in some fear of what Homura was planning to do, but he nodded, very slowly. Homura stood at full height, looking down at Goku, a devious shine dancing in his gold and gray eyes. "Come here."
Homura led Goku to the bed at the other side of the room. This wasn't new either; they had used the bed often. Homura gestured for Goku to lay down on it, and the boy proceeded to do so. He stared at Homura, awaiting further command.
"Lift your arms." The man directed. Goku did as he was told, his youthful eyes widening in fear as he felt his arms being secured to the head board. Homura leaned down on his slight form, smirk widening. He let the palms of his hands rest on Goku's chest, which fluttered with the rabid beating of his heart. "We'll play a different way tonight." His lips fell hungrily upon Goku's, tongue immediately violating the boy's mouth, and Goku let it. There was a time when he had fought it, and his attempts had become feebler until there were none. Homura's mouth moved down his body, covering every inch of his skin, and Goku allowed him to. He allowed the man to tear away every piece of dignity, of innocence, that had ever existed there, without any question.
There was nothing else he could do.
Involuntarily, his hands clutched the sheet wrapped around his body desperately. His eyes squeezed tighter, and then opened, slowly, not wanting to come face to face with what he expected to see…
Goku seemed to be on the floor, sprawled on a pile of worn blankets, covered in one solitary sheet. Why…? He'd never woken up this way before…And where was he? His dim surroundings were certainly a far cry from a palace…
Wait! Sanzo! He was still at that old healer's house, and Sanzo was still recovering from his poison wound. Goku sighed heavily, letting the panic within him die. For a moment, he'd thought he'd retained a new master. That was the last thing he wanted. He didn't want anyone to be his master…except Sanzo.
That's right! Sanzo!
The young man sprung from his position on the floor, taking a minute to dislodge his small form from the large sheet, which had gotten wrapped awkwardly around his foot. After shaking the offensive blanket, Goku rushed to where Sanzo lay in the room's one bed. He peered over Sanzo's face, brushing his brown bangs aside to get a better look.
The blonde prince was pale, and his face very peaceful, considering the pain he had been in not so long ago. Goku placed a tentative hand on Sanzo's forehead, brushing aside the locks of hair that fell onto it, letting his hand slide down Sanzo's cheek. Sanzo was extremely cold!
Goku pulled his hand back nervously as Sanzo took a deep breath, stirring very slightly. The sleeping prince shuddered. Without any more thought, Goku crawled into an empty space in the bed beside Sanzo, snuggling in as close as he could to Sanzo without waking him. If Sanzo was cold, Goku would gladly share his warmth. He would share anything Sanzo needed.
"'Night, Sanzo," Goku murmured sleepily, feeling himself drift back off to sleep, this time, with peaceful dreams, of a violet-eyed prince.
Sanzo awoke with the feeling of pressure at his immediate left. That, and tangled appendages. He definitely could feel a couple of limbs constricting his waist, and legs tangled in his own. He nearly thought there was a leech infestation in his bed.
He snorted softly. A soft, warm…pleasant leech infestation. He found there his own golden eyed servant clinging desperately to his body, muttering about having breakfast. And something about the prince himself. Sanzo sighed, deciding it best to leave the boy alone for the time being.
"I fall unconscious for a few hours, and this is what happens," the prince sighed, bringing a hand to his forehead. A tingling pain shot through the adjacent shoulder, the one that Goku had been clinging to. Fleetingly, Sanzo wondered how the boy had managed not to disturb it while he was sleeping. "Damn," Sanzo grated against the pain. Goku stirred, consequently moving closer to Sanzo, giving the blonde barely any breathing room. Another sigh. "Damn. If I had known monkeys were attracted to heat…"
"I'm not a monkey…" Goku muttered sleepily. "And I'm not just attracted to heat, I'm—" Goku's eyes slid open, meeting with Sanzo's impatient violet eyes. A blonde brow arched.
"You're what?" Flushing red, Goku tried turning over to dislodge himself from Sanzo, falling off of the bed with a loud thud, most of the sheets tumbling onto him.
"Ow…" Goku moaned from the floor. "Is it morning already?" Sanzo contemplated yelling at the boy for sleeping with him, but decided against it. He had to admit, even if only to himself, it was one of the most pleasant nights he'd ever slept through. Odd.
"Of course it is, why else would the sun be shining through the damned window?" Sanzo gestured, pulling himself out of bed haltingly, because of his shoulder. He hissed quietly in pain a few times before successfully swinging his legs over the bed's edge. Goku jumped up from the floor.
"Sanzo! Be careful!" the brunette waved his hands about nervously. Sanzo glared mildly at his jumpy servant.
"Don't tell me how to handle myself, ape!" he growled, then winced, pressing a hand to his throbbing shoulder. Goku jumped, half in triumph, half in worry.
"See?! It's still sore! Even after two days!" Sanzo's violet eyes widened.
"Two days?!" he exclaimed incredulously. "Two days? How? I don't remember…" Goku placed his hands on his hips, a small smirk on his face.
"Well how could you? You were asleep the whole time!" Sanzo made a face. He distinctly remembered being awake not so long ago…The prince lifted himself from the bed and onto his feet. Goku watched him all the while. "Um, Sanzo?" The prince looked up from his fumbling with the ties on his clothing, and the avoidance of using his shoulder. He grunted in annoyance.
"What is it?" Goku smiled wide and hopeful.
"Aren't we going to eat first?" A growl came from Sanzo's throat, and soon, Goku found the prince's undershirt draped over his head. He peeked out from under the fabric. "Is that a yes?"
Sanzo, minding his aching shoulder, carefully swung himself into the saddle of his horse, the healer's daughter bracing him on one side. Goku's head drooped, and his shoulders were slumped. Sanzo arched a golden eyebrow in the boy's direction.
"Goku, are you coming?" he asked. Goku shook his head to clear his mind, and leaned against the side of the horse.
"Yeah…just a little tired…" the youth replied with a yawn. Sanzo sighed, and reached an arm out to the youth. Goku examined the limb with some scrutiny. Sanzo gave another exasperated sigh.
"Come on, then. You can sleep while we're riding. I'm not wasting another day," Sanzo stated, grabbing Goku and pulling him into the saddle. Goku wasn't used to sitting in the front, and he gave Sanzo a hesitant look.
"S-Sanzo…?" Goku stammered. Sanzo's beautiful violet eyes narrowed.
"Just sit. You said you were tired, so sleep." And that was that.
His office, or so it was called, could more accurately be called a cave. The thick, heavy curtains on the windows were perpetually drawn shut, to keep out distractions, of course. For light, there were two high windows that let in enough sunlight without being able to be looked out of. The room itself was furnished in dark oak and deep green carpet. Oddly enough, he found it soothing…
Hakkai rubbed at his eyes wearily. For some reason, it was much too quiet today. As if answering that thought, there was a knock on his door.
"Yes?" Hakkai answered, strongly enough so that his soft voice would carry through the door. It swung open tentatively at his call. A messenger. The young man looked flushed, as if he'd run to carry important news.
"Sir!" He began, breathing a bit before going on. "Our borders have been attacked!" Hakkai stood at this, a little surprised. "By the demons!" the messenger finished. Of course, Hakkai had known this. They were the only ones that had been looking to attack for quite some time now. He almost wondered what had taken them so long... He rubbed at his temples to clear his wild thoughts.
"Tell the captain to assemble our forces," he instructed calmly. The messenger's head bobbed in a nod, and again, he took off. Hakkai sighed deeply, sinking back into his chair. So they were finally going to be enthralled in war, was it? No sooner had he time to think on this that the door creaked open again, though this time, he could tell, there was more certainty behind it. "Yes?" Hakkai asked, his voice still tense from the news. He was met with the smug look on Gojyo's face. Gojyo…
"Hakkai!" Gojyo greeted, swaggering to the desk and leaning over it. "How are ya?"
How am I…?
Hakkai would've smirked bitterly at this, had it not been that Gojyo's lips were now upon his.
"G-Gojyo!" Hakkai blurted, pulling away. "Now isn't…" Gojyo sighed, leaning casually against the desk.
"Sorry," he stated with a sigh. "I know…I remember now. No play while at work…" The half-breed grinned. "But I've missed you! The people who've seen me all stared, and then started whispering. I wanted to kick their asses and show them who to snicker at, but I couldn't. So I came to see you," Hakkai didn't know why, maybe it was because he was stressed that with Sanzo gone, he'd be in charge of the entire kingdom while they were at war, but whatever it was, he wanted to be alone. And being with Gojyo was not alone. He slammed both palms onto the desk's wooden surface.
"Gojyo." He began in a low, dark tone. "I've just received news that we are under attack. I know that you mean well, but the best thing for me now is to be alone. Do you understand?" Gojyo stared at Hakkai for a moment, before dropping his head, his long hair obscuring his face.
"I understand…" he began slowly. "I understand that you fit the part of a slave owner pretty well right now." Hakkai's expression changed suddenly to one of regret. He reached out a hand.
"Oh…Gojyo. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm sorry…It's just that I need to think, and when you're around…I can't do that properly. I'm sorry," Gojyo waved a hand, but his crimson eyes were still sad.
"I know, Hakkai. I just…I'll go, okay?" Gojyo cast Hakkai one last glance before leaving the office. Again, Hakkai slumped into his seat, but this time, he thought of nothing but Gojyo.
"You don't deserve this,"
Was the palace so grand that at every turn, Kougaiji found emptiness? The demon prince casually followed the path of the hall, turning as it did, descending when there were stairs to descend. He really wasn't thinking about walking at all.
"Kou, leave me to speak with Master Homura for a while. Maybe you should talk to Yaone…?"
That woman! Kougaiji nearly let his temper slide, his fist poised to strike at the stone wall at his side. He held it back though, keeping the fist curled, he could feel the pinch of his sharp nails against the flesh. Everything his stepmother did drove him crazy. And now, she was calling that man…Master Homura. He swore it wouldn't be long until she called him King. Foolish woman.
And she was so insistent on getting him to spend time with that girl. True, she was beautiful, but Kougaiji would never so easily submit to his stepmother. He'd even gone out of his way to avoid Yaone, just to spite the woman.
Kougaiji's head snapped up as he caught a glimpse of movement ahead of him. He stared curiously at where it had been, proving there was nothing there. He made a low sound of annoyance at having being interrupted, when only moments ago he'd mused about the emptiness of his palace.
The young prince stalked forward, determined to find out whatever it was, if not just to satisfy his own curiosity. He turned another corner and looked around. He'd found his answer rather quickly.
Back pressed lightly against the wall, Yaone stood, looking distractedly towards the floor. Kougaiji didn't have to follow her gaze to realize she was avoiding his own. Well, since his stepmother wasn't there to see anything, Kougaiji decided it might not be too harmful to engage in some conversation with the girl.
"Yaone?" He addressed her in a soft voice, not his usual proud voice used when speaking to his servants or stepmother. The young woman lifted her head, raspberry eyes wide and unsure. "What are you doing out here?" He made sure to make the question conversational, so she wouldn't feel threatened. She looked down again, taking her time to answer.
"Actually, I was looking for you, your High—Kougaiji." She gave him a small smile, remembering not to address him so formally. The prince raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"Yes…I've been wanting to talk to you; alone." Well, she certainly didn't sound very unsure now. Kougaiji folded his arms across his chest, his posture becoming more lenient looking.
"What about?" He asked, unable to extract all the suspicion in his tone. Yaone chuckled, covering her mouth behind a hand. She smiled at him.
"Oh, no, nothing like that! Just to talk. As a companion, perhaps?" Kougaiji's thin line of a grimace turned slowly upwards, of its own accord.
"All right. I've been wanting to know a few things about you anyway." Yaone gave him her full attention. "Where are you from?" Yaone's expression became somber, her eyes growing marginally distant.
"Ah…nowhere near here. A different continent. Your…stepmother…brought me over by ship." Kougaiji nodded in understanding. He decided to add his own corresponding story, in exchange for her answer.
"Well, I've barely ever left here. And certainly, I've never traveled continents. I've been prince since I was rather young. As you can see, my mother died quite a while back, and my father remarried." These words were spoken almost bitterly, memories of his true, loving mother returning to him. That was part of the reason Kougaiji held so much contempt for his stepmother; he had lived with something so much more wonderful, it was hard to be without it. Yaone's eyes softened.
"I'm sorry to hear that,"
"Don't be." Kougaiji's head was turned to the side, his face set in a grim expression once more. "It can't be changed now." Yaone murmured in understanding.
"Well, I don't know where my mother is now…I'm not even sure if she's dead." Yaone said this in quite a stolid manner for what she was saying. "She was a queen, my mother." Oh. So Yaone was a princess? So this really was a matchmaker's setup. But why…? "Of course, she wasn't always a queen." The young woman's radiant eyes bore into Kougaiji's. "Prince, may I tell you something personal?" The red haired prince was silent, wondering why she would ask a question like that. His response was a nod. "Me and my mother…we were born as slaves to the king…and his wife. But my mother wanted more for us. She…tried to seduce the king, and she even got him to murder his own wife for her. Soon after that, she was made queen, and I was made a princess. Your stepmother found me when she came to visit the kingdom, and decided to bring me with her. My mother was waiting for any chance to marry me off, so she allowed me to go. And so now, I'm here, with you—" Yaone had stepped forward a fraction of an inch at that moment, her heeled shoe stepping on the train of her own gown. She lost balance, falling forward, expecting to meet ground, in a very ungraceful way.
Secure arms held her upright, rescuing her from her fall. Kougaiji had prevented her from coming to an embarrassing end to her story. She raised her head to meet eyes with her saving prince, feeling her cheeks become pink at the situation. Kougaiji stared at her, his red-violet eyes contemplating her facial features warily. Without warning, the young prince pressed his lips firmly down against Yaone's, knowing what he wanted. And Yaone did not reject him; she kissed back, her fingertips clutching at the fabric of his ebony colored loose fitting shirt, dully noting the lace was loosened to reveal a piece of his firm chest. And then it all ended. Yaone nearly stumbled backwards, a flushed worried expression upon her face.
"I'm sorry—I just remembered! Lirin needed to see me! Goodbye, Kougaiji!" she blurted hastily, obviously skirting about the truth. She grabbed the folds of her dress, not wanting to trip over it again, and hurried off down the hall, leaving Kougaiji staring after her retreating back. Absently, the prince lifted his fingers to his lips, and felt them curve into a smirk.
Barely ever was night as the poets described it; the world was not as romantic a place as it was inside their heads. Tonight was no exception; unlike the beautiful velveteen blanket speckled with glittering crystals of stars, it was a black void, swirling gray clouds overpowering those sparkling emblems called stars. This was true night.
Homura leaned his torso over the balcony railing, his arms outstretched, and a strange resonating red stone resting within the palm of his hand. Its size was large enough so that he could clench his fist around the object. He held it out towards the east, and its pulsating became more rapid. A malicious grin crossed his face at this signal.
"Must you always use the gods' toys to find your own?" a soft, insightful voice asked from behind him. As if from nowhere, the man Shien appeared at Homura's side, the latter finding nothing surprising about the man's sudden presence.
"Why not? Its working," his eyes were locked upon the stone; it's pulsing so quick, it was nearly glowing. "There's a tale that a fragment of one of these stones was dropped to earth, and caused the destruction of many demons," Homura mused absently. Shien crossed his arms over his chest.
"The release of chaos," he murmured. Homura snorted softly. Hollow sounding footsteps fell into place behind them, stopping as another man stood at Homura's other side. He stared at the hypnotic stone with some curiosity, and then back to Homura with his one visible eye, the other obscured by a dark patch.
"How do you figure it was possible for that…boy…to have been here for a full eighteen years? Wouldn't people have noticed his resistance to age?" Zenon asked, changing the subject back to the object of their mission. Homura smiled half in admiration, half in subtle annoyance.
"When he escaped, he was born again as a human. Or something close to it. He's still one of us at the core. And this," he brought the ruby stone in closer to him, looking into its swirling red surface. "Will recognize that power within him." Zenon crossed his arms over his chest, making a 'Ch' sound. The stone itself was an intensifier of power, simply a device of magnification, using negative energies to key into that power. It was no wonder why it was a common tool of the gods…and how some of the gods became…less than merciful. Zenon exhaled a sigh. "In any case, we've only established a faint direction to go. It may take more time than I had anticipated," Homura cast a fleeting glance along the eerie night horizon across from the balcony on which he stood. "Son Goku. I will find you. Do not forget that you are mine."
So many different shades of blood dripped down his arm, splashed across his face, swirling and mingling in deep patterns of scarlet. He couldn't even tell if any of it belonged to him. His fist was clasped tightly around another neck, the being attached already passed on. Hakkai jerked, letting go of the demon, his hands flying to his head. He buried his pace in his red-stained palms, sinking to his knees.
The amulet around his neck was pulsating so rapidly, there were barely any intervals between the pulsing. It sped so much, that the jewel shattered with a light tinkling sound. Suddenly, a wave of memories Hakkai hadn't known he'd forgotten flooded back to him. Kanan. He was here to save Kanan.
The dark-haired man stumbled forward, looking in every direction. All he saw before him was a sea of blood and bodies. He could feel the acidic taste of bile rising in his throat. He did this…he killed them…But they didn't matter. He was here for Kanan's sake…Kanan…
Hakkai stopped short, his eyes locking on a familiar shape slumped over, just as all the others were. Slowly, he approached it, stepping over the dead that jutted into his path. He kneeled over the body, brushing aside the strands of dark-hair, the color of his own. He found himself staring into two lifeless green eyes, glazed over and unblinking; completely unlike the eyes of his lover from only a day before.
"Kanan…" he whispered hoarsely. He wanted to cry, even willed himself to, but he was empty of tears. He could only sit beside the limp body, staring at the shell that had housed the soul he'd loved. So lost was he in this that he did not hear the silent footsteps approaching from his back. A strong hand closed around his throat from behind.
"You…!" the voice was strangled, high-pitched with insanity. Hakkai's eyes widened, and he choked from the constricting hand that was now joined by another. "You did this! You murdered them all, the innocents! You!" Hakkai opened his mouth in silent protest, but it would be a lie anyway. He began to feel the burn in his lungs from deprivation of air. Maybe it was better this way…
His survival instincts seemed to think differently. Mechanically, Hakkai threw back his head, his skull coming in contact with his attacker's face. The demon grunted in pain, hands retracting from Hakkai's throat to his newly broken nose, blood flowing freely between his fingers. Blood that had dripped onto Hakkai's head…
Hakkai grinned ferally, his green eyes glowing and then narrowing. His muscles convulsed and shifted beneath his flesh, and his ears grew to point on either side of his face. Nails became grotesquely long and lethal, and with a growl deep in the pit of his throat, he turned and delivered the fatal blow to the remaining youkai of the clan, every other thought abandoned and smothered by the newborn demon within him.
Yaone sat placidly on the edge of her bed, contemplating the creases in her skirt as if it was the most fascinating thing she'd ever laid eyes on. From the other side of the bedroom, Lirin watched her with inquisitive wide eyes. Even she could tell something was bothering her 'sister-figure'. True to her bubbly nature, she hoped off of her own bed, sliding in next to Yaone.
"So what is it?" she asked bluntly, Yaone surprised at the sudden burst of conversation. The older girl looked away distractedly.
"Nothing. It's nothing…" Lirin rolled her large green eyes at this feeble response. She pouted in a child-like manner.
"If you're gonna lie to me, at least make it a good one," she drawled, a hint of amusement in her voice, causing Yaone to smile. Ever since the two had met, they had taken to each other as an elder and younger sister. With Lirin's lack of motherly guidance, and Yaone's introversive nature, the two had been able to help each other. Yaone sighed, punctuating her decision made.
"Lirin…do remember what your mother told me to do?" Yaone began, her voice soft. Lirin nodded, her expression becoming serious.
"Yeah. She wanted you to appeal to my bro-, Prince Kougaiji." Yaone nodded sullenly. Lirin's brow knitted together in thought. "So? What's that got to do with anything? Have you done it?"
"All too well, Lirin," Yaone responded quietly. "I think I might feel more for your brother than your mother had intended…" Lirin's eyes went round.
"But…you weren't supposed to…"
"I know…I know that." Yaone's voice began to waver, and she stood, taking a few steps across the salmon colored carpet embroidered in gold. She stood still a moment, collecting herself. "Lirin…I don't think I can go through with this anymore…" Lirin sat still, for once not having anything to say in response. "I don't think I can kill you brother."
Author's Notes: As is customary, I shall provide you with some lovely footnotes of my own. I hope a cleared up the amulet thingy a little in this chapter. It's not too important to understand it, just something for the story. Aside from that, I'm sorry I haven't posted in awhile. But this is actually normal for me. I don't post for months, and then randomly, I'll post. It's odd, but it's me. Um…I'll try to do better with the next chapter. I'm currently pondering whether to make this fic end at 12 or so chapters, or extend to be a relatively long series. I guess it depends on how many ideas I have, which I do have a few. Well, I believe that's all. Thanks for sticking with me!
