Boundless

By: Kuroi Neko-kun

Summary: After a fiasco with a drunken Borus and his happy sword wielding tactics in that condition, Fred and Caesar discover feelings for each other and find that love is boundless.

Disclaimer: And the ownership goes to… KONAMI!

Warning: It's got male/male relationship.

A/N: Caesar won't be raped by a tentacle monster. Another note, Boundless was removed because I had a little 'chat' with the characters at the VERY END OF MY FIC! This is an outrage! A complete outrage! I mean, I wrote my fic with that chat part just to humor myself (and hopefully all of you out there!) Apparently, this website can't tell if it's a chat or humor… They have no sense of humor!

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This burning emotion strangling my heart

It's overwhelming it's almost painful

I can't stay sane

Even though I search for endless love

Love is blind

Pretending it's only a coincidence

I wanna be embraced in kindness

- A part of Boundless Love by TO DESTINATION

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Chapter 3

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Caesar!" Fred shouted shock going through him as the strategist was pulled in by… whatever that was. Not giving a second thought, the knight took a breath and jumped into the water. He was glad that he chose not the wear his armor for the second time. He dove in and kept his eyes open. Ignoring the stinging that the salt water was doing to his eyes, he searched for the redhead. He spotted the man getting pulled faster into the water. He swam after but the pressure combined with his lungs screaming for air, he knew he couldn't hold on any longer. It was at a moment's glance he saw what was under there. A kraken in these parts? Caesar! he shook the thoughts of doom from his head. No! I can't abandon him! He swam deeper, not wanting to give in. His vision began to blur as his chest became unbearable to deal with. He pulled out his sword, barely able to keep up. As much as he didn't want to, his body was giving up. Caesar… was his last thought before he blacked out. He failed to notice the arrow that flew past him.

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"Fred." The Maximilian Knight twitched before slowly opening his eyes. A crop of red hair greeted him. Caesar was leaning against him as the easygoing smile fell on his face. Fred reached out and touched Caesar's cheek.

"You're… You're okay," he said, relieved.

"Of course, you saved me, Fred," said the strategist. "And a reward is in order here." As he said that, Caesar leaned in for a kiss. For a moment, he was confused but he slowly gave into the kiss. They broke off for a moment.

"Caesar… I…" But the redhead only gave him his usual smile.

"Fred, it's time to wake up." The knight raised an eyebrow. All Caesar did was touch his lungs and in felt like a brick wall fell on it. Fred coughed as he fought to breathe.

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Water spouted out from his lungs as he turned over, coughing. Moments later, Fred opened his eyes, realizing he was back on the ship where a small number of people had gathered. Watari was bent over him, dripping wet, masked pulled down as he watched the man gasp for breath. His lungs felt like it was on fire.

"He's alright," the ninja announced before pulling up his mask. Chris rushed up to him, using her true rune to heal him.

"Where's Caesar?" he mumbled hoarsely. Chris refused to answer.

"Back up!" She grabbed Fred by the arms and with the help of Watari, they moved into the castle. Fred got a view of what was happening as a couple of tentacles swept on the bed. Edge was thrown to the mast but he shook it off and focused on the fight. Geddoe and Hugo were on the deck as well, weapons out. Watari decided to join the fight as he threw a couple of shurikens at the tentacles.

"Caesar…" Fred mumbled as he searched the deck for him.

"Edge!" they heard Geddoe shouting, "Get them!" The Star Dragon Sword wielder grabbed another man by the arm and got them on deck.

"Geddoe, now!" Hugo shouted. A jolt of lightning hit the water, paralyzing the squid.

"Are you okay, Jacques?" Edge asked as he brought the man next to Fred. Jacques nodded before coughing but Chris used her rune to heal him anyhow. Watari was performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation to someone else. Fred sat up, getting a view to who it was. And he spotted the crop of unmistakable red hair.

"Caesar!" he shouted, wanting to rush over. But Chris and Edge pushed him down.

"Stay put!" she said, gaining some control over him. Hugo joined them, making sure that Fred didn't do anything worse.

"Fred, calm down!" Hugo said, trying to cool the knight. He wasn't even listening as he tried to reach over.

"We need to get him to a doctor," Watari said turning to Geddoe, "He coughed out the water but he's not waking up." Agreeing that this was the best course of action, they moved quickly to Doctor Tuta's office.

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"He'll be fine," Tuta announced after taking a look at Caesar, "He's been underwater for longer so he won't wake up anytime soon. He'll need rest." The relief filled the air for the moment, even half of the group wasn't planning to show it. Mio giggled before handing the wet ones a towel each.

"I'm not entirely shocked about the Kraken," Tuta said as he turned to Fred who had calmed down since the ordeal, "The Dunan War had a couple of them as our allies. It was a funny scene when Doctor Huan tried to tend their wounds."

"Well, that Kraken almost took my head off so I'm sure he isn't an ally," Hugo muttered before leaning against a cabinet.

"It's strange for a Kraken to come to our shores…" Chris said before turning to the wet three, "What were you three doing on the ship anyway?" Jacques looked at the floor, Edge turned to his left side while Watari looked up. All three avoiding Chris's question.

"You knew about the Kraken, didn't you?" Geddoe said, looking at his subordinate. Jacques nodded.

"… I saw him from afar…" he said.

"… We thought we could take it on…" Watari pointed out.

"… But he was so big," Edge said.

"… Never thought he'll come to the ship…" Jacques said.

"… And take Silverberg…" Watari continued.

"As lunch," Edge concluded. Hugo leaned forward before looking at them.

"Okay, that was just strange," he said. Chris agreed by nodding her head. As much as Mio enjoyed the spectacle as she wanted to, they were disturbing her patients.

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Since he was pronounced well enough to leave the infirmary, Fred didn't spend much time outside than he would. Since that incident he realized that he almost lost someone that meant something in his life. It was strange that one vision changed him to a lot. He got out of bed and picked out a green shirt as opposed to the many white ones he would wear and a pair of pants. Once he was dressed, he headed for his door when it opened, revealing his squire at the other side. Rico looked at him, worry evident on her face.

"Master Fred," she said in a soft voice, "Are you heading to the infirmary again?"

"Yes, Rico," he said.

"You've been going there for three days now," she said, "I've never seen you so worried…" Her voice faltered before she looked at him. "Master Fred, you care for him so much. Can you tell me why, as a friend?" Fred realized that for the first time, Rico showed more maturity than her child body ever possessed. She understood him when he didn't understand himself. And the answer to this question had been answered the day he kissed Caesar.

"I think… I might be in love with him, Rico," he finally said, "I know it sounds strange but…"

"I've seen stranger, Master Fred," she said, chuckling at her own thoughts, "At least, we know that you love him." She noticed that he was smiling now. He was glad for the thought.

"When he wakes up, you should tell him how you feel," she suggested. Fred turned to her, the smile fading from his face.

"But he'll never accept it!" he exclaimed, "He'll think it's a cruel joke just to get back at him. I can't do that, Rico! I'm not certain he even feels that way towards me."

"Master Fred," she said before sighing, "I'm sure that he fancies you a great deal."

"How would you know that?"

"Because he likes to pull the pigtails of the girl he likes," Rico pointed out.

"But I'm not a girl, Rico, and I don't have pigtails."

"Master Fred, it means he teases you just to tell you how he feels," she explained slowly. She forgot that her master took things a bit too literal at times. Comprehension dawned on his face as the smile returned.

"Let's head to the infirmary then, Rico. I'm sure Apple would be glad to our company.

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She sighed as she touched his forehead before running her hand into his wild auburn hair. Oh Caesar… It's been three days. Why aren't you waking up? She thought, worried for the boy. Since her travels with him, Apple had developed a sense of motherly love for the young strategist. It was the way things were between him and her. She smiled at the thought as she touched his cheek. You've made a great accomplishment, young man. He's worried about you. As the thought escaped her, she noticed his face had changed. He was frowning before he began to thrash about as if he was panicking. Apple tried to control him and grabbed his arms but with strength that she didn't know the redhead possessed, Apple was thrown to the floor.

"What's going on here?" She looked up as the young knight grabbed Caesar's arms and tried to sit on his legs as he tried to restrain him.

"Rico! Get Doctor Tuta!" he ordered as he used his strength against Caesar. The squire dashed as quickly as possible without a second thought. "Caesar! Stop this!" he said while struggling with the man, "I don't want to hurt you! Please! Wake up and stop this! Caesar!" Fred still held on despite getting hurt while holding him. He leaned in closer. "Please, Caesar…" he whispered. Apple let out an inaudible gasp as she saw Fred's face. Tears flowed down his face as the fear hit him full force. "Caesar…" he begged. At that moment, Caesar snapped his eyes open, tears flowing down his face as well. Fred let his wrists go before the redhead gripped at Fred's shirt and wept.

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"Are you sure?" he heard Apple say as she stood with Tuta and Mio. The doctor nodded before speaking again.

"It's probably the reason it took him time to wake up. He was stuck in memories. It could be triggered by a childhood trauma of some sort. Has this ever happened before?" Tuta asked.

"No. But he did try to avoid bathing in ponds or streams. I thought it was because he was being a stubborn coot," she said," I shouldn't have fallen for that laid back ploy."

"But it worked didn't it?" a third voice came in, "He fooled all of us. Doctor Tuta, we need to find out the cause to all this. The best choice is to see his brother and asked him. Something might come up."

"Nash! Are you suggesting we cross enemy lines! That is absurd! I will have none of it!"

"Apple, this is for Caesar's sake. If we know the problem, then we can fix it," Nash said.

"You're not planning to go alone, are you?" Tuta asked.

"No, Lady Chris insisted I bring at least an escort. Watari and Jacques are coming with me," he said.

"Do you know where they are then?" Nash didn't answer her. As much as he wanted to hear the conversation, it was enough for him. Fred closed the door before going back to Caesar's side. He was awake now but always staring at the ceiling.

"Are you… going to be alright, Caesar?" he asked as he moved closer.

"… What happened?" Caesar asked, ignoring the question.

"That Kraken..."

"Why was Apple shouting?" Fred bit his lower lip, not wanting to say. It was against his knight's honor to lie but to tell Caesar that Nash was going to Albert because of him won't help Caesar's condition.

"Landis played a joke. Said that the Grim Reaper came for you…" he said, forcing a laugh.

"You're lying," Caesar said before turning aside, "I'm tired…" Fred didn't say much but he tucked Caesar in.

"Then rest. I'll bring you some food once you're awake." He was about to move away when Caesar grabbed his shirt.

"I don't want to be alone," he mumbled.

"I'm not leaving…"

"Please…" It was more than a whimper that told Fred how much Caesar needed him. He kicked off his boots and joined the man in bed. As soon as he did, Caesar buried himself into his chest. It was all that he needed to silently oath to protect Caesar from any harm.

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As the two drifted to sleep, Apple opened the door slightly to catch a glimpse of them. She sighed heavily, her mind not able to take its attention away from Nash's suggestion. A glass of tea hovered in front of her. She looked up to see the True Lightning wielder in front of her, his own cup of tea in his hands. She accepted the drink before thanking him.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yes…" she answered before stopping herself, "No… I just feel so…"

"Anxious?" She sipped her tea instead of answering.

"I thought I knew Caesar but I guess even he has skeletons in the closet," she pointed out. Geddoe sipped his tea as well.

"All of us do when we leave our childhood innocence," he said before looking in the room as well. "You are a strong woman, Apple." His words haunt her with familiarity. She smiled at the memory.

"Someone told me that once, fifteen years ago," she said before sighing, "What am I to do? If Caesar finds out that we ran to his brother, he'll be mad beyond reckoning."

"But not at you," Geddoe said, "He will know that you disagreed to it from the start."

"Thank you," she said, "I guess I needed to be reassured."

"Let's just hope that Nash comes back in one piece," Geddoe said.

"Isn't that why you send Jacques with him?" The man frowned before shaking his head.

"No, Jacques can never seem to stay away from Watari lately. I had to take the both of them along with me once," he said before sighing. Apple laughed softly.

"Ah, the joys of young love," she said, teasingly before turning to the two sleeping figures in the room. "Let's hope this one works as well."

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To Be Continued

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