Yaoi means GUY with GUY!

Yuri means GIRL with GIRL!

And

Straight means GUY with GIRL! Or GIRL with GUY!

You have been Warned ! Now that we're all on the same wavelength here, let's start the story!

1) For thoughts = ' insert thoughts '

mind speech = italics

(X) is pov change and or time jump

Disclaimer: I don't own this

Ch,6: Illusions

"I can't believe…we've been here for two days…we leave tomorrow. And things are still so…complicated." Gareas said to himself standing outside on the balcony of his room. It was currently night time and so the stars were out shining brightly. Gareas was trying his best not to let his emotions get the best of him as he stood there wondering why they'd stayed so long after the affairs in Fletz had been dealt with. Of course he loved this place, it was nice and quiet and Ernest seemed more relaxed here than he had at any of the other villages they'd been to, but something just kept bugging him. There was some little thing that just kept poking at him in the back of his mind that he couldn't quite place.

Gareas sighed and looked over the castle's court yard that could be seen from his balcony. Down there Ernest sat currently talking to Yu. Gareas had wanted to go down there for about an hour now, but knew that Ernest and Yu been friends longer, and deserved the time alone. With all of the things that had been happening lately, Ernest had to be really stressed out.

"Are you going to be okay?" Gareas turned to the source of the voice, Zero, and nodded.

"I guess." Zero frowned moving across the bedroom and sat down on the bed.

"Come on Gar. What's buggin yeah? You're usually in a better mood than this. But, you've been quiet the past couple of hours, why?" Zero tried to fish out of his friend. Gareas shook his head smiling and walked back into the room. He lied down on the bed and looked up at the ceiling resting his head on his arms.

"I don't know. Things just seem…a bit weird don't they? Even Hiead seemed in a bit of a hurry to leave after the death of Fester's assistant, but no one actually went after him. And Fester didn't seem all that sad that his assistant was dead." Zero nodded.

"Yeah…but they couldn't exactly go after Hiead either. He was leaving and it's hard to go after someone when you have no leads." Gareas shook his head.

"Yeah I know that's true. Usually when that happens though they put up a reward of some sort and the bounty hunters go after the guy." Zero shrugged.

"Maybe they're to poor to do that."

"No, the kingdom itself does it that way the village or city can stay a safe place. I don't know maybe I'm getting paranoid…I just feel that there's something wrong with all of this." Zero thought for a few minutes before nodding.

"I Guess so." He lied down next to Gareas and then turned over to face him and poked him in the side. "So. Spill it, how's the thing between you and Ernest going?" Gareas turned his head to face Zero and blinked at him.

"You don't like beating around the bush much do you?" The teen asked. Zero grinned.

"I want all the details. TELL!" Gareas smirked at him and sat up.

"You want details? Alright." Gareas grabbed the pillow from behind him. "Ernest and I are getting along just fine since I bought him that necklace." He hit Zero aside the head with the pillow. Zero fell off in the bed not having been able to move quick enough and sat there on his butt laughing.

"Aww. I didn't think the prince liked jewelry. Does Gareas want some too?" He asked laughing more. Still grinning the teen jumped off the bed and grabbed his little friend by the top of his shirt.

"I don't know. Can I get a ring so when I punch you it hurts more?" He asked smirking evilly. Zero sweat dropped and tried to pull away.

"What kind of idiot do I look like?" Zero whined.

"A very big one." Gareas dropped Zero onto the floor and walked over to the door. "Come on. I got a job for you." Zero sat up with a groan holding his head.

"I'm the group punching bag….I WANT A NEW JOB!" Zero screamed at his "Friend." Gareas just shook his head and walked out of the room. Pouting Zero ran after him to find out just what it was his so-called-friend wanted.

(X)

"You really like him don't you?" Yu asked Ernest slowly. Ernest nodded slowly and smiled slightly.

"I admit…I'm sorry. I did have a crush on you Yu. It just seemed to fade away after awhile…but I just seem to be stuck on Gareas now." Yu nodded.

"It's fine. They'd of never allowed a relationship between us anyway." Ernest shook his head slowly.

"No…I believe my father would of allowed it. Though…how much the others in the city would of, I don't know." Yu looked up at the stars a bit before turning back to Ernest. Ernest was currently sitting at the edge of the pound in the court yard of Fletz's castle. Yu was on the bench near the pound watching over the prince, his friend.

"….perhaps." Yu said a quietly. Ernest saw this as a cue to change the subject and went back to looking at the pond instead.

"So. What do you think of Gareas…when he's not being an idiot?" Yu snorted at this and folded his arms across his chest.

"I think I have to completely agree with the saying "Love is blind."" Ernest started laughing and shook his head enjoying this talk. It was the first time in a long while that Yu and him had openly talked about things together. Even at the castle, Yu would hide his feelings and emotions from Ernest no matter how much Ernest probed. Finally though, as when they were younger, they were able to sit down and talk openly as if their ranks didn't matter at all. It was nice.

"Well that may be true. Though I sti-" Ernest let out a loud scream and fell head first into the pond Zero falling in next to him.

"SORRY!" Zero screamed out sitting up so his head wouldn't go under the water. Ernest sat up himself and just stared at him.

"What are you doing out here Zero?" He asked sounding a bit stressed. Yu just looked at them as though they were both nuts before realizing he should help. He held his hand out and Ernest took it gratefully getting to his feet.

"Sorry." Zero muttered again also getting out of the pond. "You guys just seemed to be having a nice conversation without any yelling. It's so rare around here, I thought I'd join in." Zero said with a big grin on his face. Ernest sweat dropped and sat down on the bench next to Yu.

'Though you're usually the reason why people usually end up yelling in the conversations Zero,' Ernest thought to himself, but figured it was best not to say it aloud. It would just cause more fighting.

"Yes, I admit, they are getting more and more rare," Ernest said with forced kindness.

Yu seemed to decide that Ernest could get sick from being out in the night air and wet, even if it was just early September. He took his shirt off and wrapped it around Ernest. Ernest looked over to Yu blushing.

"Thank you…" Ernest was truly grateful, he didn't want to go inside just yet and now he wouldn't have to exactly worry about getting sick either. What did worry him though, was Yu getting sick now that he had no shirt on.

"You're welcome my lord."

"Trying to steal him while I'm not looking?" Gareas walked over to them from the back door. Ernest sighed.

'We just aren't going to be able to talk unless we tie everyone else up are we?' Ernest thought to himself with a laugh. 'Though that may be a fun idea…' The prince quickly shook his head making the idea vanish. He wasn't about to try and tie Gareas and Zero up and then leave them out here while Yu and him went inside to talk.

Yu death glared Gareas and growled at him as he sat down on the ground looking at everyone else.

"I wouldn't dare touch the prince." He said in a cold and emotionless tone. Gareas grinned at him and grabbed Ernest's arm and dragged him into his lap. He wrapped his arms around him trying to warm him up.

"Good. Than we have no problems." Ernest blinked a bit in shock at how things were starting to unfold here in the court yard, but figured this was all for the best anyway and started to relax in his arms.

'This feels nice…' Ernest thought to himself. Yu glare at Gareas only seemed to intensify.

"What are either of you doing out here?" He demanded. Zero shrugged sitting back down in the pond.

"I don't know. I'm just having some fun."

Ernest blinked at Zero's stupidity and shook his head sighing. He closed his eyes and rested the back of his head on Gareas' strong warm chest.

Gareas smiled and tightened his embrace around him.

(X)

"So, when do we leave anyway?" Gareas asked him nuzzling him a bit.

"In two days. Tomorrow Fester wants us to stay so we can go to the ball they're having in honor of us. Then we leave the next morning." Gareas nodded a bit satisfied with this answer. Even though he was enjoying his stay here, he kept getting this odd feeling.

"Hey…I don't mean to change the subject here, but does anyone else feel that things here are just…I don't know a bit odd?" He asked wondering if he was just paranoid or if anyone else was having the same feelings.

"Odd? Hmm….No. Not really." Ernest said after thinking it over a bit. Zero shook his head and Yu just shrugged.

"Guess it's just me then." Gareas said after they'd given their answer. Ernest yawned a bit and Gareas took this as a sign that Ernest was tired and sat up pulling Ernest up with him as he did. "Let's get you some medicine and then off to bed." Ernest looked at him smiling a bit and rested his head against his shoulder.

"Alright…" Gareas walked Ernest into the castle in is normal position, arm wrapped around his waist. Zero smiled and turned to Yu.

(X)

"Even if you hate Gar. You have to admit. They make a cute couple." Zero giggled. "Besides. Look how happy Ernest is." With that Zero ran into the castle after them. Yu glared at Zero ,but ended up sighing in defeat and followed. As he walked into the castle a boy slammed face first into him. Both him and the boy both fell onto the ground.

"Ah! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to. I just fell and ack!" He got to his feet and grabbed Yu's wrist pulling him to his own feet. Yu noticed that the boy was actually quite taller than him. The boy blinked a few times and than laughed upon seeing Yu wasn't wearing a shirt. Yu glared at him and the boy shook his head quickly. "Sorry again." He walked off down the hall laughing. Growling Yu walked down the hallway towards his room to get a shirt and then headed off to the doctors to watch over Ernest.

(X)

"So…taking this will make sure I don't get sick?" The doctor nodded and Ernest took the cup full of the herbs. He drank it quickly so he wouldn't have to taste much of it and then swallowed it. He yawned a bit and rested against Gareas eyes closed. "Thanks." He said yawning once more. The doctor nodded.

"Make sure he gets plenty of rest tonight. Wouldn't want the prince to get sick the day before his ball." With that the doctor went back to mixing herbs and other potions. Gareas helped Ernest back to his room making sure he didn't fall asleep while walking there. When they had all made it to Ernest's room Yu headed off to his own, as did Zero. The minute they were gone, Ernest grabbed Gareas' wrist and dragged him into his room and slammed the door shut.

Gareas blinked in amazement at how fast that'd happened and how Ernest had managed the act when he seemed so tired. Smirking evilly Ernest dragged Gareas over to his bed and forced him down onto it.

"I'm not sleeping alone tonight." Gareas raised an eyebrow at this.

"Oh really?" Ernest's smirk grew and he lied down next to him and rested his head down on his chest.

"I'm going to sleep. Try anything, and you'll be sorry." Ernest said yawning, but you could still hear the humor in his tone. Gareas wrapped his arms around him and held him close.

"Fine. Sure. If you really want me to."

(X)

Zero's turn to sigh and look up at the stars. He'd wanted to talk to Erts, but he was currently in town with Clay doing who knows what. He was bored out of his mind, had nothing to do, and wanted someone to talk to. He wasn't near ready to go to bed, and he really wanted to do something. ANYTHING! He probably should of went with Ernest to get some medicine of his own, but figured he was made of tougher stuff than him and decided against it. "AHH! SOMEONE COME AND DO SOMETHING WITH ME!" Zero screamed out loudly.

By morning the whole castle had woken up early and was getting ready for the big ball. Every servant, maid, cook, and guard and everything else was running around and doing something. Clay, Erts, Ernest, Gareas, and Yu all seemed to have disappeared. Zero was left to entertain himself, which from last night he knew, wasn't good. After screaming out last night that he was bored, he'd gone to find Gareas, which had turned out to be a big mistake. He'd walked into the room. No one. So he headed off to Ernest's room which is where he did fine Gareas. Problem? The minute Gareas heard the door open up, and saw Zero, he threw a knife at him! Then Yu had come in and grabbed Zero from behind thinking him a murderer or something, slammed him onto the ground and put his spear to the back of his neck. Erts and Clay had come running to find out what all the commotion was and then the guards had seized him. They didn't find out until later that night, that it was in fact Zero and not some random person walking in to do the prince harm.

So now, Zero was walking around the castle trying to find Erts or Clay, since he seemed to either get hurt or put in jail when he was around Ernest, Yu, or Gareas. Especially Gareas. Zero looked around more and sighed. Why did everyone seem to be ignoring him today? Why were they all being so mean to him. What'd he do? They'd been the ones that got him in trouble.

"There you are Zero." Zero looked up happily. Finally, someone wanted to talk to him. "I've been looking for you." Zero's eyes lit up until he saw who it was. Fester.

"Umm…hey." He said not to sure of what to say. Fester smiled and nodded to the room he was next to. "I never got to tell you your full future that night. I didn't think you'd enjoy having the others being able to hear it."

"Huh?" Zero jumped up and down. "I KNEW IT! THERE IS MORE!" Zero grabbed Fester's hand and dragged him into the room. He slammed the door shut and put his back against the door. "TALK OLD MAN!" He demanded. Fester laughed and smiled at him.

"Alright, alright. I suppose I deserve that. I told you that the person you had been thinking about that night, would become your enemy and also your friend, did I not?" Zero nodded quickly wanting to hear the rest. "Well. Tell me, the person you were thinking of was Hiead, was it not?" Zero nodded again a bit unnerved, that this guy knew so much. "Well. It seems that this friendship will be very deep." Zero looked at him and blinked a bit lowering his arms from the door.

"What do you mean? Don't tell me I'm gonna have to kill him!" Fester's turn to blink.

"No. Well…I suppose that may happen in the future, but for now. No. Something is going to happen soon. Something unexpected. When it does, the others are going to be very angry. You must keep a clear head." Zero nodded slowly.

"Okay. Keep a clear head, SURE THING!" He said happily. Fester smiled and walked to the door moving Zero out of the way.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to be going on to help the others with the ball tonight." Zero nodded again and moved out of the way, finally satisfied with his horoscope.

(X)

Fester walked out of the room and smiled to himself halfway down the hallway when he was out of Zero's hearing. "What a fool." He said eyes flashing red and headed off to carry out what must be done.

(X)

Ernest looked around in the mirror at his new outfit that he was supposed to wear to the ball tonight. He really enjoyed his old outfit a lot more, it kept more of his skin covered, but he guessed for one night, it'd be fine. He was now wearing a white sleeved shirt that had a small hood on the back of it so he could put it on to make the white shirt look more like a white cloak. The shirt was tucked in to the white pants. He was wearing black boots that went up to his upper ankle. He had a bunch of black belts on. There was one black belt that went around his waist. Than another one that was much smaller that went under it. One around both of his lower thighs. .He had another one that connected to his normal belt and wrapped around his right arm. That one had silver studs on half of it. He was wearing a black glove that didn't cover his fingers on his left hand, nothing on his right one. The glove was being kept on by a small purplish belt that wrapped around his wrist.

'I wonder if Gareas's will like it.' He thought to himself turning around in the mirror again for about the tenth time. Getting up enough courage he left the room and went in search of his knight.

(X)

Yu frowned hearing a loud scream, some pots and pans being slammed around and then saw the same boy that had ran into him yesterday get thrown out of the kitchen and slam into the wall a few feet away from the door.

"Ow…man you'd swear that they were getting ready for a wedding in there." He said groaning and getting to his feet.

"AND STAY OUT!" The cook screamed at him. The boy glared at the cook.

"Hey! Come on! I'm invited to the ball anyway! I have every right to at least taste test!" He yelled back. The cook growled stomping out of the kitchen with a huge wooden spoon.

"YOU WANT A TASTE TEST? I'LL GIVE YOU A TASTE TEST!" The cook raised his hand in the air with the spoon and went to hit the boy. The boy quickly dodged the hit and got to his feet running off down the hall. The cook screamed after him and threw the spoon at the back of the boys head. The boy grabbed the back of his head, but didn't stop and laughing ran out of the hall.

Yu shook his head watching the display and walked pass the cook. He'd seen enough stupidity already today. He needed to go out in the court yard and clear his thoughts.

(X)

'This feeling just keeps getting worse…' Gareas thought to himself as he looked at the flowers in the court yard. He'd been looking around it now for the first time in day light and it was actually quite beautiful. There were roses and other flowers climbing around the high walls, a big pond near a stone bench -the same one Ernest and Zero had fallen into the night before- near the back end. There were many trees giving lots of shade and of course, lots of birds and fruits all around. The view was actually very breath taking and it made Gareas relax being there. Gareas turned when the door opened to see who it was walking out. He smiled seeing Ernest and walked over to him.

"You're new outfit?" He asked smiling and wrapping his arms around him.

"You like it?" Ernest asked blushing a bit and relaxing in his arms. Gareas nodded.

"You bet." They both stood there enjoying each others' presence for awhile. After what seemed like hours Gareas finally spoke up. "So…what happens after today?" Ernest looked up at him and smiled.

"I want you to come with me…back to Bale I mean." Gareas frowned then and closed his eyes holding back tears. He'd just remembered last night, he'd promised himself, Zero, and especially Dabas that he'd avenge his death.

"I can't…" He said slowly and wanted to kick himself feeling Ernest go stiff.

"Why not?" He asked quickly pulling out of Gareas' hug. "I thought this was going well. I thought you were happy." Ernest said obviously trying to keep his own emotions under control.

(X)

"It's not that. Believe me, I am happy, but…Ernest I made a promise. I have to kill Hiead. I have to make him pay for killing Dabas…and for destroying Zero and mine's home." Ernest frowned at him letting the information sink in. The fact that tonight would be the last day Gareas and him would be able to spend any time together ate away at him like acid. He never wanted to be away from Gareas again. Never. Yet it seemed like fate had other plans for him.

"Gareas…" Gareas wrapped his arms around Ernest again pulling him into a deep kiss. Ernest gave in wrapping his own arms around him and deepening it himself. The world seem to stop and time stood still. Everything was going great. Ernest fell to his knees. Gareas quickly looked down to him and tried to get him back to his feet ,but it was no use, Ernest was down for the count.

"What's wrong?" Gareas not being able to get him up, had gotten onto his own knees. Ernest swayed back and forth on his knees looking sick.

"I don't know…I…just feel….dizzy…" He fell foreword. Gareas caught him quickly just as Yu walked into the court yard.

(X)

"What did you do?" Yu demanded from him. Gareas looked up at Yu and sighed in relief.

"Something's wrong. He just got dizzy all of a sudden and now he can't get up. He's out cold." He said quickly. Yu's face took on a worried expression and together they got Ernest to his feet. They picked him up and moved him quickly down the hall to his room where he could rest. They lied him on the bed and covered him up with a blanket.

"What happened?" Yu asked his tone calm and collected, trying to figure out what happened. "Slowly this time." Gareas nodded taking a deep breath and slowly started explaining to Yu everything that had happened. Yu nodded to show he was listening and was frowning deeply by the end of the explanation. "Something is wrong."

(X)

Clay and Erts were both in bed at the moment. The ball was going to be starting in a few hours, and Erts had wanted to rest before going to it. Clay had stayed awake, not really that tired and was holding him close. The sun had just started setting not to long ago, news of Ernest passing out in the court yard, though kept quiet, had made it's way to them and some of the other staff members. Clay figured he should probably wake Erts up so he could tell him about his brother's incident and help him get ready for the ball. He poked Erts a few times trying to wake him up. Just as he did, something told him something was wrong. He felt like he was being watched. A thought ran through his head, he grabbed Erts and jumped off the bed and rolled under it keeping Erts close. Erts obviously woke up at this, and Clay had to put his hand over his mouth to keep him quiet. He kept thinking the same thoughts over and over again so Erts would read them and get the idea to stay quiet and not to move.

Erts seemed to understand and Clay was able to removed his hand from Ert's mouth. Just as he did two legs slammed onto the ground. They weren't human though, far from it. The legs looked like they were scalely and leathery like a lizards. There were sharp talons coming out of the four big toes on its foot. It's taloned foot tapped the floor as it stood in place as though looking for something it couldn't see. Erts eyes widened at this thing and Clay held him a bit closer. The creature walked across the room trying to find it's prey it's talons hitting the ground with every movement.

(X)

Gareas frowned stroking Ernest's hair gently.

"I'll kill whoever the hell did this." Gareas said ready to punch a wall and put a hole in it. He wanted to know who'd poisoned Ernest, and now. He wanted to take the idiot who'd did and destroy them. Ernest had only been poisoned with sleeping herbs, but it made no difference to him. He was getting pissed at all the bad luck they all seemed to be having and wanted it to end. Sighing he stroked Ernest's check gently and turned to Yu. "Will you help me find and kill whoever the hell had the nerve to poison Ernest?" Yu nodded without a second thought.

"Yes." Gareas smirked.

"Truce?" Yu nodded and held his hand out. Gareas took it quickly and they shook hands. They were going to find the fool that did this, and destroy them little by little and then kill them.

(X)

Zero blinked swaying a bit to balcony. For some reason he felt oddly tired. He frowned and grabbed the railing around the balcony outside of his room. Frowning he almost fell over the edge, but he caught himself. He fell to his knees looking down through the railing at the ground wincing.

"I knew medicine was no good!" He said coughing and falling backwards onto his side. He winced again and passed out.

(X)

A cloaked figure showed up just as he fell and grabbed Zero around the waist. He picked him up and smirked jumping down from the balcony to the ground.

(X)

Hiead poked the fire with a stick. He sighed and looked up at the sky. Something was wrong, somewhere something was wrong, but he couldn't quite place it. He threw the stick into the fire. He turned around looking for the source of the sound when he heard footsteps coming his way. He stood up and headed towards the sound. As he got closer to the source however the footsteps stopped.

"Who are you?" The figure that had been walking asked.

"I could ask you the same thing." Hiead said. He walked over to the figure and noticed he had a bag thrown over his shoulder. No…not a bag. A body. "Who's that?" He asked smirking. The man glared at Hiead even though he couldn't be seen in the darkness.

"What do you care?"

"That scent is familiar. Hand him over." The man took a step back.

"What are you?"

"The question you should be asking is how much longer you have?"

"Huh?" Hiead grabbed his sword and shoved it through the mans heart. The man fell to the ground obviously dead. Hiead quickly grabbed Zero before he hit the ground as well. He moved back over to his fire pulling Zero with.

TBC

As a doujinshi this might make it, but I'm really starting to doubt this as a written story. I'm going to have to rewrite things a bit more than just fixing up grammar and small plot errors.