Into the Array C14
Hola reviewers, thanks for the reviews. I kinda rushed this chapter out because I wanted to say: Wow, you guys are still alive in hetalia and still reading about rochu.
I honestly didnt expect anyone when I uploaded the previous chapter, but viola, here you guys are, still reading and still reviewing. I was surprised.
Thank you
The morning sun rises and peek through the skies, early birds perched outside started chirping cheerily. But the thick curtains hanging on the bed blocked out most of the sun and noises for the two sleepyheads still snuggling against each other on the bed, shielding them from the start of the new day.
There is absolutely no body clock in Ivan, and he can sleep forever if there's nothing waking him up while the Yao at home acts like a spoiled child, a vast difference from the Yao on battlefield, and so he slept pass his waking time.
A man in dark grey head towards Yao's house, his urgent stride takes on a certain royal air. He walked into the house, unannounced, and kick the door to his room open with a bang.
"Brother wake up!" the voice half-shouted sternly. "It's late for the breakfast with Father."
Ivan's eyes shot wide open in trepidation. He recognises this voice, it belongs to the 11th prince. Cheng Chang. Ivan look down to the mass curled up by his side in the blanket, he can't even see Yao's face.
"Yao." Ivan hushed, shaking the body below him. "Yao wake up. Your brother is here, what should I do. He sounds furious. "
But no matter how Ivan shake, that body did not move at all.
Somehow worried, Ivan peel the blanket back to reveal Yao's flushed face and heavy breathing, sweat covered forehead is stuck with strands of his hair. Knitting his brow, Ivan placed his cheek on Yao's forehead, it's an unusual method his grandmother used on him when he was young. It's burning hot, Yao is running a fever.
"Brother! It's time, stop lazing around!' Cheng Chang raised his voice again, footstep moves in closer to the bed.
"Yao, are you okay?" Ivan whispered worriedly.
The curtain is drawn in an instant and light flood into the bed, temporarily blinding Ivan. Before Ivan could see, Cheng Chang shouted again "Why are you on my brother's bed! What have done to him?"
He looked at Ivan and then down to the pink mass curled up in a ball. "Brother Yao, what did this foreigner did to you?"
Murderous eyes shot at Ivan, and before another word is utter between the two of them, the 11th Prince raised his hands to strike at Ivan. Now Ivan is not just any weakling, he fought for his right to the throne before, but years of inactivity and complacency dulls his reflexes and he did not see the strike coming.
But Yao did, he moved and blocked the strike away from Ivan.
"Brother! You're awake! What did this man do to you?"
Yao sat up sleepily, eyes still half closed, hair in a slight mess. After a few moments and a yawn or two, Yao finally replied "He did nothing."
"Then why is he on your bed? Cheng Chang demanded anxiously. Ivan did not know him for long, but he does not seem like the emotional sort to Ivan, and his reactions comes off as a little odd.
"He was just painting for me yesterday. My guest room was in a mess that's why we shared the bed." Yao replied. "And stop shouting so much, you're giving me a headache."
Cheng Chang just stared back indignantly at Yao.
"We are going to be late." He continued quietly. "You should prepare soon."
Yao nodded, gesturing his dismissal.
Cheng Chang turned around and left the room.
"Are you okay?" Ivan cooed, placing his arms around Yao's shoulder as Yao continued to hold his head.
"Yeah I'm fine." Yao replied. Still knitting his brow and still holding his head. He finally opens his eyes, but the drawn brows and annoyed expression gives off a violent aura. It must have hurt a lot for him to do that.
"You don't look okay…" Ivan stated, covering him up again. He felt that warmth on Yao's forehead, it burns.
Yao shrugged him off and got off the bed before heading off to his bathroom. After a few moments, he reappeared again in the room, fully dressed and surrounding with the resolute and dignified air Ivan have felt when he first saw the 9th prince in the hall that day.
"I will be making my way to meet my Father for breakfast, please feel free to use the bathroom for washing up and I will be sending in a lady in waiting to provide breakfast for you." Yao instructed, a tad too formally for Ivan's comfort.
His face is still flushed from the fever, and cold sweat dotted across his forehead, he obviously looks too ill for any activities. But Yao turned around and made his way out, leaving Ivan alone in his room.
Under the same presence of the same giant trees, same lotus pond, same carefree companion, Ivan started on his portrait again. Hsiao Zheng is sipping his tea and reading a book with characters Ivan can't recognize, his brows are furrowed and the intense emotion he has received from the book is all over his face.
"This is such an inspiring book. I think I want to draw something." Hsiao Zheng clapped his hands together excitedly. Ivan look over at the 11th prince, where he fumbled through his scrolls of papers and paintbrushes, setting things up for a session. He reminded Ivan of Yao when he tried to brag about his war exploits.
Ivan laughed.
"What are you laughing at?" Hsiao Zheng asked, looking at him in curiosity.
"Nothing. You just reminded me of your brother." Ivan replied.
Hsiao Zheng narrowed his eyes and moved his head a little. "You have to be more specific than that. I have a lot of brothers."
"The 9th prince."
"Him? I am not as shameless as him. Oh, that reminds me, did he drag you to his bathroom?" Hsiao Zheng laughed.
"Yeah, I was dragged to his bathroom last night, it almost like he was bragging about his bathroom." Ivan mused. "We didn't stay too long in the bathroom though. I think he caught a cold." Ivan replied.
Hsiao Zheng makes an expression on his face, as though he was shock that the question is made on the spur of the moment was proven right. But he quickly snapped out of it and answered "I forgot to warn you. He loves dragging people he likes to share a bath with him, and those unfortunate people will be stuck in there for ages."
"He caught a cold!?' a voice shouted from afar.
Ivan and Hsiao Zheng's heads turn towards the direction of the voice. It's the 11th prince, and he looks furious as he storms his way to them. "He bathed with this man, and caught a cold?"
"What's wrong?" Hsiao Zheng looks at him and asked.
"Everything." Cheng Chang almost shouted, body gestures and facial expression in obvious exasperation. "How could 9th brother just.. just.. show himself to anyone. And to this man, this foreigner to say the least."
"You are with him most of the time so you should know him better than anyone do. Ask yourself that." The 12th prince calmly said as a matter of fact. "Aren't you supposed to be with Father and him? Why are you here?"
"Father dismissed me."
"What about Brother Yao?"
"He kept him there, said that there are emissaries from a neighbouring country wishing to seek the presence of 9th brother, I have a gut feeling that they are the Barbarians from the North."
Ivan listen intently, recalling the story he heard from the soldiers of Han on his way here. Those Barbarians are here again…. They want to take Yao away; will he reject them again as usual?
"Again?" Hsiao Zheng asked. "What makes you say so?"
"I saw their flags and men with their insignia at the city's gate. Besides, Father is particularly nice to him throughout breakfast. The situation at the front line is not helping either, we need to get back as soon as possible."
A short pause settled between the two prince, Ivan's eyes on the other hand darken with contemplation. An unknown sense of urge rushed through him, he didn't know what gotten over him, and he know that it is wrong as an outsider to do this. Ivan stood up and rushed out of the garden.
"I-Ivan?" Hsiao Zheng blurted out after him. "Where are you going?"
Ivan did not respond but disappear out of the house rather quickly.
"Ignore him." Cheng Chang spat out with bitterness. "He and his kind should never have a place in Han. If not for Father, I would have lopped off his head in that instant."
Hsiao Zheng cock his head so slightly, wondering what this poor man did to incur the wrath of his usually collected brother. Or perhaps somewhere deep in the pit of his gut, Hsiao Zheng do know, after all, whenever it comes to the 9th prince, Cheng Chang composed demeanour will dissipated in an instant, replaced by irrational emotions that impair his judgement, it almost as though he….. as though..
Hsiao Zheng let out a huge sigh. Closing his eyes and tapping the fan lightly over his head, mumbling: "Troubling."
Ivan rushed out with only one intention in his mind, to find the Emperor. He is worried about him, he's so sick when he went out. Will he be okay? Especially against such persistent and pushy bunch of emissaries. What do they want from him? Marriage? Slave? Will Yao even agree?
It took Ivan some time, but with directions from the palace guards, he managed to reach the halls where the meeting took place. It was a private meeting and it was incredibly rude of him to intrude without any invitation, but after some explanation with the guard, his reasoning was deemed worthy enough.
Wang Yao sat quietly and formally. The men surrounding the table are all too familiar to him, broad jawlines and rugged exterior, they are men capable of withstanding the harsh terrain they called home. However, Yao is more used to seeing them on the battlefield and would much more gladly see them on the battlefield than in this setting.
The Northerners are hard to reason with and they are asking for the same old thing again. Proposal to make peace, and it all revolves around him going with them, living with them, or basically doing something with them.
Wang Yao is not dumb, he knows what he has, and he knows what that man wants. He needs to end this meeting quickly, he can feel the chills from the fever and the obnoxious laughs and chattering is getting on his nerves. He only wishes that his Father did not dismiss his brother away.
"What do you say 9th prince, our commander is sincere with our invitation. Train our troops with your superior skills, and we will train yours with our best generals. This exercise will be a testament of friendship between the two country." the leader of the emissaries pushed.
The Emperor and his subjects cringed at the emissary's words towards Yao. They know that the 9th prince's mouth does not hold back.
"I am sorry, but my service is only for my country and its people." Yao replied, glancing over to him, aura of haughtiness permeates through the air. "Besides, I am really doubtful if your commander has as much control over his people as he thinks he do. I hope he do remember that a village of ours was wiped out due to his…." a deliberate pause as Yao slowly said the next word out, "Incompetence."
"You..!" the leader stutter at the prince's brusque reply.
"Yao. How can you be so rude to our guest." the Emperor quickly berated. "Please pardon my son. He does not mean it."
In return, the leader of the emissary started laughing out heartily.
Wang Yao knitted his brow at his act, wondering what the hell is wrong with them. He did not have a very good impression of their commander the last time he visited them, and this emissary just increase his overall distaste of them.
"I can see why my brother is smitten with you."
Brother!? Yao thought, eyes slightly widened in shock. No wonder he looks that tad bit of familiar. Ahhh… Can somebody save me from this place already? He silently plead.
A palace guard guarding the room came in just as the Emperor was about to pacify the situation. The guard whispered things to the Emperor and the conversed for a short while, the palace guard quickly went out and announced "Ivan from Samara, requesting the presence of the Emperor"
Yao's head turned, and a slight devious smile spread across his rosy cheeks. His ticket out of this hell hole have arrived. Ivan came in and just as he was about to bow down to the Emperor, the 9th prince stood up out of the blue.
Ivan's attention turns towards him, momentarily stunned by his actions. He quickly snapped out of it and turn back towards the Emperor. "Your Majesty." Ivan greeted, "I hope this impromptu visit does not serve any inconvenience. However, I have heard news from the 11th prince on the situation from the front lines. I understand it is beyond me to intrude on your country's matter, but perhaps I could aid the 9th and 11th prince's hasty return by finishing their portrait as soon as possible."
Wang Yao continue to stand there, a little at a loss on what to do. His plans to pretend that Ivan wanted to continue the painting as soon as possible is precisely acted out by the subject itself. Is this luck or is this fate? Yao finds himself thinking.
The Emperor's face turned serious, he nodded gravely before answering "Thank you for your concern. I believe the front lines is none of your business, but I do agree that the portraits should come first. I do not want any delay in the coronation. Yao, see Ivan on your way out."
The 9th prince bowed deeply before answering: "Yes Father. Your wish is my command."
As they moved out of the room ordinately, Yao suddenly grabbed Ivan's wrist, and when they left the room, he half run away from the scene dragging Ivan behind him. He burst out laughing as he turned back to Ivan's flustered face.
"Great job back there. You saved my ass." Yao said, patting on Ivan's arms.
"I-I did?" Ivan blurted out in a shy delight.
"Yeah! Did you see those Northerner's face? Awww, it's the best kind of face they can ever make, the mix of disappointment and frustration. The ones they show when they know they failed again. Who are they to ask the 9th prince of Han to work for them? Those bunch of horny, disgusting men."
Ivan smile, then his smile turns into a worried frown. He places his left palm on Yao's forehead, and then the right palm on himself. "You're still feverish my prince."
"Nah, this is nothing. Just a little fever from a bath." Yao shrugged, dismissing Ivan's hand on his forehead. "It will be gone if I just go about my daily activities."
"No!" Ivan retorted, a little too harshly.
Yao blink back blankly, feeling weirdly like a child being berated for something.
Ivan stared back, suddenly realizing his outburst. He softens his voice to coaxing tone, "You need to rest, I'll see you back to your place."
"Okay." Yao nodded obediently.
As they are walking back, Ivan started fussing over him. Wang Yao is not used to all these but somehow it felt a little reassuring, a little strange and most of all, a little fearful. The 9th prince's eyes darken as dark thoughts reminded him of the times that he become too greedy. It never ends well.
"What are you thinking about? Those people from the North again?" Ivan asked, breaking Yao's train of thoughts. "What do they want from you?" he boldly added.
Wang Yao let out an indignant huff. "Yeah. They are so persistent! Every single one of them just wants to treat me like a woman."
"I can see why they do."
"I might look like one, and I can act like one. But that does not mean I am one. It's their greatest mistake for mistaking me as one." Then he softly sighs and continued "Sometimes, I don't know if this face is a blessing or a curse."
"It's a gift from your mother, so it's a blessing"
"Perhaps."
They soon reached the 9th' prince mansion.
"You can head back now. Thank you for your help." Yao said, dismissing Ivan away immediately. He doesn't really like people staring at him when he's prepared to be in his most vulnerable state.
"Let me stay." Came Ivan's reply.
Yao gave him a weird look. "No."
"I'll take care of you!" Ivan insisted enthusiastically.
"No! I have servants for that." Yao retorted.
"You have dismissed them for the most part. They won't be here in the middle of the night."
"No!" Yao insisted. "You have done enough for your part. Leave me in peace." He turned around and walk back to his room. Ivan followed him shamelessly.
"Stop it." Yao warned, pointing a finger at him. "I'll hit you if you continue to follow me."
"I'll tell your Father." Ivan taunted childishly, spitting out his tongue in response.
"You'll learn to regret this one day." Yao said, he no longer stops Ivan and finally head back to his room.
Ivan stood there. It is fun to disturb Yao, he thought. It is fun to be around him.
Ivan followed the 9th prince all the way back to his pink bedroom. Wang Yao sat on his dressing table, taking accessories off his hair and neck, he stood up and disrobe himself.
"Eh?!" Ivan blurted out, shielding his eyes and then turning his back around. "You have to stop doing that!"
"Doing what?"
"Taking off your clothes in front of people?"
"Why should I?"
"It's inappropriate."
"Why?" Yao said. "You're not a girl. What are you so afraid of?"
Ivan did not reply.
Yao turn and face Ivan. He narrowed his eyes as though he suddenly realised something. "I thought you were different. But you are just like anyone else, aren't you?"
"What?" Ivan said.
"You know men like you are easy to expose." Yao purr, moving closer and closer.
Ivan can feel Yao creeping up to him, he does not want him to think that he is only lusting after his beauty. The 9th prince is so interesting, and somehow, being with him is.. it's fun.
"The.. The lack of hair on your body is disturbing!" Ivan finally blurted out, silently cringing at his "solution" to his problem.
"Lack of hair?"
"Yes, back in my country. All the men are very hairy, so when we bath, it feels manly. But your body.. looks weird. It's not manly at all." Ivan tries to smoke his way through, but somehow it felt like he is making things worst.
"Not manly?"
"Yes, because you are hairless."
Yao look absolutely crushed. He looks as though his world comes apart, and Ivan felt so guilty. Yao covered himself up and promptly laid down on his bed, sulking as he covers himself with his blanket.
The intention to hone his martial arts is forgotten, replaced by his childish indignant that he is not manly enough. The soft comfort of the blanket slowly drifting him off to sleep, and Ivan made his way and sat by his bedside, fiddling with his canvas and paint.
The breathing coming from the pink bundle on the bed deepen, Ivan was a little glad he went off to sleep. The papers from his box of art supplies rustle against the light breeze coming into the room, its as though they are demanding to be filled with Ivan's thoughts.
Ivan happily fulfilled.
Somewhere along the time lost in indulging in his guilty pleasure: Drawing the 9th prince. He saw Yao's cheek peeking out of the blanket. He could not resist. Ivan stood up, heart thumping, slowly edging towards the bed. He felt as though he is committing a sin. Silently. He leaned down, and as light as the touch of a feather, he places his lips onto the flushed, burning skin.
Ivan will soon know in time to come, that he did commit a sin, that he has doom them. He has haunted them with a kiss, a kiss that Ivan should have never give to Yao.