Eugi stood in the archway that led to the arena, watching as Iami strode out in full battle armour. He seemed to be something completely different from the sombre, friendly man that he was around Eugi and his friends. Even beneath the heavy metal greaves Eugi could tell he was swaggering, and he could just pick out how his head was held high and regally. As he made his appearance, the knight in shining armour strode out into the bright sunlight of Rome.

He'd travelled all this way with a small group of gladiators, and somehow Iami had convinced Bacura to let the young Retiarius tag along to watch. Now standing in the coliseum itself, Eugi stood back in sheer awe, taking in just how many people were up there, crying Iami's name. Iami's hand shot to his side, drawing his slightly curved blade in a flash of metal, flipping it once in the air before grabbing it and making a slash at an invisible foe. Bacura scowled darkly, muttering something about show-offs, but the crowd ate it right up and cheered happily.

Circus tricks, however, were not what the populace of the capital had come to see. They wanted blood. A group of gladiators appeared in the archway opposite Eugi, all sporting long spears. He frowned, fingering the hem of his tunic nervously. 'Are all those men against Iami? I know he's really strong, but that's hardly fair.' His questions were answered as Bacura leaned over, a laughing smirk now plastered on his face.

"Don't you worry about little Iami there. I'm more apt to worry about the unlucky fellows about to go up against him." Eugi's frown deepened despite the comment.

"But Bacura-" The schoolmaster shot him a glare- "M-master… there are so many of them… novem, non, decem! How could he possibly take on ten gladiators at a time?" Eugi queried, his heart pounding in fear as the trumpeters let loose a loud bellow signifying the beginning of the match. Bacura merely sent him that smirk, crossing his arms.

"Look closer, fool. Those aren't gladiators. They may be trussed up as such, but they walk with fear and are obviously underfed. That's a band of Christians." Bacura laughed disdainfully, shaking his head as if in pity. "This isn't a battle; this is an execution."

Eugi shuddered slightly at the gleeful tone with which Bacura announced this- how anyone could find entertainment in others' pain, he'd never know. Iami stepped forth and braced himself, holding his sword and shield ready.

"Timeo?" He shouted mockingly to the first of the men, loud enough for the crowd to hear. "Non est multus! Cur tu non Iami neceo?" He jeered through the helmet that hid his unruly, wild hair and dangerous crimson eyes. The prisoner in Gladiator's garb grit his teeth, waving to the others and yelling as he charged at the offensive man that taunted them from behind a shield.

Eugi winced, fascinated but horrified, enthralled but distressed. Iami wasn't even visible… he was a blur, one fluid motion of sinew and steel. Gasp upon pained gasp, the doomed let out their last cries and fell to the ground in a bloody heap. Cheers arose from the crowd, but Eugi felt as though he was going to be sick. Still, his eyes rested stolidly upon Iami, wishing for something, a sign that he understood that what he did was wrong, vile, unsavoury… something! The champion removed his helmet, and to Eugi's horror, he was smirking. He knew it was wrong, certainly… but this was where he belonged. Competing for his life, always fighting. He'd found his freedom without ever removing the chains of slavery… this was his escape. Eugi saw it all in that smirk, and took a staggered step back. Bacura raised an eyebrow at him.

"Quid est?" He asked, his flat tone belying the question's normal indication of concern. Eugi struggled for words, biting his lip and shaking his head. Bacura scoffed, turning away. "Caudex." Eugi frowned slightly at the insult, but didn't react otherwise. The trumpets blared, and a chariot raced into the arena, driven by a gladiator toting a crossbow; a real one this time. More bloodshed followed, and Eugi very nearly expelled his stomach's contents on Bacura's expensive sandals when Iami was shot thrice in the upper body, yet still moved with the arrows sticking up out of his shoulders and torso like some demonic ornament. Somehow he then managed to topple the horse and pin the gladiator, but it was too fast for Eugi's eyes. With an ignorance of pain, Iami ripped the arrows out of his own flesh to the pleased roars of the crowd. Bacura glanced over at Eugi's pale visage, raising an eyebrow and hoping he hadn't caught a sickness of some sort. Needless to say, it was a very, very long day for a certain rookie gladiator.

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Iami struggled upright, hissing angrily as the physician touched a chemical-soaked rag to a long, deep gash down his thigh. Several other men groaned around the room in far worse condition than he, but as the crowd favourite, Iami was the priority patient. The fat man hummed quietly as he rubbed several ointments along the gladiator's gashed and torn arms, ignoring his growls of complaint.

"I'll be fine. I don't need all this… this…"

"Shit?" The doctor declared hoarsely, laughing. He knew Iami well, and it was no surprise. Despite the champion's incredible stamina and unmatched skill, he had nearly died on more than one occasion. As the medicines were massaged into his bared back and shoulders, Iami bit his lip against the pain and muttered faceticiously,

"Hope you're not having too much fun." The portly doctor squeezed one of his shoulders somewhat unkindly.

"Yer know I don't swing that way." He chortled, brushing Iami's hair aside to look at a bloody spot on his skull, wrapping a bandage around and across his eye to hold another medicated cloth in place. "Messed yersel' up real bad this time, Iami." A simply shrug from the gladiator resulted in a wince of pain.

"No big deal." Someone lying on a cot in the back of the room moaned loudly, clutching his severed arm. Iami nodded his head in the man's direction. "Your attention would be better spent on him. I can heal fine on my own."

"Yers sucha snob, y'know that?"

"I know. Go help him." The medic sighed at the commanding tone and rose to aid the lesser warrior. Iami sighed heavily, running his fingers through his bangs and tentatively touching the bandages that adorned his entire body. Quickly he assessed the damage, counting five deep sword cuts, twelve arrow wounds, three serious bruises, and a possible twisted ankle. He was attempting to calculate the amount of innumerable scratches when a noise from the doorway earned his attention. Looking up, a small smile graced his battered face.

"Eugi, what are you doing here? Not hurt, I hope?" The shorter man was at his side immediately, wide eyes dancing from scar to scar fearfully.

"No… no… came to see… you…" he mumbled, distracted by how at ease Iami seemed, despite how close he'd come to dying in the arena. "Bacura told me to come get you. We have to head back now… gods, there isn't a piece of you that hasn't been hurt in some way!" Eugi stuttered, gaze rising up to meet that of his friend's.

"Well, there is one-"

"Iami!" The younger giggled, cutting him off before he could finish. "I didn't know you had such a dirty mind." Suddenly Eugi felt an arm slide around his waist, pulling him closer.

"You'd be surprised…" Iami purred into his ear, leaning close enough for Eugi to feel his breath against his face.

"Ia…Iami?" He stuttered, feeling the blood rush to his cheeks and to less visible parts of his anatomy. Fearful of what he didn't understand, Eugi pulled away, eyes locked upon the smouldering crimson pools that were Iami's eyes. The older man released him, standing up and walking to the door, a slight limp to his gait.

"We… we'd better be going, then." He leaned to the side and winced, suddenly taking the weight off one of his feet. Eugi felt a strange shudder run through his body at the encounter, but brushed it aside for favour of helping his friend.

"You hurt your leg, didn't you?"

"Just a sprained ankle."

"Let me help."

"How are you going to-" Iami was cut off for a second time that day when Eugi's arm wrapped around his waist, and his own arm was placed upon Eugi's shoulder.

"Come on, I'll be your crutch." Iami looked at him quizzically for a moment, and then smiled. Together the two of them hobbled out of the building and to the cart that would take them back to Pompeii.

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When they arrived home again a few days later, the first thing Eugi did was run to find Gionoci. After a few minutes of searching, he checked Gionoci's room, only to find all his personal possessions had been taken from the room, and the bed was stripped bare. Eugi frowned, then whirled around at the sound of footsteps in the corridor behind him. There stood Bacura, a grim expression upon his features.

"I suppose it's time I told you."

"Told me what?" Eugi asked apprehensively, dread growing inside his heart. "What happened to Gionoci? Is he hurt? Sick? Is he… is he dead??"

"No." Bacura said impassively. "I sold him."

"You… you sold him?" Eugi repeated, taking a moment to let the words soak into his mind. "Amicus meus venderam??" He hissed coldly, hate burning in his violet eyes. "Why??"

"It was a good deal." The schoolmaster shrugged. "Septem Denarii. He fought in the arena while we were gone, as was arranged. A representative of the Emperor himself came and bought him. He was kind of pissed but I'm told the Emperor's guards managed to… subdue him." Bacura smirked, and then turned and left Eugi to stand outside his best friend's room, staring emptily at the wall.

"He's… he's gone…"

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novem – nine

decem – ten

timeo? – you are afraid?

Non est multus – There are not many

Cur tu non Iami neceo? - Why do you not kill Iami?

Quid est? – What is it?

Caudex – Blockhead

Amicus meus venderam?? – You sold my friend??

Septem Denarii – Seventy Denarii (Currency)