Part 21
Duo sat on the veranda in front of the Dairai with a bored expression covered by a veil that no amount of threatening the Hentai had been able to divest him of. He sat amongst the most beautiful women in the empire with a mask that suggested he would be as happy sitting amongst swine. He wore a long black robe that was elaborately tooled in real gold and silver thread and his leather slippers were tied up his legs. He got the distinct impression he had been dressed for something specific. He was yet to see Heero.
They had cleared an area of the courtyard for the upcoming fight by removing the benches and now six of the largest men that Duo had ever seen were limbering up. He was assured that they had been told not to kill Heero but accidents happened and there man mountains, "they are the Kuroguma-Senshi." Diamond whispered at his side, she wore a shimmering white veil that fell to her feet and softened her pale beauty into a fair luminescence. Duo was certain that the black veil that they had put on him made him look more like a shadow. "The bear soldiers, they are chosen for their strength and their control. He will fight them first."
"Heero's a lot smaller than they are." Duo answered, "they'll break him by accident."
Diamond decided to ignore that. "After that he will fight those four," the four she gestured to were tall and thin women with muscles like whipcords, "the Naginata-Senshi." Duo didn't like the look of them, they looked dangerous. "Then he will fight two Ashigaru-Senshi." She finished. "They will let him win, but they will make him work for it."
"That's reassuring." Duo managed. He knew that Heero was a dangerous person, but these Senshi were trained killers, like Heero was, and they were all a lot bigger than he was.
Heero came out with both Fiore and Tobin to his sides, he wore only a pair of the wide pleated trousers and a scarf to keep his hair from his eyes. Both Fiore and Tobin wore robes like Duo's except theirs were red. They were presenting him to the empress. "This is the challenger, Yuy Heero," Tobin said, "As an imperial prince I offer myself as his second."
This too smacked of ritual.
Fiore raised his head. "This is the challenger, Yuy Heero," Fiore's tone was even, "as captain of the Okiya guard I offer myself as his second."
"Are the forms met?" The empress asked.
"The forms are met." Both men said together.
"The conditions are this, battle is to begin until either the challenger falls or none are left to challenge him. There is to be no blade, staff, sling or stone used." The empress turned her icy green eyes to Duo, "do you have something to say to your challenger?" She asked.
Duo thought about it for a moment and then as if the words had been given to him he said, "I believe in you." Tobin grinned at him as if he had said exactly the right thing, "and Tobin D'Cevni, if there is a single hair on his head hurt, I'll."
Tobin's grin just grew broader. "I knew you loved me." He said.
"Then, if all is agreed," the empress said her voice like a death knell, "let the Bav'ath'mordell'teraslyn begin."
"Hold." A man in a white jacket said stepping forward, emblazoned on the collar was a pair of wings. "Would you hold such a contest without Seraphim presence, heika?"
"Danan," Diamond hissed under her breath.
"The Bav'ath'mordell'teraslyn is a Seraphim contest, I must demand that you allow a single Seraphim to join the contest."
The empress thought about it, "are you so eager to fight, Lord D'Karioni," she said, he lowered his eyes under the weight of her gaze, "I thought not, who is your proxy."
"I am, majesty." A soldier behind him said.
"Yuy," she said turning to Heero, "I will give you a choice, you can fight the Senshi till they yield or you can fight the single seraphim to the death. I will not force your hand in either way."
Heero smiled, a slow cold slithering thing. "I will fight the Seraphim," he said. "Upon your command, heika."
"Then go with god, Yuy Heero." She lowered her head.
The Seraphim peeled off his jacket so that like Heero he was topless. "Welcome, Enamoured, I am sorry that I must kill you."
Heero said nothing, he reached around to his back where his gun was stowed and shot the man between both eyes. Then he turned to the empress and bowed.
"Blasphemy!" Danan shouted. "This is blasphemy, there are to be no weapons in the circle."
"No," Heero corrected, "I was not to use blade, staff, sling or stone, I used none of those, I used a small explosion to fire a blunt piece of lead into his brain, that is not prohibited by the rules of the circle." He said calmly. "Do you want to challenge me?"
"He is correct." The empress said, "we never said that he could not use his demon weapon, the kill is clean. Welcome, Senshisha, know that the throne of winds is humbled by your presence."
Duo wanted to snicker, it was just like Heero to find a way around the rules like that.
"This is blasphemy, he broke the rules of the challenge." Danan protested.
"No," the empress said standing in a rustle of silk so heavy it sounded like sparks, "he did not, the circle was not broken, none of the prohibited items were used, the kill was clean. He is Senshisha." Her voice was firm. "Come," she clapped her hands deciding to ignore Danan for now, "I imagine that you would like a bath, the ceremony of oath taking has to be prepared."
"I won't forget this, heika." Danan called.
"I would think less of you if you would, Seraphim. Run to Coresc and check the journals, you will find as I have that there was no blasphemy here." She said firmly, "now begone, and go with your heresy."
Author's note:
Just a quickie to set up the oath taking ceremony, god I'm dragging this out. I told you that Teishi had an agenda and she will protect it at any cost. Trust me, she's not wicked, she's just ruthless.