Gionoci awoke with a searing pain in his skull, slumped against a wall in what he assumed must have been his new home. Taking a quick glance around the room, the gladiator noticed how nice the furnishings were compared to his old room; the bed was cushioned not with straw, but wool, and he had a writing table and chair all to himself. Not that he knew how to write, but the fact that it was his was comforting. His bag of personal belongings had been slung into the room and sat lifelessly by the foot of the chair. Getting to his feet, the Celt suddenly felt nauseous, and grabbed the wall for support.

"Musta hit my head harder than I thought…" he grumbled, inching his way across the room and flopping down into the chair. He'd been furious when a man came to 'collect' him, and found that he'd been sold by Bacura. He attacked the guards out of sheer anger and fear; his Latin was still rusty and Eugi was the only person that spoke his native tongue, and could translate. Now he'd lost everything… his family, his friends, his home… everything was gone. He didn't even know whom he'd been sold to. It certainly didn't look like any normal gladiator school at all; in fact, it looked like the servant quarters of some rich bastard. Suddenly the door was thrown open, and two armed guards came inside, ready to pin him down if need be.

"You're not going to make life difficult for me, are you?" Sounded a male voice with a peculiar accent and a trace of monotone. From behind the two guards a servant pushed his way through, carrying a tray of food. "I can't count the times I've been attacked by the Emperor's newer gladia-" A pause. "Gio? Gionoci?? Is it… is it really you?" The blonde looked up at the servant's face, his eyes widening upon catching sight of a tall brunette with peculiarly shaped hair.

"Ounda?"

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Iami slept for two days straight, his body healing itself in that time. The wounds were much deeper than they appeared at first glance, and the pain was too much for him to simply shake off. Instead, he slumbered. Eugi had been greatly disturbed when he'd been unable to wake his friend, and despite Bacura's mild reassurances broke down into tears at his side. Things were becoming too much. Gionci gone, Iami badly hurt… nobody understood the pain in his heart for his friends, because the only people that might identify with him were gone or in a nearly comatose state. For many hours, Eugi would sit beside Iami's bed, eating when food was brought to him, speaking only when someone spoke directly to him. Tear streaks ran down his face, and every second he feared that Iami would stop breathing altogether, and that he'd be alone… so dreadfully alone.

At one point, Eugi began to sob, and rested his face against his friend's side, pressing against that warmth, wanting to be as close as possible to the comforting sight of his chest rising and falling. As he cried silently, he heard the shifting of fabric, and felt a hand lightly brush against his cheek. Looking up at Iami again, there was no sign of him being awake or aware of the small movement he'd made. A small smile had danced in Eugi's eyes at the time. Then, eight hours later Eugi couldn't take it anymore, and stood up, his legs numb from crouching, and got into the bed. Wrapping his arms around his dear companion, he settled his head against Iami's chest, wary of his wounds. After a minute or two, Iami's eyes fluttered open, although Eugi couldn't see that.

The Champion shifted slowly into wakefulness, aware of a nearby warmth and soft breathing upon his bare torso. He lay still, wishing to stay in this pleasant dream, and hoping never to wake up. Eventually his vision came into focus, and he recognised that figure that was pressed so tenderly against him, arms holding them close together. A soft, fond look came into his eyes, and something in the back of his mind commented on how naturally they seemed to fit together. But then Iami felt something wet touch his chest, and saw the streaks that marred his little angelus.

"Cur tu lacrimas, parvior meus?" Iami whispered, reaching out to wipe the tear from Eugi's face. When the smaller looked up in surprise and relief, Iami smiled gently, still somewhat drained.

"Iami…" he mumbled, arms wrapping around his neck as he hugged his friend. Iami was certainly surprised by the sudden show of affection, but it wasn't an unwelcome one. "I'm sorry…"

"For what?" Iami asked sleepily.

"For pulling away… back after the battle… I was so afraid…" Eugi choked, "so afraid that you would die in your sleep, thinking that… that I didn't want… didn't want…" Iami put a comforting arm around Eugi's waist, still a bit confused.

"Didn't want what, Eugi?"

"Didn't want… to… to be with you… to… to…" Iami watched him struggling with words, sitting up and pulling Eugi into his lap. When it dawned on him what little Eugi was attempting to say, he bent down and silenced him with a tender kiss upon the forehead.

"It doesn't matter. I'm not dead, am I?" Eugi looked up at him emotionally, eyes shimmering with unshed tears.

"You don't understand, Iami… I like you… I really, really like you…" The Champion only smiled in response, holding Eugi's face in one of his palms.

"I like you too, Eugi, but I don't understand why you thought I was going to die…"

"No, you don't get it. I don't like you, I like you. Not like… like, like…"

"Like this?" Iami tilted Eugi's chin up towards him and gently touched their lips together in a fleeting kiss. Eugi blushed brightly, and his gaze remained transfixed upon Iami's.

"I…ita. Like that."

Bacura paused outside the doorway, crinkling his nose as he overheard them. 'Weirdos,' he thought spitefully, continuing on down the hallway. It was late, and he wanted to get to his dinner before it got cold. Turning a corner, he ran right into one of his gladiators.

"Watch where you're going, fool!" He snapped, faltering upon discovering the gladiator to be none other than Riou. The young man tried to shoot a glare at his master, but failed so miserably that Bacura simply laughed. "You really need to work on being more of a bastard." As they passed by each other, he heard the other mutter under his breath,

"You're a bastard enough for the both of us…" The schoolmaster whirled around and grabbed Riou's shoulder forcefully, feeling a sting deep inside at the comment.

"What did you say??"

"You heard me!" Riou snapped uncharacteristically, twisting out of his grip. "Leave me alone, Bacura. I just want to go to bed."

"Yeah well…" Bacura faltered, "Screw you!" He watched bitterly as Riou disappeared around the corner, snorting and leaning his head angrily on the wall once he was out of sight. "It's not fair… why is it so easy for that spoiled little prince and his plaything? And why… why is it so hard for me?" He sighed acrimoniously, then with a swish of his cloak was off to his dinner.

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Okay, nothing in this one that wasn't obvious… "Cur tu lacrimas?" means why are you crying, and ita, is (of course) yes. Now, I need to ask you wonderful patient fans an important question. Who (for the next few chapters) would you like the story to center around? Gio Seto, Iami Eugi, or Bacura Riou? Keep in mind, it wouldn't be permanent, just who you think I should focus on for now. Oh, and apologies for shortness.