Fourth chapter of Hiryonin Ichimei. Please review!
Disclaimer: I, Sutoomu(Storm), do NOT own Gundam Wing in any way. None at all. This fanfiction was made purely for fun and does not get me money in any way. Besides, it's not as though I have any money to be sued for...
Hiryonin Ichimei
Slave Life
Storm
Heero expertly weaved his way out of the slave halls and located Tiper-Hayne and Archine, who looked at him with concerned expressions, asking if he was alright. He shrugged them off and got straight to the point.
"I just met a slave while I was wandering. I want to buy him. His name is Duo Maxwell."
Both stared at him for a moment until Tiper-Hayne spoke. "Duo Maxwell? The Draeid? You want to buy him?" he asked in shock.
A Draeid. That explained things. Draeids were extremely rare, because of the near impossibility of locating them. If you found one, they were as easy as Aranians to catch, but hell to train. Draeids had life in them that was impossible to extinguish, no matter how many beatings or tricks you used. The last Draeid found had been nearly twenty four years ago, and it had ended up killing three men before it was stopped and executed, one its master, and two of his master's friends.
"Yes," Heero confirmed. "I had an interesting conversation with him, and would like to continue it. How much do you ask for the Draeid, Duo Maxwell?"
Tiper-Hayne stuttered out a price, incredibly high, but Heero handed over the money without a moment's hesitation. Tiper-Hayne's jaw dropped as he realized Heero was serious, and by the look on his face, deathly serious.
"Please bring him out to the carriage, and do not lay a hand against him," Heero growled threateningly, then turned on his heel and headed out for the carriage. He found Trowa standing outside, waiting for him, his eyes shining. Heero wondered what had made his brother so happy. After a moment of silent waiting, they brought Duo out. He was still blinking against the harsh glare of the sun, then saw Heero and gaped.
"Holy shit," he croaked.
"Take his shackles off," Heero ordered to the two slave-guards.
"But, your Highness…"
"Highness?" Duo croaked again, eyes widening.
"…he is a Draeid…" Trowa's eyebrow rose at this announcement as the slave-guard continued. "…and is highly dangerous."
"Take off his shackles," Heero repeated more firmly, glaring at them. The slave-guard swallowed, then unlocked Duo's foot shackles, then proceeded to his arms. The moment his hands were free, Duo swung a fist, hitting the younger slave-guard square on the chin, knocking him down and out. He twisted to go for the other one but received a fist in his own face, then was thrown on the ground, arm pinned behind his back. He snarled.
"Stop it!" Heero yelled, pulling the guard off Duo. He reached down and quickly helped the Draeid slave up. Duo, surprisingly, didn't attack him. He simply glared at the guard and wiped his mouth, a thin stream of blood seeping from the split lip, then allowed Heero to bring him to the carriage. He stared in mock disbelief at the royal insignia and banners for a moment, then stepped in, Heero and Trowa following. Heero looked at the previous inhabitant of the carriage and blinked. An Aranian. Trowa had found himself an Aranian, like Zechs. No wonder he was happy. He watched Trowa look fondly at the smaller boy, who looked at Heero and Duo with wide, scared blue eyes. A scared Aranian at that., most likely untrained.
"I didn't think you were actually serious, rich boy," Duo muttered beside him as they sat on the cushioned chair. "So what are you guys?" he asked, looking at Heero and Trowa's fine clothes. "A Lord's son?"
"Princes," Trowa said, and Duo choked, coughing.
"Princes?" he croaked even worse than before.
Heero nodded. "Trowa, this is Duo Maxwell. Duo, this is Trowa Barton, my best friend and adopted brother." Trowa nodded at Duo.
Duo coughed out a hi, then looked at the Aranian. "So who's the blue eyed angel?" he asked.
"I don't know his name," Trowa shrugged. "He hasn't told me yet." Duo looked at the Aranian for a moment more, then nodded. Heero wondered just how enamored Trowa was, to buy a slave without knowing his name.
"Quatre."
"Huh?" Duo looked away from the window and to the Aranian, as did Heero and Trowa.
"My name is Quatre," he repeated in a soft and timid voice. "Quatre Raberba Winner."
"Well, then," Trowa smiled. "Heero, Duo, meet Quatre Raberba Winner. Quatre, this is Heero Yuy, my best friend and brother, and Duo Maxwell."
Quatre swallowed and nodded. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Really?" Duo laughed. "That's cool."
"Are you really a prince, Trowa?" he asked, turning his eyes to the taller boy. Trowa nodded, his features softening.
"Hey, does this mean I get to live in a palace?" Duo chirped, laughing when Heero nodded. "Sweet! A palace! Hey, can I have a bath when we get there? Man, I feel like a bath." Again Heero nodded.
"You can have a bath when you meet Wufei, head slave," Heero explained. "He'll clean you up and get you some clothes."
"Oh, cool," Duo said, used to the slave reference. Quatre's eyes widened and he seemed to withdraw into himself again. "I like black, by the way," Duo pointed out. "I ain't wearing no slave uniform or anything like that. Black, or nothing." Then he realized what he just said and blushed.
"You can wear black clothes, Duo," Heero said, chuckling inside.
"Good," Duo sighed in relief that he hadn't taken it the wrong way.
oooooOoooooOoooooOoooooOoooooOooooo
Quatre unconsciously gripped Trowa's hand as they climbed the tall steps towards the palace entrance. He had been amazed by the sheer enormity of it, and the white marble stones and golden inlaid dazzled the eyes. There had been a lot of people when they exited the carriage, mostly guards and a few servants. Quatre had grabbed Trowa's hand in nervousness, and the green eyed boy had smiled at him. For some reason, those green eyes calmed him. He hadn't been this calm since he was captured, and now he felt safe. Well, relatively safe.
He held Trowa's hand, hiding behind him almost as they entered into a great hall. It was big, huge. It seemed larger inside than it did from the outside, and this was the entrance alone. It was so impressive, so enormous. The grandure of it pressed on Quatre, and he leaned against Trowa as though to hide. A voice suddenly spoke out, cool and collected and loaded with what Quatre would call charm, and he looked up to see a man walking down the stairs. His hair was a deep brown, brushed back to a loose ponytail on the nape of his neck.
"Heero, Trowa!" he said as he began to rapidly descend the stairs. He pulled Heero into a deep hug, then followed suite with Trowa, making him let go of Quatre's hand. Quatre immediately felt lost in the enormous entrance hall, and withdrew, feeling afraid once more.
"Now, introduce me."
Heero followed the man's instructions. "Trieze, this is Duo Maxwell," Heero brought Duo back to earth. He had been roaming the grand entrance with his eyes, staring in wonder. "Duo, this is my father, King Trieze Kushrenada."
"Hey, cool," Duo grinned, shaking Trieze's hand. "Never met a king before. Nice place you got here," he whistled as he looked at the entrance once more.. "Must've cost a bundle."
Trieze appeared slightly startled by Duo's odd greeting, but returned the shake, smiling. "More than you imagine Duo." He turned to Heero. "I see you got yourself a firecracker, here." Heero simply nodded as Duo took a few steps away, staring at the entrance. He seemed enamored. It was gorgeous, of course.
"Trieze, this is Quatre Raberba Winner." Quatre looked at Trowa as he began introducing him, then at Trieze. "Quatre, this is my adopted father, King Trieze Kushrenada." Quatre wasn't sure what he was supposed to do. He had never met a king before. He decided on a bow of the head and extended his hand.
"A pleasure to meet you, sir," he said, shaking hands. He had to force himself to speak loud enough to be heard.
"The same feelings to you, young slave," Trieze replied. Quatre swallowed at the word slave. He had no idea what being a slave was! He had imagined all sorts of unpleasant things when he was with Koirine and Koidin, and from what they told him, it was horrible. At least Trowa didn't make him wear those awful shackles. He felt strangled when he wore them, trapped like a rat in a cage. Of course, that was, in a way, what he was. He pushed back the feelings of remorse and grief that threatened to well up in him.
"Now where the devil did Wufei get off to?" Trieze muttered as he stepped away. Quatre grabbed Trowa's hand again, glad for the safe feeling he got.
"You know," Heero said softly to Trowa, but Quatre heard. "He really has become more pleasant.. He used to be all business."
"He smiles more," Trowa nodded and replied. "We shall have to thank Zechs sometime." Heero nodded and then walked after Duo, who was beginning to wander. Duo had so much courage!
"Wufei!" Trieze called. Who was Wufei? His answer came in a moment as an unusual boy came running, stopping in front of Trieze and bowing deeply. So that's what you did.
"Oh, stop it already, Wufei," Trieze scolded with a graceful air. "You are too well known to be bowing anymore." Okay, maybe you didn't bow. "My sons have brought back their slaves. Get them cleaned up while we go to dinner."
"Yes, Trieze," Wufei nodded, and turned to evaluate the two new slaves. Trieze began to walk off, and Heero followed him. Quatre tightened his grip on Trowa's hand as he stepped forward. Trowa looked back with his big green eyes at his own fearful ones.
"Don't worry, little one," he said. "Wufei will take care of you. I'll see you later." And he let go, following after his father and brother.
"What are your names?" Wufei asked. Quatre swallowed. Wufei was unique looking, with ivory skin and intelligent tilted black eyes. His black hair was pulled back tightly into a small ponytail, and he wore a strange white suit.
"Duo Maxwell, a Draeid," Duo grinned, and swing an arm suddenly over Quatre's shoulder. "And this here's my Aranian buddy, Quatre Raburble Winner."
"Raberba," Quatre corrected softly.
"Right. Quatre Raberba Winner."
"Three names," Wufei eyed him. "Well, Duo, Quatre. I am Wufei Chang, the head slave. I'm going to clean you up and give you your new slave clothes, and instruct you on what your duties are later on. For now, follow me, and you'll bath, then we'll cut your hair."
"Hey, no way!" Duo argued. "I ain't wearing no slave clothes! I want black clothes, like what I'm wearing. And I'm not cutting my hair!" He grabbed his braid protectively. "Ask Heero, he'll tell you."
Wufei sighed. "Very well for now, since you are personal slaves, but I shall ask him later."
"Woah, we're personal slaves?" Duo choked. "He never told me that!"
"Yes, Maxwell, you are a personal slave," Wufei repeated firmly.
"Oh, he's gonna get an earful tonight!" Duo growled. Quatre frowned, not understanding. What's a personal slave?
Wufei led them up a separate set of stairs, smaller than the split set he had seen in the entrance, the ones Trieze had come down, and into a room. Two tubs sat on the stone floor, steaming of warm water, and towels, shampoos, and soaps were set about. A candle was lit in between them, and it gave off a sweet aroma. Quatre liked it. It felt…calm.
"Strip and wash yourselves thoroughly," Wufei instructed. "I'll be back in an hour with some clothes." He left and Duo giggled boyishly, reaching a hand into the water.
"Oooh, that's nice," he said, and began unbuttoning his shirt. Quatre turned away, a bit embarrassed, but began to undress himself. Soon, they both sat in the steaming tubs, letting the water soak through them, removing all dirt and grime. Quatre thought it felt like heaven, and he must have said it out loud, because Duo was agreeing. The Draeid had undone his braid, and it hung from his head in a long, soaped up manner as he washed it. Quatre followed suit, and soon both felt enormously clean. The shampoo had smelt like lilacs, and the candle was burning lavender leaves, he believed. It was a very peaceful aroma and setting.
Wufei came in just as he began to doze, bringing him alert again. He placed a black pile of clothes beside Duo and a white pile beside Quatre, then left, with instructions to get dressed and meet him outside. Quatre dried off, happy to have clean clothes to slip into. Maybe being a slave wasn't so bad. The outfit was simple. Soft under garments, simple white pants, also of a soft material, and a soft button up shirt. Duo's was the same, but black, and the braided boy hugged himself, then began to towel off his long hair before it soaked his new shirt.
"These feel like nightclothes," Quatre murmured drowsily.
"They probably are," Duo said, scowling again for a moment. He dropped the towel and grabbed a brush from somewhere, stroking it through his hair. Quatre located a comb beside where Duo had found the brush, and quickly tamed his golden white hair. He finished as Duo began to redo his braid. As soon as Duo finished, they went outside. Wufei was waiting there, and he handed each of them a pair of warm indoor slippers which they slipped on, then led them down to a nicely decorated hall. He stopped near one door, opening it and gesturing Duo inside, then crossed the hall to the opposite door and nudged Quatre inside, closing the door behind him.
Quatre stared, eyes wide at the gorgeous room. It was large, decorated in neutral hues and shades of gold and scarlet. An enormous bed, looking enormously comfortable with canopy attached and large white pillows and soft golden sheets beckoned to him at one end of the room. A large dresser occupied the wall beside it, a similar one on the other side, both of a deep brown stained wood. There was a small corner turned library area, with shelves of books and two comfortable chairs and a small table, a door a small ways away. A great mahogany desk and detailed chair leaned against another wall, just beside another door. A large rug adorned the middle of the floor, and on the rug was a table large enough for two, with a tray of food set upon it and tea. Quatre's stomach growled and he sat and began eating. Now, when he was clean, fresh, drowsy, and full, he located the bathroom for a moment. Oh, it was grand! Everything was shining white, and sparkling to the eye, and a great special tub sat in the end, looking wonderful to try someday. He used the washroom and then ran and pounced upon the bed, snuggling in the enormous pillows and burrowing beneath the blankets, letting sleep take him easily as he thought that maybe being a slave was different from what he thought. Maybe, it wasn't that bad…
That is the fourth Chapter. Please review. Constructive critisism is welcome, but no flames please. Enjoy!
OO I'm getting a little repetetive, aren't I? Heheh...
Storm