Gynger Snap 3

Author's note. We are moving into the end of June in the Series. The Play was a two week run after school ended. All proceeds went into the safe houses and charity work that the group does. For the plot of the Play, please visit the site as the story there is the play. Tainted Innocence. We begin this series as summer vacation officially begins.

Deadly Flowers part 2 : Cleaner

Ryo sat still as Misaki dragged a brush through his hair. "I have a memo for you, from his Majesty Zarro. It was under my door this morning." Misaki sat the brush down. He reached into his sleeve pocket for the royal sealed note. Ryo accepted the orders in the neat script of the Arcadian high King.

-' As it has been brought to my attention that humans do not like when I 'knock about' in their heads and telephoning devices are tedious, I thought I would try this. Gather your family and convene to the war tower for a luncheon. In your hands this directive is flammable.'-

Smiling Ryo incinerated the missive. "Please inform the boys that we are having lunch out today." Ryo rose to his feet wondering if he should be prepared to shut the house down again. If so, for how long? Ryo heard Dee on his phone as he entered their room after his work out. He saw the perturbed expression on his Husband. "What?"

"Leon went to work and was told that the Arcadian CIA Link is on sabbatical for the entire Summer." Dee informed him. "Agents Brown and Gold were there going over all of our case files."

Ryo heaved a sigh. "Cart before the horse," He grumbled. "We are invited politely to enjoy a luncheon in the War Tower today." Ryo shook his head then leaned down to tie his shoes. "While you get a shower I will get the rest of the family ready."

"Come wash my back," Dee purred stepping aside for Misaki to leave the room heading to the basement where the Arcadian weapons were stored. If there was a mission coming, he would need to have Ryo and Dee prepared.

"My squire just got me all ready, not going to make his job difficult. Don't forget conditioner, You are getting split ends." Ryo stepped agile out of Dee's sweaty reach. "Don't pout," Ryo pressed his lips to Dee's in a brief taste. Dee smacked a hand on Ryo's bottom taking a moment to appreciate the bounce in the soft pants.

Misaki entered the basement shocked to see that Spike was already down there filling the clips with the Arcadian steel bullets. "Figured that while you got him ready I may as well help out. Equal partners and all." Misaki sighed. He never meant for his low Squire status to impact his spouse. William should be out doing missions, not cleaning and sorting another Knight's weapons. Spike was at his side in an instant. "What's with the face?"

"What face?" Misaki turned away. "This is my face."

"And it's gorgeous," Spike licked the full lower lip after he turned Misaki back to face him. "And it's upset." Spike sat back on the stool he had been using pulling Misaki into his lap. "Why?"

Misaki took a breath, held it for a moment his lovely eyes scanning the basement where the mats were now rolled along the walls with a rack of weapons ready for use. Chains dangled from the walls for Rain to work with as he preferred to wear them instead of belts. "It is a squire's duty to make sure that their knight master is prepared at all times for battle and training. Yet," Misaki looked down at his own hands where the gleaming obsidian had been pounded into a ring cradling the deep rubies of his wedding set. Spike had presented the jewelry to Misaki on their first night in Mysticale. "You are a knight proper and yet you are doing the chores of a squire. I am sorry."

"The sooner your chores are done, the sooner I can take you home." Spike grinned lowering his head again to capture the sweetly plumped lips. "I am a husband first and a knight second. You matter to me more than status or duties. Besides," Spike tasted the plump bottom lip again. "You will not be a squire forever." Misaki felt his heart flutter as those deep eyes penetrated to the very depths of his being. The light nibbles and sucks to his bottom lip worked their magic leaving him pliant in Spike's strong arms. Stomping could be heard down the stairs.

"We are to lunch with the King today in the war tower," Misaki stood to his feet as he heard steps on the stairs. Bikky stomped louder giving the two time to compose themselves. "Bikky, have you seen Rain this morning? I went to tell him of the directive, yet he was not in his room."

"Rain was out in the garden this morning on the phone with Julie." Bikky grinned. "You know High Prince Nestoir is creepy and somehow Rain knew before the king sent his note."

Spike grinned getting to his feet after he realized that his body was again under control. He picked up the next clip making sure it was fully loaded and cleaned while Misaki adjusted the cinches on the holsters. Bikky smiled knowing that they would be the exact size for both Ryo and Dee. "Did you need something?" Misaki asked watching as Bikky hefted several chains then shook his head.

"Found it," Bikky grinned holding up a linked chain with spikes pointing outward. "This is the tungsten, Osmium alloy smelted with Arcadian steel. It is his heaviest one. I don't know why, but I have a feeling that he should be wearing this one often."

Misaki nodded his head then stood in silence while the young prince and squire to King Laton went upstairs with his prize. " That ones dragon sage has not failed him yet. Whatever is needed at this luncheon, must be a serious matter indeed." Spike looked up the stairs. Time to save the world again he sighed.

Break

Count D sat the tea set on the delicate table beside Soofu D. Seeing the ancient with the swelled tummy caused a moment's pause then he smiled. "Good afternoon Grandfather, how are you today?" Count D braced himself for the reply as his grandfather was cantankerous on any day when he wasn't entering his second trimester of pregnancy.

Soofu was slow to open his eyes. The lashes lifted as curtains before the deep golden orbs focused on his grandson. "I am well." Soofu placed a slender hand on the soft satin of his richly embroidered cheongsam. "Rounded," Soofu heaved until he was sitting upright. "I am well rounded," Soofu sniffed the peach tea. "Thank you child, have you not a luncheon to attend?" Soofu nibbled a cookie. "Your grandmother is already there."

"I know," Count D got to his feet. "I just wanted to ascertain your condition before I joined them. To make sure that you did not need anything or was not too bored as the lady Gwen has returned to Wales."

"How kind of you," Soofu sat his teacup down. "As it is, Georgie and Wali are coming to keep me company. Do be careful child, strange times are ahead." Count D inclined his head to his grandfather as he headed out of the peaceful garden, fearing that it was the last moment of peace any of them would know for some time to come.

Break

"Los Angeles Consulate is closing!?" Zarro took a leisurely sip of his goblet of honey.

Aquamarine eyes were slow to rise to the knights and Royalty around their table. "Not permanently, just for a while." Zarro sat his empty goblet down licking his canines. Before he could lift it to his lips again full, High Queen Victoria pushed a large glass of water towards him. "Thank you dearest," Zarro sighed. He looked at the room at large. "It has come to my attention that an area that has been previously occupied by our mutual enemy is under attack. We are thus taking a grand vacation to the mountains, and our Cleaner team will be the escort."

"Cleaner?" Rain wondered looking for the first time he saw the trio of tiny fairies hovering around the head of the king.

Amid the sudden shower of sparkling confetti three fairies stood to their full height. If one was above five feet four inches, it would be amazing. "Whoa," Spike breathed from his spot at the table. Misaki, looked up from his stand behind Ryo's chair. He leaned over taking in the jet black leggings and svelte green tunic. A bob of green and pink tinted hair showed a gamine face with pierced brows and lips. A silver stud graced the pert nose and several rings decorated her ears. Another flash of glitter revealed the butterfly fairy wings of iridescent pink and green.

Catching Misaki's eye the pink, well shaped upper lip curled in a smirk. "Well, aren't you adorable?."

"Who... I mean... Thank you," Misaki looked away from her perusal.

"Nisha," The gorgeous fairy pointed to the right. The chocolate skinned young woman with a well shaped Afro looked up. Her doe shaped deep brown eyes crinkled when full lips lifted into a smile. Her yellow and gray ensemble was highlighted by tufts of tan fur. "Maks," The woman pointed to a slender young man in dark purple and green. Silver and bronze jewelry winked in the light of the war tower. "I'm Kriss. We are the Cleaner team," She announced drawing attention to the two wavy swords at each well rounded hip. "We are the ones called when things go wrong."

"So," Andromache looked up from filing her nails. "Where are we going?"

High King Zarro grinned. "A place that you have done a bit of renovating to," With a wave of an elegant hand, a mountain range formed in the middle of the table. The town at the base of this mountain is under siege. It is an insidious evilness taking over the land. Now, there are corpses missing from their graves. We need to settle this."

"Things," Kriss took a long stemmed flower from her hair that she rolled into a cigarette. She lit it. "Things have gone wrong."

To Be continued.