Link to Part 1 (Mature Audience):

http:www.ayumie.de/Shoumaden-1-3.htm

SHOUMADEN

Part II (Zadei)

The hall is filled with heat and people. I laugh loudly at something but almost immediately forget about it, throwing a picked bone behind me. Flames are roaring loudly in the large fireplace but the voices of a hundred drunk demons roar even louder. With a careless motion I finally kick some plates off the table and drop my feet onto the scarred wood. Several pretty girls are flocking around me, rubbing their soft breasts against my body. One of them offers me wine and, laughing still, I drink. They are lovely, all of them, horned and winged with plump bodies and feisty smiles. Life is good. There is food for eating, girls for pleasure and as many battles as I care to fight. More than good actually. How could I not love it?

I call for more wine and, settling more comfortably into the plush cushions of the throne, I reach out to tumble one of the girls into my lap. Yes, more wine, more girls, more of everything and whyever not? After all I am the lord of the makai. Anything I want – that's what it means, isn't it? I playfully dig my teeth into a soft shoulder, eliciting squeals all around. Anything I want.

I wake up in a tangle of soft bodies. My head hurts like hell. Groaning, I struggle to my feet, nauseated by the smell of leftover food and sweaty skin. I kick the girls until they wake up and flee. The room is littered with junk and sleeping demons. There should be servants somewhere, cleaning. Well, whatever. Gotta get out of here before I puke. Shouldn't have to worry about that anyway. 'sides, it's not like the rest of the castle looks much better.

The air in the hallway is cool and immediately my stomach settles. Yawning, I stagger towards my rooms, too tired to think about much of anything. I stumble over an abandoned shoe and where are those damned servants?! I yawn again. Better no ningenkai today – sleep just seems so much more important.

By the time I have reached the royal chambers – and don't I just love the sound of that! – I am almost back to normal. I'd better find some new clothes, though. Not that that'll be easy. Chaos is too nice a word. Nothing has changed since I was last here and that was ... well, some time ago.

Suddenly I realize that I am not alone. It is instinct, more than instinct, and automatically my body coils into a tense crouch. I scan the room, bracing for an attack. Then I relax. Asleep. Weak. No threat. For a moment I can do nothing but stare. The wings of an angel. The urge to touch is overpowering and I find myself drawing closer. I remember. I took his ki the other day, when my dragon collapsed. And I brought him here. I am not quite sure why – it must have been a whim of some sort. What I do remember, though, is how he looked at me from wild eyes, how he seemed to weigh nothing at all and the feathers that tickled my arms smelled of blood.

All of a sudden he flinches, mouth gasping as he rears back. His eyes are wide open, dazed, unfocused. It's like he's not even seeing me – he isn't seeing anything. Somehow I feel like I ought to be furious. I squat down and grab those frail shoulders, trying not to shake him too roughly. His skin feels warm, feverish.

"Hey! Wake up, you. What are you doing here?"

Slowly he grows clearer, lips twisting into a grimace of pain. I watch his head fall forward, chest heaving with choked sobs. His forehead comes to rest against my chest. I am still holding him, not quite sure what to do. I shake him again.

"You remember me, don't you? I saved you."

Yes ... I did. I did save him. Without me, he'd be dead. Strangely enough, it is a nice thought. He still won't react and, feeling very magnanimous, I decide to try a different approach. Grasping his chin, I make him look up.

"What's your name?"

"T-Teteiyus."

Ah. There it is, the presence, the tiny spark of recognition, awareness. He's seeing me, now. He draws himself up, eyes blazing. His voice is hoarse, forceful.

"You did not save me. You never meant to. You think you are so great because you can bash people's heads in. You are no emperor. You- you can't even take care of this place! Just look at it – it's a mess. You are no emperor!"

He falls silent, breathing harshly. The hell?! That little shit dares...?! My claw is raised, itching for power. Teteiyus sits motionless, silent, probably waiting for me to bash his head in. No. That's what he wants me to do, isn't it? He wants me to kill him. Well, I don't want him dead. He's too pretty, altogether too amusing to be allowed to die just like that. He thinks he's so very clever, doesn't he? We'll see about that. I pull him up, forcing him to his feet.

"Very well. You do it. You don't like the mess? I'm charging you with taking care of it."

Now that hit a nerve. He is staring at me like I've lost my mind. I'm liking this plan better and better. It'll be fun to watch him try. If he's clever he'll do it, and if not – I press my palm to the center of his chest and his body stiffens, eyes flowing open as I drown him in pain.

"Do it, Teteiyus. Or I won't be pleased. And if anyone gives you a hard time, tell them you're acting on my orders. They get in my way – I'll rip off their balls and feed 'em to them raw."

I grin and push him towards the door. He straightens, measuring me with suddenly cold eyes. It's not just the wings. He is beautiful, all tangled hair, wrinkled clothes, and eyes as green as a dragon's hide. As he walks away I find myself staring after him.