Ayashi no Yuugi II: The Final Sunrise

Serenity Maxwell: You've been asking about Duo's whereabouts and when he will reemerge. Well, I won't say precisely, but I will give you a clue. 'Dispose of the mask to find the scythe, yet the scythe is a mask, and It is wrapped in darkness and is hidden inside the scythe, and still It is neither in darkness nor in light, but It is a mask, and the mask hides neither truth nor lie.' How you interpret that is up to you, but it's the only clue you'll get as to where Duo is and when he will reappear.

Disclaimer: Standard disclaimers apply.

Chapter 14: Leap of Faith Part II

"You may call me Maxwell."

Quatre shivered, staring at the immortal in front of him. He had always known that as an immortal, Duo's voice could become captivatingly intense, but in his experience, the intensity of his voice had always been tempered and accompanied by warmth, affection, amusement, and occasionally annoyance or frustration, thereby lessening blow of the intensity. But now, Duo's husky voice was as intense as Quatre had ever heard it, but it was untouched by any of the warmth or good natured cheerfulness that had been such an integral part of the braided pilot, that it showed in his actions and speech, even as the CSA Admiral Shinn Asuka.

He'd thought Duo had been joking when he said that he'd caned someone last month, but what he saw today had proved that Duo was capable of doing so to another person, over a small thing. Quatre realized that he had automatically assumed that Duo was Duo, whether he was Shinn Asuka or Shinigami, automatically assuming that the kindness and affection he felt toward those he respected, knew, trusted, and loved was the whole of the person he loved, although Quatre had always known that there was more to Duo than he showed the world. The blonde Arabian trembled as he watched Duo interact with their target, feeling faint as he listened to that voice, so devoid of the warmth and cheerfulness that he had come to associate with the immortal.

"A young man of your sophistication must find all this terribly boring," Kingsley gestured vaguely at the nightclub around them. "I would like to invite you to a private party tomorrow evening. I think you'll find it considerably more... exciting. And satisfying," she said. Her icy amber eyes studied the four pilots, the hunger and anticipation obvious in her blue-grey eyes. "You may bring your pets. I'm sure they will find it an enlightening experience, especially your newer pet."

Shinn didn't have to look to know that Kingsley was referring to Quatre. His face remained composed and his eyes gave away nothing of his thoughts or feelings, but inwardly he was seething. He knew what Kingsley wanted, oh, he knew very well what she wanted, and he would be damned before he allowed her to get what she wanted so badly.

"We will see," Shinn said, sure that his voice was a tad too pleasant. "Though Quentin is new to this, and I doubt that he is ready for that sort of entertainment just yet."

Quatre blinked. Shinn's voice was a tad too pleasant, he was obviously displeased about something, and Quatre didn't need his empathy to know that Shinn's emotions, normally tightly reigned in, were running rampant. He could sense anger, disgust, and more than a little self-loathing. The blonde pilot instinctively knew that despite the rampant emotions that he sensed, he had not even scratched the tip of the iceberg yet.

"Am I correct in assuming that Quentin is the blonde?"

Shinn nodded.

Kingsley's smile was icy; she knew Maxwell had no intention of sharing his scrumptious little morsel, and she was not happy about it in the least. Etiquette and caution prevented a dom from interfering or touching another dom's property without their explicit permission, and from his earlier display, Maxwell would obviously not give any dom permission to play with his little blonde or any of his very striking boys. No, she was not a happy woman in the least.

"Well, that's too bad. I wouldn't mind trying him out."

Shinn's smile, already icy, became icier. "I'm afraid you would be a bit much for him. Quentin is rather new to all this."

"I thought as much… There is a certain look to him…"

'A look that shows his spirit, one that you would very much enjoy breaking,' Shinn thought bitterly. Without ever dropping his mask or his pleasant tone, Shinn said, "He is rather high-spirited."

"Do I sense a lack of discipline?"

"Oh, Quentin is very disciplined. They all are, in their own unique ways."

He idly tapped the business end of his riding crop against his leg as he spoke. He didn't need his immortal senses to know that the rhythmic smack of leather against leather and the sudden change in his demeanor was unnerving his fellow pilots. That was good, it would keep them from speaking out at the wrong time and would keep them at a distance, effectively preventing them from doing something stupid and disrupting the mission at a critical moment.

As for the other pilots, it took some effort, but in the end, they all managed to look somewhat submissive and obedient, though Wufei had to lower his head to hide his scowl. None of them had to look at the other to know that they were all pretty much thinking the same thoughts. Duo was enjoying this far too much, he was by far too at ease in the perverse atmosphere of the resort, and he was also very unhappy with having to refer to his friends as his pets.

"I do hope that you are interested in my offer. You interest me."

"Do I?"

"Certainly. You strike me as someone who knows what they want, and isn't afraid to do what they must to get it." Kingsley found herself wanting to gag at her sudden wish to please and impress the young man. When had the roles reversed, with her being the submissive and the boy the professional dom?

Shinn didn't miss the slight grimace that flitted over Kingsley's face. She didn't like the fact that she was no longer in control. Good. His icy smile took on a predatory edge, and he resisted the urge to laugh as Kingsley flinched. "Flattery indeed. Very well, I accept."

Kingsley smiled coolly. "Excellent! I will let you know the details when everything is arranged."

Shinn nodded politely and said, "Very well. If you will excuse me, Madame, it has been a long day. Good night."

Shinn quickly hustled the four stunned and dazed pilots out of the nightclub and muttered furiously under his breath, "Wants to get to know them better my ass. More like she wants to break them, well, not while I'm the dom on this mission, she won't."

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