"What am I doing here?"
"You're getting on the boat."
Duo watched the noble breeze past him and step lightly onto the river boat that waited by the shore, precariously held in its position by the meager poles of two servants. He sighed. So far none of his questions had been answered. The entire walk had been filled with such short conversation and meaningless answers. Well, that had only left him with occupying himself by keeping company with the guards. Coincidentally they didn't seem to like him much either.
"Little brat..."
he heard one of the guards whisper, clearly for him to hear. He wanted to turn and say something back, but the guard grabbed his arm and kept him forward. He could only glance back and scowl. The noble stood on the boat looking down at them, and Duo couldn't help but feel the wretched aura of superiority about him. It made him want to puke. He frowned but got on the boat, nearly tripping as the guard gave him a 'friendly' shove forward. He pulled himself up and dusted himself off; it would do him no good to say anything, he had gathered as much from the walk to the river. The nobleman seemed far to absorbed to give anything but passing notice to his new charge and company. What kind of adoption was this anyway? He heard the guards clamor aboard and turned around, hoping at least one would fall in. They somehow managed to get aboard without maiming anyone and seriously dampened Duo's mood. The nobleman, stnading placidly to the side of the pole man, suddenly snatched the jerk-guard's arm and pulled him up,
"If any here will do the disciplining of anyone, it will be me, do you understand? Or do you forget who we are here for?"
Duo watched the guard cower and nod quickly, shaking in his plated armor. The noble let him go with enough of a shove to make him step back and gave the signal for the pole men to push off. Duo stared at the aloof nobleman as he walked away and barely kept him comments in. He had moved fast, very fast, almost as fast as some of the kids at the orphanage. Duo smirked, maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
—___________________________
"What the hell is going on here?!"
The feeble wooden table shook as Lucrezia Noin slammed her fist on it for the hundredth time. Counting the history of the table, and seeing the broken and replaced legs, it was probably nearer the millionth occasion of abuse for the bedraggled inanimate servant. The others in the room jumped at her fury. She spotted Heero in the doorway and immediately stood, trying not to smile.
"Heero, I didn't see you there."
He nodded. She cleared her throat and made her face grow hard again as she glared at her fellow captains,
"It's about time I got some brains in this room. Come here, Yuy, and tell me what you think of this."
She leaned over the map spread before them and the anguished legs creaked and wobbled under the table. Heero walked over before he gained the same view of her chest as the other captains. He looked over the map critically, and she moved out of the way for him. He could hear one of the captains whispering to another, but blocked them out as he reviewed the situation.
He stood, "If you take their position here, and block this line, you can easily wipe out this faction."
She peered over his shoulder. He could tell that she was proud of him, because her eyes started to sparkle. She quickly thought to blow a hole in his plan,
"Yes, but—."
"In order to keep our troops safe from the fire of the archers positioned here, you would have this unit, or a smaller company, take them out in advance to the final move."
Her eyes narrowed and she knit her brows together as she contemplated the change in positions.
"Yes, but then you've got a separated company, and a hole in your main lines."
"Not if you make it night movement, and move them back before, or have a tactical retreat, or have them move ahead and join the forces here. Going through the wood, they would only encounter minimal trouble."
"But then you'd have—."
"A single tired company. Move them back out of the main lines, or simply allow them to take the place of reserves, and move up a single reserve company to take their place, ideally before you send them off the take out the archers."
She stood back from the table a moment, her hand absentmindedly over her mouth. The other captains were watching with intense interest as she circled the map like a vulture, spying for weakness to prey upon. She leaned over the table again, facing Heero directly,
"But, if you take this position, it would be a bloodbath of the enemy. If they retreated, they would need to retreat into the town area, and that would put the townspeople at risk."
She looked up at him, hoping for reaction. She couldn't bear to stare into those cold blue eyes for too long. He watched her carefully.
"Coup de main," he said to please her and pushed an imaginary unit in front of the town, "There is no town to retreat to."
She stared at the imaginary formations. Much to the displeasure of her caviling eye, she found nothing to argue with. She stood and put her hand on her hip,
"Well, at least somebody here can think."
She smiled at Heero with those shining, excited eyes. She was proud of him again.
She nodded, "Thank you, Yuy."
He nodded to him and he nodded back, both of them disdaining the customary bows. He walked past her and headed out of the room just as she turned and smacked the captain on her right,
"And it'd do you better to stop staring a at my breasts you nimrod! If you paid more attention to the tactics instead of anatomy maybe these little councils would be worth my time!"
He could hear the pitiful complaints as she continued to abuse her underlings. He would have almost, if he could, smiled to himself.
—_______________________
Duo walked around on the river boat, bored out of his skull. For sure, it was a nice boat, and he'd never been this far down the river, but it was hardly fair to keep an active, growing boy from running and jumping around like he usually did. Actually, Duo thought to himself, he missed all the other kids more than anything. It was exciting to be away, but he couldn't quite shake the feeling that he'd be going back, like this was another work trip. He sighed and put his hands behind his head as he walked. Another few days, boys, and he'd be showing them where all the good hiding spots on the orphanage were again. With a sigh, he looked around to see if anyone else was watching. The guards were in the tall cabin like-shade, or shade-like cabin, or whatever the damn thing was, that rested on the front of the boat. Extravagant nobles, Duo though, it must be all decked out on the inside. He had brief visions of fruit bowls filled with oversized shiny red apples and scarlet satin curtains that matched the nobleman's vest and champagne bottles sitting in little tins by piled cushions and serving girls. God knows it was decorated enough on the outside. He wondered if they even tried to keep inconspicuous. The noble who'd adopted him no doubt couldn't keep inconspicuous if he tried. Duo remembered watching Lady Yourna motion him over, unable to control her excitement.
"Oh, Duo, I've got such good news for you! Come here!"
She'd motioned him over. Duo had known something was up the moment he'd caught sight of the noble. He hadn't taken his eyes off him as she put her arm around his shoulders and pushed him forward. Duo remembered the sinking in his stomach.
"Duo, this man would like to take you with him."
She had stared at him, waiting for his inevitable elation and uncontrollable excitement. It hadn't come. Duo just stared up at the pale, snotty looking man in the red jacket that looked at him like a piece of meat.
"Duo? Do you know what that means? I'm not lying! This man wants to adopt you! It's no more work weeks!"
When she said that, Duo realized he'd have to let it kick in sooner or later.
"Adoption, Duo," she'd whispered, her soft voice tickling his ear and her too worn hands holding his arms in what might have been a hug if she weren't so nervous of driving the dream away,
"After all these years, a home..."
Duo had a home. This was home. No where else. He didn't really want to go.
"Miss Yourna..."
Duo broke into a grin, "I can't believe it!"
He still couldn't, not a chance. And he didn't want to.
Duo sighed and scratched his ear before replacing his hands behind his head, staring at the sky. It wouldn't be all that bad. Yeah, right, just keep saying that. He shut his eyes and felt the breeze brush him gently. It lifted his bangs from his face and made him feel lighter, almost as if he were free, traveling with it, but the heavy braid down his back didn't move. It kept it's place, weighing him down. The braid; the tail. A shackle? He opened his eyes and jumped around the shade for the front of the boat. There was a few boxes for him to lean on, and a bright patch of sun ran right down the center, where the trees didn't block the sky's warmth. He sighed and eased himself down on the boxes, his hands behind his head. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
Keep telling yourself that.
—_______________
Smiling to himself was a practiced gesture. King Treize leaned back in his chair and did so now. Someone came in and started to talk on and on about something terribly boring. He pretended to listen and smiled to himself with great relish. He was expecting a package soon, that was certainly good news, and then Milliardo would be back as well. It got terribly boring without him around to complain to. No one else seemed to really listen to him. Whoever it was in front of him continued to babble endlessly. Shouldn't he stop sometime soon?
"...and there, your Majesty, I believe..."
Treize absentmindedly waved a gloved hand to him and rested his chin on his other hand. He was dreadfully tired.
"I'm quite aware of your opinion, and so I will certainly take it into account. I am quite pleased with your performance."
He couldn't think of anything else to babble, so he waved an indifferent dismissal. The man seemed happy enough as the guards led him out of the throne room. Oh well, it's not as if it mattered very much. If he had done anything stupid he would've been executed. It was ever so simple to care for things as a King. He indulged further in his private grin.
"Excellent as usual, your Majesty..."
oh God, his replacement advisor,
"...however it might have been a trifle confusing if you hadn't complimented the man on his performance."
Blah Blah Blah...more criticism from him. That wouldn't happen if Milliardo were there as usual. He seemed to screen out the stupid comments.
"Oh, whatever for," Trieze snorted and waved a hand at him.
The advisor frowned, "Well, he breeds cattle for the stock. I don't believe you've ever been directly effected by his performance. He was only here to evaluate the food shortage in his region."
Trieze listened with as much patience as he had for the day. It was unfortunate he had wasted it on such a trivial thing.
"Oh well." he muttered. He would have to remember to execute his advisor later. He really would've liked to have Milliardo back again. Then again, it wasn't as if he paid much attention to him either. He shifted in his chair and smiled to himself. He was probably just excited about his package's arrival.
***
If the advisor had known that Treize had the intention on telling someone else to execute him, he just might have decided that, since he was a dead man anyway, to mention that Treize was the cause for that region's food shortage in the first place, as well as the countless other problems the people had to report, and that through the countless speeches they had listened to today, it didn't seem as if Treize was even remorseful.
—__________________
Duo was still resting in the warmth of the sun when he heard footsteps next to him. It didn't take any wild leap of genius to guess that the tap of boots belonged to the noble. He squinted open on eye to confirm that the tall, uncompromising, man was sitting down beside him. Duo shrugged mentally; everyone had to relax sometime. The noble looked stiff, sitting there in his full outfit of stiff white breeches and his red coat. He looked up at the sky and sat quietly, though.
Duo glanced at him and looked upward, "Pretty, isn't it?"
The noble didn't glance at him, but nodded, "Yes, actually, it is."
Duo shrugged, "Yeah."
He leaned back on the boat and rested his hands behind his head. The noble sat beside him. Briefly, Duo wondered if he ever REALLY relaxed.
"Where are we going, anyway?"
The noble looked up at the sky, "To the castle, to see King Trieze."
_______________________
"Heero! I have wonderful news!"
Lady Po ran into the library as Heero was reading again. He looked up at her, forgetting to stand.
She smiled at him, "You are going to visit the castle, King Trieze wishes to see you!"
Heero looked up at her, surprised more than anything else. For once, he didn't feel thoughts muddle in his head, but it didn't please him. He felt very distinctly a bad feeling.
"The King?"
Lady Po nodded to him, clasping her hands together. He sat very still. She continued to smile, "come, now, we have to get ready, you'll leave very soon."
Wild thoughts began to march through his mind, creating the random chaos he was used to. He wanted to fight, why did he have to go to the castle. Why? Why?! Nobody would answer him. Heero stood and brushed himself off.
"Heero! What is that you're reading?!"
________________
The traveling boy leaned on the counter of the inn. The innkeeper smiled to him, "Leaving already? It's a shame, we could use you here a few days longer."
The boy nodded, "Thank you, sir, but I must be going. We've things to do in other places."
The innkeeper managed not to frown as he looked at the boy's blonde haired, silent companion, standing patiently behind him. The silent one caught his look, and for a moment, he could see hurt reflecting in his placid blue eyes before the silent one cast his face down.
The boy left a few coins on the counter, "Here."
"It a sad thing to see you go. But tell me, where will you be headed so soon?"
The traveler stood in front of his silent companion and seemed to look past the doors of inn to the road ahead of them, far in the distance.
"To the castle, maybe. We will have to see. There is something we would like to witness..."
The innkeeper shivered as he watched them go. The boy's gaze...like he knew of the end of their road before they reached it....
____________
ARGH! You people needn't fear, this story's formatting is getting on my nerves as much as yours, unfortunately, it's so piecemeal and oddly shaped that I have trouble understanding how long to make chapters. I'm trying to make sure I don't overload you, but int he process am chopping up a bunch of stuff...like it could be anymore chopped up. heh...Anyway, I could make these humongoid chapters, with many sub parts, but I'm counting on that 1. nobody's sincerely reading this for it's educational value, if at all, and 2. the bigger chapters would be just as frustrating as the small ones. I'm not certain. Anyway, it's being worked on.
Formatting is fixed! oh ho ho! What do you think of that! Bwa-ha! Admittedly, maybe it's still unbearable, but at least it's maybe a little better. Anyway, enjoy on.
Kitten
"You're getting on the boat."
Duo watched the noble breeze past him and step lightly onto the river boat that waited by the shore, precariously held in its position by the meager poles of two servants. He sighed. So far none of his questions had been answered. The entire walk had been filled with such short conversation and meaningless answers. Well, that had only left him with occupying himself by keeping company with the guards. Coincidentally they didn't seem to like him much either.
"Little brat..."
he heard one of the guards whisper, clearly for him to hear. He wanted to turn and say something back, but the guard grabbed his arm and kept him forward. He could only glance back and scowl. The noble stood on the boat looking down at them, and Duo couldn't help but feel the wretched aura of superiority about him. It made him want to puke. He frowned but got on the boat, nearly tripping as the guard gave him a 'friendly' shove forward. He pulled himself up and dusted himself off; it would do him no good to say anything, he had gathered as much from the walk to the river. The nobleman seemed far to absorbed to give anything but passing notice to his new charge and company. What kind of adoption was this anyway? He heard the guards clamor aboard and turned around, hoping at least one would fall in. They somehow managed to get aboard without maiming anyone and seriously dampened Duo's mood. The nobleman, stnading placidly to the side of the pole man, suddenly snatched the jerk-guard's arm and pulled him up,
"If any here will do the disciplining of anyone, it will be me, do you understand? Or do you forget who we are here for?"
Duo watched the guard cower and nod quickly, shaking in his plated armor. The noble let him go with enough of a shove to make him step back and gave the signal for the pole men to push off. Duo stared at the aloof nobleman as he walked away and barely kept him comments in. He had moved fast, very fast, almost as fast as some of the kids at the orphanage. Duo smirked, maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
—___________________________
"What the hell is going on here?!"
The feeble wooden table shook as Lucrezia Noin slammed her fist on it for the hundredth time. Counting the history of the table, and seeing the broken and replaced legs, it was probably nearer the millionth occasion of abuse for the bedraggled inanimate servant. The others in the room jumped at her fury. She spotted Heero in the doorway and immediately stood, trying not to smile.
"Heero, I didn't see you there."
He nodded. She cleared her throat and made her face grow hard again as she glared at her fellow captains,
"It's about time I got some brains in this room. Come here, Yuy, and tell me what you think of this."
She leaned over the map spread before them and the anguished legs creaked and wobbled under the table. Heero walked over before he gained the same view of her chest as the other captains. He looked over the map critically, and she moved out of the way for him. He could hear one of the captains whispering to another, but blocked them out as he reviewed the situation.
He stood, "If you take their position here, and block this line, you can easily wipe out this faction."
She peered over his shoulder. He could tell that she was proud of him, because her eyes started to sparkle. She quickly thought to blow a hole in his plan,
"Yes, but—."
"In order to keep our troops safe from the fire of the archers positioned here, you would have this unit, or a smaller company, take them out in advance to the final move."
Her eyes narrowed and she knit her brows together as she contemplated the change in positions.
"Yes, but then you've got a separated company, and a hole in your main lines."
"Not if you make it night movement, and move them back before, or have a tactical retreat, or have them move ahead and join the forces here. Going through the wood, they would only encounter minimal trouble."
"But then you'd have—."
"A single tired company. Move them back out of the main lines, or simply allow them to take the place of reserves, and move up a single reserve company to take their place, ideally before you send them off the take out the archers."
She stood back from the table a moment, her hand absentmindedly over her mouth. The other captains were watching with intense interest as she circled the map like a vulture, spying for weakness to prey upon. She leaned over the table again, facing Heero directly,
"But, if you take this position, it would be a bloodbath of the enemy. If they retreated, they would need to retreat into the town area, and that would put the townspeople at risk."
She looked up at him, hoping for reaction. She couldn't bear to stare into those cold blue eyes for too long. He watched her carefully.
"Coup de main," he said to please her and pushed an imaginary unit in front of the town, "There is no town to retreat to."
She stared at the imaginary formations. Much to the displeasure of her caviling eye, she found nothing to argue with. She stood and put her hand on her hip,
"Well, at least somebody here can think."
She smiled at Heero with those shining, excited eyes. She was proud of him again.
She nodded, "Thank you, Yuy."
He nodded to him and he nodded back, both of them disdaining the customary bows. He walked past her and headed out of the room just as she turned and smacked the captain on her right,
"And it'd do you better to stop staring a at my breasts you nimrod! If you paid more attention to the tactics instead of anatomy maybe these little councils would be worth my time!"
He could hear the pitiful complaints as she continued to abuse her underlings. He would have almost, if he could, smiled to himself.
—_______________________
Duo walked around on the river boat, bored out of his skull. For sure, it was a nice boat, and he'd never been this far down the river, but it was hardly fair to keep an active, growing boy from running and jumping around like he usually did. Actually, Duo thought to himself, he missed all the other kids more than anything. It was exciting to be away, but he couldn't quite shake the feeling that he'd be going back, like this was another work trip. He sighed and put his hands behind his head as he walked. Another few days, boys, and he'd be showing them where all the good hiding spots on the orphanage were again. With a sigh, he looked around to see if anyone else was watching. The guards were in the tall cabin like-shade, or shade-like cabin, or whatever the damn thing was, that rested on the front of the boat. Extravagant nobles, Duo though, it must be all decked out on the inside. He had brief visions of fruit bowls filled with oversized shiny red apples and scarlet satin curtains that matched the nobleman's vest and champagne bottles sitting in little tins by piled cushions and serving girls. God knows it was decorated enough on the outside. He wondered if they even tried to keep inconspicuous. The noble who'd adopted him no doubt couldn't keep inconspicuous if he tried. Duo remembered watching Lady Yourna motion him over, unable to control her excitement.
"Oh, Duo, I've got such good news for you! Come here!"
She'd motioned him over. Duo had known something was up the moment he'd caught sight of the noble. He hadn't taken his eyes off him as she put her arm around his shoulders and pushed him forward. Duo remembered the sinking in his stomach.
"Duo, this man would like to take you with him."
She had stared at him, waiting for his inevitable elation and uncontrollable excitement. It hadn't come. Duo just stared up at the pale, snotty looking man in the red jacket that looked at him like a piece of meat.
"Duo? Do you know what that means? I'm not lying! This man wants to adopt you! It's no more work weeks!"
When she said that, Duo realized he'd have to let it kick in sooner or later.
"Adoption, Duo," she'd whispered, her soft voice tickling his ear and her too worn hands holding his arms in what might have been a hug if she weren't so nervous of driving the dream away,
"After all these years, a home..."
Duo had a home. This was home. No where else. He didn't really want to go.
"Miss Yourna..."
Duo broke into a grin, "I can't believe it!"
He still couldn't, not a chance. And he didn't want to.
Duo sighed and scratched his ear before replacing his hands behind his head, staring at the sky. It wouldn't be all that bad. Yeah, right, just keep saying that. He shut his eyes and felt the breeze brush him gently. It lifted his bangs from his face and made him feel lighter, almost as if he were free, traveling with it, but the heavy braid down his back didn't move. It kept it's place, weighing him down. The braid; the tail. A shackle? He opened his eyes and jumped around the shade for the front of the boat. There was a few boxes for him to lean on, and a bright patch of sun ran right down the center, where the trees didn't block the sky's warmth. He sighed and eased himself down on the boxes, his hands behind his head. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
Keep telling yourself that.
—_______________
Smiling to himself was a practiced gesture. King Treize leaned back in his chair and did so now. Someone came in and started to talk on and on about something terribly boring. He pretended to listen and smiled to himself with great relish. He was expecting a package soon, that was certainly good news, and then Milliardo would be back as well. It got terribly boring without him around to complain to. No one else seemed to really listen to him. Whoever it was in front of him continued to babble endlessly. Shouldn't he stop sometime soon?
"...and there, your Majesty, I believe..."
Treize absentmindedly waved a gloved hand to him and rested his chin on his other hand. He was dreadfully tired.
"I'm quite aware of your opinion, and so I will certainly take it into account. I am quite pleased with your performance."
He couldn't think of anything else to babble, so he waved an indifferent dismissal. The man seemed happy enough as the guards led him out of the throne room. Oh well, it's not as if it mattered very much. If he had done anything stupid he would've been executed. It was ever so simple to care for things as a King. He indulged further in his private grin.
"Excellent as usual, your Majesty..."
oh God, his replacement advisor,
"...however it might have been a trifle confusing if you hadn't complimented the man on his performance."
Blah Blah Blah...more criticism from him. That wouldn't happen if Milliardo were there as usual. He seemed to screen out the stupid comments.
"Oh, whatever for," Trieze snorted and waved a hand at him.
The advisor frowned, "Well, he breeds cattle for the stock. I don't believe you've ever been directly effected by his performance. He was only here to evaluate the food shortage in his region."
Trieze listened with as much patience as he had for the day. It was unfortunate he had wasted it on such a trivial thing.
"Oh well." he muttered. He would have to remember to execute his advisor later. He really would've liked to have Milliardo back again. Then again, it wasn't as if he paid much attention to him either. He shifted in his chair and smiled to himself. He was probably just excited about his package's arrival.
***
If the advisor had known that Treize had the intention on telling someone else to execute him, he just might have decided that, since he was a dead man anyway, to mention that Treize was the cause for that region's food shortage in the first place, as well as the countless other problems the people had to report, and that through the countless speeches they had listened to today, it didn't seem as if Treize was even remorseful.
—__________________
Duo was still resting in the warmth of the sun when he heard footsteps next to him. It didn't take any wild leap of genius to guess that the tap of boots belonged to the noble. He squinted open on eye to confirm that the tall, uncompromising, man was sitting down beside him. Duo shrugged mentally; everyone had to relax sometime. The noble looked stiff, sitting there in his full outfit of stiff white breeches and his red coat. He looked up at the sky and sat quietly, though.
Duo glanced at him and looked upward, "Pretty, isn't it?"
The noble didn't glance at him, but nodded, "Yes, actually, it is."
Duo shrugged, "Yeah."
He leaned back on the boat and rested his hands behind his head. The noble sat beside him. Briefly, Duo wondered if he ever REALLY relaxed.
"Where are we going, anyway?"
The noble looked up at the sky, "To the castle, to see King Trieze."
_______________________
"Heero! I have wonderful news!"
Lady Po ran into the library as Heero was reading again. He looked up at her, forgetting to stand.
She smiled at him, "You are going to visit the castle, King Trieze wishes to see you!"
Heero looked up at her, surprised more than anything else. For once, he didn't feel thoughts muddle in his head, but it didn't please him. He felt very distinctly a bad feeling.
"The King?"
Lady Po nodded to him, clasping her hands together. He sat very still. She continued to smile, "come, now, we have to get ready, you'll leave very soon."
Wild thoughts began to march through his mind, creating the random chaos he was used to. He wanted to fight, why did he have to go to the castle. Why? Why?! Nobody would answer him. Heero stood and brushed himself off.
"Heero! What is that you're reading?!"
________________
The traveling boy leaned on the counter of the inn. The innkeeper smiled to him, "Leaving already? It's a shame, we could use you here a few days longer."
The boy nodded, "Thank you, sir, but I must be going. We've things to do in other places."
The innkeeper managed not to frown as he looked at the boy's blonde haired, silent companion, standing patiently behind him. The silent one caught his look, and for a moment, he could see hurt reflecting in his placid blue eyes before the silent one cast his face down.
The boy left a few coins on the counter, "Here."
"It a sad thing to see you go. But tell me, where will you be headed so soon?"
The traveler stood in front of his silent companion and seemed to look past the doors of inn to the road ahead of them, far in the distance.
"To the castle, maybe. We will have to see. There is something we would like to witness..."
The innkeeper shivered as he watched them go. The boy's gaze...like he knew of the end of their road before they reached it....
____________
ARGH! You people needn't fear, this story's formatting is getting on my nerves as much as yours, unfortunately, it's so piecemeal and oddly shaped that I have trouble understanding how long to make chapters. I'm trying to make sure I don't overload you, but int he process am chopping up a bunch of stuff...like it could be anymore chopped up. heh...Anyway, I could make these humongoid chapters, with many sub parts, but I'm counting on that 1. nobody's sincerely reading this for it's educational value, if at all, and 2. the bigger chapters would be just as frustrating as the small ones. I'm not certain. Anyway, it's being worked on.
Formatting is fixed! oh ho ho! What do you think of that! Bwa-ha! Admittedly, maybe it's still unbearable, but at least it's maybe a little better. Anyway, enjoy on.
Kitten