Guardianship

Chapter 5: Untold secrets

AN: Well here's chappy 5…not much else to say…so…um ya…re-view!

Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN BAYBLADE!!! ONLY MY OC'S!!!

(000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000)

It was night before Zai, Kai, and Tala made it home. Zai had never been so relived in her life to be home, and after putting Tala to bed she gathered up some clean clothing and went down to the hot springs.

After stripping down to nothing, Zai slipped into the hot water and sighed. Kai all ways left her alone when she bathed, letting her have the peace and quiet she so deserved…in less she wanted him to come.

Zai grinned and let her eyes slid shut as she thought of Kai. When they had met, Kai was still loyal to the King and he had been her prisoner…but over time things developed into some thing much more then slave and master. But even now, after so much time has past, she still remembered the first thing she thought when she saw him was 'Wow.' That was it, plan and simple. Just Wow. It was really his eyes that first attracted the young leader to him, the color of wet blood and in the beginning they held a sort of iciness to them, which thawed over time.

Zai sighed and quickly washed the dirt that covered her lightly tanned skin. She pulled her self out of the spring and shivered against the cool night air. Quickly getting dressed she looked up at the moon and frowned; it was a deep red color, and that often meant that some thing big was going to be revelled, and some thing bad would soon follow.

The young prince and guard came to mind as she stared down the dirt path. With a sigh she shrugged off the nagging feeling that she would soon be meeting the guard again.

Zai smiled when she saw the dim lights that surrounded there little village, which were impossible to see from the palace of any of the towns surrounding it; the forest and mountains protected them from being found.

She walked through the little village and sighed when she saw her own tent ware four others were no doubtable sleeping. She pushed back the heavy leather door and smiled; being leader had it's perks so she could have a much larger tent them most in there little village, and some how they had managed to cram three decent beds into it.

The beds weren't far from the ground, but they were soft and comfy. Zai smirked when she thought how they had gotten them; she and Kai and stolen them from a family of nobles, they had been completely pissed when she and Kai tied them to a tree then took off with there food, money, clothing and mattresses…and the horses.

Zai had no problem with stealing from the rich, and most of the stuff they took, they needed. And besides what were nobles going to do with all that stuff any how.

Zai sighed and looked around the tent; Tala slept soundly in one bed. He was curled up in a ball, tightly holding a brown teddy to his chest. The teddy had been given to him by his mother before she was viscously slaughtered by the king's army.

Zai sighed and ruffled his bright red hair making him murmur in his sleep and snuggled deeper into his bed. Looking to the bed next to Tala's, a pair of heads poked out from underneath thick blankets; it was Max and Mariam. Both sets of parents had gone missing along with so many others. And Zai had instinctively taken care of them, just like she had Tala.

Zai rubbed the sleep from her eyes and walked to her own bed and looked down with a smile. Kai lay stretched out on the bed, sound asleep and softly breathing. Zai sat beside him and brushed his bangs from his eyes making him stir slightly. Zai chuckled slightly and lay down beside him, curling up into his side she fell asleep, for getting all about the red tinted moon.

(0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000)

The next Morning

Mariah hummed softly to her self as she walked down the many halls of the castle; in her hands she carried a basket of fruit. Her intentions were good; she was trying to make Ray feel better about the rebel escaping.

The King had been furious and Ray had spent all night pacing the halls as if waiting for some one. She also thought she heard Ray whispering that guard's, Bryan, name. But why would he be worried about him? Bryan had done his job and gone after the prisoner only to come back empty handed.

But then why would Ray whisper his name? Mariah shock her head, making fat pink curls bounce around her head. 'I must have miss heard him.' Mariah thought to her self and continued to walk up the many flight's of stairs that would eventually lead up to Ray's room…

Mariah huffed slightly, and brushed the back of her hand against her heated fore head. Pushing pink curls behind a pointed ear, she made her self look more presentable and slowly made her way to Ray's room…

Mariah smiled and slowly opened the door to Ray's room, surprised to find it unlocked. Mariah frowned; Ray usually kept his door locked at night.

She shrugged and opened the door casually, going inside the prince's room. What she saw shocked her to no end; Ray was curled up into Bryan's chest and the said guard held tightly onto the prince.

Mariah's orange eyes filled with tears as she dropped the basket of fruit, and she turned and fled. She ran all the way back to her room, not stopping once to breath or rest. She slammed her door behind her and collapsed onto her large bed, crying into the silk pillow.

'How could Ray want him and not me!?!' She thought sadly to herself. Mariah sat up and as evil smirk played across her face. "Of course if I got rid of my little problem, I could have Ray all to my self…and make him forget all about that horrible guard." She murmured to herself.

With that Mariah stood from her bed, wiped away the tears that stained her face away and quickly headed for the King's chambers…

(0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000)

Bryan stirred from his sleep and slowly opened one eye, he was sure he had heard someone at the door but when he saw no one there he went back to sleep. He sighed with pleaser and pulled the sleeping neko-jin closer to his body.

Ray shifted in his sleep to get closer to the guard before snuggling into his chest, purring slightly as he did. Bryan smiled in his sleep; even then he loved to hear that noise. It always meant that Ray was close by…and more importantly he was happy.

Bryan woke from his half sleep when he heard the door being pushed open and as angry gasp made its way to his ears. The next thing Bryan knew he was yanked out of bed by his ankle and thrown up against the wall. A large, strong hand clamped it self around his throat, cutting off his oxygen.

Ray jolted awake when he felt Bryan being ripped from him, sitting up Ray gasped and tears wielded in his gold eyes when he saw his father holding Bryan up by the throat, choking him.

"Dad stop it!" Ray begged jumping off the bed.

His father's angry eyes turned to him and he dropped Bryan, allowing him to crumple to the ground. "Is this why you haven't chosen a bride yet Ray!" his father's angry voice sneered.

Ray flinched and took a step back, from behind his father Ray saw a flash of pink and knew instantly that it was Mariah. "Ray answer me!" his father sneered.

Looking up at his father with teary eyes Ray whispered "Yes."

The King looked shocked at his son and took a set back; standing up straight he blinked at Ray. Licking dry lips Ray softly said "Dad…I love him. Please don't be angry."

The King blinked again at his son and bit his lip. He looked back at Bryan who had managed to pick himself up off the ground and now softly looked at Ray. "What about you…do you love my son?"

Bryan looked at the King in surprise and slowly nodded. The King looked back at his son. He really did love his son and wanted no harm to ever come to him, but this…this was a disgrace to the Kon name…wasn't it?

The King scratched the back of his neck…he had no idea what he was going to do. But what ever he did, he'd better do it quick.

The King's thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock at the door and every one turned to look as the King's head advisor, Boris entered the room. Boris bowed to the King before saying "My lord… this can not go unpunished. A male can not marry another…it is simply unheard of! It can not happen, what will the people say? What will the other kingdoms say!"

Signing the King looked away from his son's pleading eyes before saying "Your right…this simply can not stand…Bryan go to your chambers until I figure out what I'm going to do with you."

Looking at Ray sadly Bryan softly said "Yes milord."

He then bowed and slowly left the room, casting a single glace at Ray before leaving. When Bryan was gone Ray said "Dad, please don-"

But was cut off when his father snapped "Ray you will never see that boy again understand?"

Biting a trembling lip Ray nodded. His father turned and left in a hurry, Boris at his heals. Once they were gone, Ray fell to his knees and softly sobbed into them. He didn't know what his father was going to do to Bryan, but all Ray knew was he was going to be taken away from him. He may never get to see him again…

Looking up Ray wiped away the tears that stained his face and softly said aloud "I will see him to night."

(0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000)

Night covered the land, telling the people that it was time to sleep. Most obeyed the moons call, but for Ray Kon tonight that was simply not an option.

Ray slipped down the dark halls and coming to Bryan's chambers Ray smirked when he saw that there were no guards. Slowly opening the door Ray peered inside and frowned. Bryan wasn't there, this fact made Ray start to panic.

'If he's not in his room, ware the hell is he?' the confused neko-jin wondered.

A soft voice said "He's in the dungeons."

Ray turned on the balls of his feet to come face to face with one of his best friends, Kevin. Looking down at his green haired friends Ray asked "What?"

Smiling, revelling sharp fangs Kevin answered "I saw Boris and some guards lead him some ware so I followed. They took him to the dungeons."

"Kevin…why did you-" Ray stared but was cut short when Kevin snorted and said "Ray I've known you and Bryan have been together for ever! I walked in on you once, and since neither of you noticed I let my self out…besides I can see it in your eyes that you care for him."

Ray bent down and hugged his small friend. Sighing Kevin said "You better hurry, they were doing some pretty mean stuff to him when Boris found me and kicked me out."

Ray nodded and thanked his friend and stood and started to leave, but stopped briefly when Kevin said "Ray…I don't care that you love Bryan. I'm just happy you found some one for you."

Ray smiled and said "Thank you Kevin…it means a lot to me."

"Ya, ya now get going and go see Bryan!" Kevin snapped.

Ray smiled and quickly left, leaving Kevin alone. The short neko-jin shock his head and left Bryan's room. "Good luck my friend…I hope you find happiness." He whispered before going to his own room to sleep.

(0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000)

Ray hurried down to the dungeons, he wasn't sure what to expect when he found Bryan…all he knew that it would be bad.

Slowly creeping down dark halls, Ray peeked in to every cell he passed, trying desperately to find Bryan…and he found him in the ninth cell he looked in.

Ray gasped when he saw Bryan; he lay in the center of the ice cold cell, shirtless, and his body was covered with black and blue bruises and long bloody gashes.

"Oh Bryan…" Ray whispered.

He slowly opened the heavy door and rushed to his loves side. Ray pulled his thick cloak from his body and wrapped it around Bryan's beaten body. The Neko-jin then pulled Bryan onto his lap, hugging him tightly to his body wile rocking him back and forth.

Bryan forced his green eyes open and looked up at Ray with a smile. "Ray…what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you." Ray said wile Bryan reached up to touch his face.

Moving into the touch Ray said "I needed to see you."

"Ray…could you purr for me?" Bryan asked softly.

"What?"

"Purr, please." Bryan asked, though it sounded like he was begging Ray to.

"Why…Bryan what's going on?"

"Nothing…just purr."

"Bryan you never beg anyone for any thing. What's wrong?" Ray asked again.

Bryan didn't say anything for a moment, then "I'm going back out to the battle fields."

"What! No…y-you can't. I-I'll talk to my father he'll-"Ray stared.

But Bryan shook his head no and said "No Ray, nothing you say will change his mind…now purr for me."

Tears welded up in Ray's eyes and he said "B-but you'll come back right? I mean you survived once you could do it again!"

Bryan shook his head no and softy said "There sending me to the front lines this time…"

Ray gasped and said "B-but almost no one comes home from the front lines!"

Bryan slowly nodded and hugged Ray closer to him as the neko-jin sobbed into his chest. "Ray…I want to hear you purr…please. Please purr…it maybe the last time I get to hear it."

Sitting up Ray said "D-don't say that. You'll come home to me, you always do…but I'll purr for you none the less."

With that Ray stared to purr deep in his throat, even with silvery tears sliding down his face Ray purred, knowing that it may be the last time he ever got to do it for his love…and he would not let him down. Not now, Ray couldn't fail the doomed guard…

Bryan loved to hear that sound, and despite every thing he lay his head onto Ray's chest and fell asleep.

(0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000)

Early the next morning Ray watched Bryan ride away to war on the back of one of the royal horses from his bed room window. With tears falling down his cheeks, Ray put his hand against the cool glass and whispered "God…if there is a god…please bring him home to me…please."

With a sigh Ray removed his hand from the window and watched his true love ride in to the distance…to a place he may never return from again…

TBC…

AN: Poor Bryan…will he ever make it home to Ray or not?