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The Portrait

Part 9

"Alexander?!" The young man pushed the door close with his foot and looked up the large sweeping staircase, as he returned home a couple of hours later. "I grabbed a couple more movies for us to watch."

There was no reaction, but a few moments later Milliardo could hear the sound of piano music from the attic. So he is ignoring me. Fine, two can play that game. He huffed as he took off his leather jacket; throwing it over one of the chairs when he walked into the kitchen. Putting his shopping bag down on the table - he had not only grabbed a few movies but also dinner at a nearby fast-food place on the way home – he reached for one of the plates still on the drying rack next to the sink from this morning. For some reason even a burger seemed to taste different when eaten from real china.

The piano was still playing when he headed into the living room, dinner in hand and the bag with the movies under his arm. Milliardo popped the first of the tapes into the VCR and settled down on the beat up leather couch. If I'd have known that I'd be watching by myself I'd have rented something else than a 100 year old crime novel turned movie, he thought as he stretched out on the sofa with his food right in front of him. The young man got through his burger and fries and about one third through the movie, when he started to feel sleepy. With a yawn he moved his now empty dinner plate onto the small couch table, fluffed up the pillow behind his head. It was way too early to go to bed now, and he still had to finish up a paper due the next day. But maybe he could finish the movie and catch a few minutes of shuteye before moving on to his homework.

However, Milliardo never even made it past the third murder. His eyelids started to droop and he finally couldn't fight the sleepiness any longer. To the soft sound of piano music he drifted into a peaceful sleep.

#

"May I ask what is bothering you, Alexander?" Milliardo/ Octavian asked in his dream, as he and his lover walked the rose garden behind his house. "You have been rather quiet all evening. If it is something I did or said, please let me know."

"It is nothing, my dear," the older man assured him with a somewhat forced smile, "nothing you should concern yourself with."

"But you seem upset. If there is anything I can do…"

"I'm afraid there is not much anyone can do." Alexander replied and at his lover's questioning look he continued. "You remember the letter that was delivered earlier this afternoon?"

"Oh yes, of course, the one from your bother… You never even told me before that you had a brother."

"Well, to tell the truth we haven't had much contact of late. He only wrote to inform me that our father had passed away two days ago."

Octavian swallowed and looked at his lover in a mixture of shock and sympathy. "That's terrible. I'm so sorry to hear it. You have my deepest condolences."

"Thank you." The other man replied somewhat stiffly.

"When is the funeral? Would you like me to accompany you; I'm sure Father wouldn't mind. You could pass me off as a protégé or business associate of yours."

Alexander turned his head, his face betraying no emotion whatsoever as he said. "I appreciate the offer, but I won't be going to the funeral."

"I beg your pardon?" For a moment there he was certain he misunderstood.

"I said I was not going to attend the interment."

"But this is your father we are talking about. If you are not going to pay your last respects you might regret it for the rest of your life." Octavian pointed out.

"He is dead, and me standing over his coffin to say good-by will not change anything. However, the idea of seeing my brother and ... his wife at the funeral is too much to bear for me."

The younger man frowned. The pain in his lover's voice almost made him cringe. "Is there…" he asked, "…is there anything you would like to talk about?" Alexander hardly ever spoke of his family and as far as he, Octavian, knew he never visited them either. He had always assumed it was because they lived far away, but now he had a feeling that there was another deeper reason to it. "Remember, we promised to have no secrets from one another."

Alexander sighed silently but nodded. "You are right. Let's sit down for a moment, shall we." He settled down onto one of the stone benches near the large fountains and extended his hand toward his lover, gentle pulling him down beside him. Peritas, who had been walking several feet ahead of them, turned and trotted back to the bench, to sit down at his master's feet.

Absentmindedly the older man reached out, stroking the large dog's head as he spoke. "As you might have guessed by now, my family, or more precise my brother and I are not exactly on the best of terms."

"You had a falling out with him?" Octavian asked. "But perhaps this might be the best of opportunities to put your fight behind you?"

His lover gazed at him with a soft smile. "You are very sweet, Octavian. But I'm afraid things are not that easy. I have no intention of ever forgiving my brother after what he did to me. You see, two years ago I was engaged to be wed to a young lady named Elizabeth von Haagen. I was young and upcoming naval officer and in the following summer I was going to marry the most beautiful and intelligent woman I had ever met; in other words I had everything going for me. Or so I thought when I left on a long journey to the South Americas. But when I returned a good eight months later I learned that in my absence, Elisabeth had already been married…to my own brother."

Octavian nearly gasped in surprise at the revelation. "Did…did your brother give your any kind of explanation?"

"I did not ask for one."Alexander admitted. "As far as I am concerned there is nothing that would explain this act of betrayal. I packed my things that very day and left my father's house, never to look back. And I'm glad I did…" he added with a soft smile in his lover's direction. "Otherwise I might have never met you, and that… would have been a real tragedy."

Blushing slightly, the younger man averted his eyes even as he slipped his hand into Alexander's. "I would never betray your love," he promised.

#

Milliardo woke sudden, like always after one of his strange 'vision' dreams, but didn't open his eyes right away. Instead he laid there, hands interlaced behind his head, trying to take in everything he just had learned.

He wasn't sure how it worked, but the young man was convinced that these dreams were Alexander's way of communicating with him, and as such he also believed that there was truth behind them. The story of his brother's secret marriage to his fiancé would most definitely explain Alexander's anger and aversion toward his family. But a hundred years are a long time to hold a grudge.

Someone really needs to talk to him. Milliardo sighed as he sat up and swung his legs over the side of the couch. I hope he is willing to listen to me.

The piano was still playing when he climbed up the squeaking wooden stairs to the attic and pushed up the door. "Alexander?!"

The music stopped.

Oh good, at least I know that I have his attention. "I know what happened and I think I do understand… as well as anyone who hasn't been in your shoes possibly could understand." Milliardo dropped into one of the linen-draped chairs. "What your brother did to you was terrible…"

Almost instantly he could feel the temperature in the room drop by several degrees. He is furious. " I can also understand your anger, but I think perhaps it is time for you to forgive your brother and his family. Have you ever considered that he might have regretted his action for the rest of his life, but he never got a chance to tell you? But of course if he was half as stubborn as you are, he might not have known how to tell you…" Milliardo paused for a brief moment. "I know you were able to forgive Octavian for breaking your heart. So, how can you still be angry at your own brother after all these years?"

The temperature slowly rose. I's not much, but it is a start, the young man thought. "I have never met Octavian or any of his brothers and sisters even though I'd have loved to get to know them. And I dare to hope that he would have liked to meet any of his descendents as well. You on the other hand have just that unique opportunity, so why would you want to throw it away? Did you know… his middle name is Alexander? I think, somehow your family wanted to keep your memory alive, even after all these years."

Alexander's presence shifted, coming closer until Milliardo could feel him right next to him. A gentle breeze, the soft touch of ghostly fingers, ruffled his hair and the young man knew that his words didn't fall onto deaf ears. He smiled softly. "What do you say, should we go watch that second movie together?" I can always get up early and finish my homework in the morning.

After waiting a brief moment, as if expecting some kind of answer, Milliardo made his way back downstairs. Before he even reached the sweeping stairs to the ground floor he could hear the TV in the entertainment room come to live. A soft smirk curved his lips. I suppose having a ghost around does have its advantages... when you lose your remote control, for example.

###

Hunched over a pile of books and papers at a table in the back of the library, Milliardo raised his hand and grabbed his neck where he had been hit by a small, rubbery piece of eraser… for the second time. His eyes narrowed and without even turning his head he growled. "One more time, Maxwell, and I'll put my boot so deep up your ass you will never get it out."

Duo laughed as he came around the table and slipped into the seat across from his. "I wasn't expecting to find you in the library. What are you doing?"

"Trying to finish my paper before class starts," the older youth told him. "But I could ask you the same."

"Looking for Wufei."

Milliardo finally looked up from his book. "He is here too?"

"Are you kidding? This place is his home away from home. He spends more time here than in the dorms, I swear."

"You are exaggerating, Maxwell, as always," a third voice joined into the conversation. Moments later Wufei Chang stepped into their line of view. "Milliardo." The Chinese youth gave the older student a curt nod.

"Wufei." The blond returned the greeting.

"I'm kind of glad I ran into you." Wufei took the seat next to Duo. "I have been thinking, you know…"

"About what?" Milliardo wanted to know.

"Those strange dreams you are having, the diary…things along those lines."

"And?"

Wufei looked up and straight at the older youth. "What do you know about reincarnation?" he asked.

"You mean that stuff about bodies dying but the soul being eventually reborn? Not much, to be honest."

Wufei nodded as though that answer came o no surprise to him. "I'm no expert either," he admitted. "But from what I know, after the body dies the soul is cleansed and prepared for its rebirth. That's why in most cases we don't remember any of our prior lives. However some cases have been reported of people being able to access those prior memories. Perhaps that's what it's happening in your case, somehow triggered by your meeting with Alexander."

"Wait…wait a second!" Milliardo raised his hand to stop him. "Are you trying to tell me you think I'm the reincarnation of Octavian?"

"That would explain a lot, wouldn't it?"

"I'm not sure." Milliardo admitted. "It sounds all very….farfetched. And I really don't know enough about souls being reborn and stuff like that to form a valid opinion."

Wufei nodded understandingly.

"Can you tell me more?" the older youth asked.

"Like what?"

"Well, for example. Let's assume I am the rein…," He paused. The idea sounded odd, even in his head. "Let's assume my soul really used to be Octavian's. What are the odds that I and Alexander would meet again, in this lifetime?"

"Actually, I have read hypotheses that suggest a soul will surround itself with other familiar souls in every lifetime."

"I've read about that too," Duo agreed eagerly. "Some scholars even go as far as claiming that some of the most famous historical people have actually been reincarnated. Nefertiti and Amenhotep…Cleopatra and Ceasar…Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI for example. I guess that's why they call it 'soul mates'."

Milliardo gave an amused snort. "I hope that doesn't mean I had to keep up with you guys in my prior lifetimes as well." Then he turned serious, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Does reincarnation also work when someone died but hasn't 'passed on' yet?"

"You are talking about Alexander?" Wufei assumed.

"If I AM the reincarnation of Octavian then Treize could quite possibly…"

"Treize?" the Chinese youth echoed, dark brows knitted in confusion.

"I told you about him, remember? The guy who came to my door last Sunday..."

"Right; the guy in your dream. I didn't realize he has a name."

"Well actually," Milliardo admitted with a little smirk. "That wasn't a dream. The guy is as real as it gets. In fact, I'm surprised you have not met him yet. He is our new history teacher."

"So," Duo grinned. "What you are saying is, the new history teacher is the man of your dreams?"

"The man in my dream, not of my dreams, Maxwell." Milliardo snorted as he smacked the younger man in the back of the head.

Wufei on the other hand srill looked somewhat puzzled. "I don't think I understand."

"Trust me, you will." The blond told him. "Once you see him, you will."

"Now you really made me curious," Duo admitted, still rubbing the spot on his head where he had been hit. "I didn't think I would ever say this, but I can't wait for our next history class."

"You are taking history, Maxwell?" Milliardo was surprised and impressed at the same time. He somehow had expected the other youth to stick to easier subjects.

"I hope so," Duo grinned. "Otherwise I have been wasting a lot of time sitting through a class I'm not taking."

The older youth snorted then checked his watch with a sigh. "I'll never get this paper done if you guys keep bothering me. So take a hike, will you."

"Come one, Wu. Let's check the teacher's longue. Maybe he is there grading papers or something."

"Alright," Wufei agreed. Truth to be told he was just as curious now to meet the new history teacher as his friend was.

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T.B.C.

Author's Note: Alright, so the fic for Christmas never happened. But with the Holidays behind us I'm back on my usual schedule with includes some writing ever day.