Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, only the plot.

Beta'ed by: MysteryPT

Thank you all for the sweet reviews. I try to write fast…though not fast enough, but please enjoy this chapter. It's the longest thus far XD

Bluebellmika: Sorry, I hope I don't make you wait for too long ^^

Anonymouse: Here you go, the next update! But…you're cute *squeal*

Guest: Thank you. If you do find some later, don't hesitate to tell me. Both my Beta and I can learn more things from you XD

Chapter 6: Second Chance

He was falling in a tunnel of swirling colors. Deeper. Deeper. Light and rainbow attacked his eyes and his eyes twirled nauseatingly. Teito closed his eyes once, inhaling deeply as he felt gravity pulled his body down. Suddenly, an image of him falling down from the tower flashed like an old memory. There was no barrier and burning flesh he expected.

His long eyelashes fluttered as the eyelids revealed a pair of greenest orbs. Light slowly filled his vision, but there was no spirals of messy colors. He saw a pale brown ceiling and an exquisite chandelier with gold-painted steel decoration framing the sides. Teito stared long at it before finally realizing he was no longer in his dream.

"Where…" the word of wonder left his lips unconsciously.

Everything was different from his room or any place in the tower. If anything, it was more lavish than any places he read in the books. Gold framed door and window, elegant chair and its sophisticatedly engraved arms, they all looked other-worldly to his eyes.

Teito rapaciously burn the scene into his mind. He knew even without anyone saying, this wasn't the tower. He was freed! And whoever that was, Teito was going to repay the kindness in any way he knew.

The boy left the comfy bed. Hesitation to leave it was overridden by desire to explore the place. His room was empty so he couldn't ask for information. He wanted to ask about the blond man he rescued as well. If his guessing was right, that man was his rescuer. Anyhow, everything looked so foreign to him and personally, the boy was curious.

Smoothly furnished metal knob sent a cold spark to his fingertips. Teito subconsciously retracted his hand as if the knob had turned fiery hot. But of course, it was nothing but a wild imagination. It wasn't as if the boy had never saw a knob before.

A small turn of wrist and the door creaked open. From a small crack between the wall and the door leaf, light came pouring in. Teito followed the light until he saw his clean feet and a fresh cloth warped loosely on his thin frame. The boy reached down, feeling the softness of the fabric. It was certainly not his for this one was too silky. Amazement nearly made him stop in the track.

Teito returned his gaze to the door. This time without hesitation he swung the door open and slipped out quietly. Shock was not the right word to describe what the boy felt right now. He was overwhelmed. He was actually standing right in the middle of a heaven-like place. It looked much like a picture of heaven in the book. No, this place was even more beautiful. So real. So close.

Like a trance, he staggeringly walked to the lushful garden of rainbow flowers which was spanned endlessly. They completely filled his vision and heart. To think that the day he could see such view, Teito felt more alive than ever.

The boy stretched his hand toward one flower. Reddish petals was so temptingly beautiful. A drop of morning dew was like a crystal. Teito held his breath as he carefully touched the drop with the tip of his finger. It was wet and cold. And in the midst of the cold morning air, fragrance from the flowers filled his nose.

"Flowers…leaves…and the smell of earth…"

Wonder filled him completely. He was lucky to be able to live and finally free. If only Ouka saw this scene, surely even she would change her mind. Thinking about the girl reminded him of the girl's lack of presence and their last fight. Reflexively, Teito retracted his outstretch hand and cautiously trailed a finger on his neck. There was no obvious pain, but closing his eyes, Teito could feel the raging fire running wild in his body against his own force.

Ouka's power, although usually felt subtle and healing, this time it was like sharp blades of wind against his insides. It was fine since Teito was protected by his own power. Against his fire, Ouka's blade dulled and swirled like gentle breeze. Still, it warned the boy of the girl's anger. No matter how much the girl hurt him, Ouka was his only family; the only person he knew for all his life. He had to go back. Teito wished not to return to that prison, but he couldn't leave her.

Resolved, Teito turned his back from the heaven spread. It feared him not to be able to see it again, but if Teito could convinced Ouka to leave then they could live here together. Or at least, find a place to live freely and see more things.

His bare toes was freezing against the tile. It was still early in the morning and so far Teito hadn't met any soul. Looking around, Teito had just noticed he didn't know where or how to go back.

The brunette tilted his head slightly in thought. "I should probably trace Ouka's power." As he said that, the boy's eyelids fluttered close. Putting his hands toward the sky, Teito exhaled, releasing the girl's power inside him. Morning mist scattered as wall of wind warped his body. Before the power returned to its owner, Teito mixed his own as tracer. Finally, the wall of wind disappear, and Teito opened his eyes.

With his power attached to Ouka's, Teito could feel the direction they went. That power wasn't something visible to naked eyes unless the owner wished for it. But for Teito or Ouka, they could feel each other.

"As if we're one…"

No, that wasn't right. They're two different human with different thought and heart. The feeling of being one, if the boy felt closely, belonged to their powers. As if they were one once.

To tell the truth, this was the first time Teito had touched so deeply into his or their powers. It was impossible for a mass of force to have feeling. But as he reached deeper, tears welled up in the corner of his eyes. For some unknown reason, he felt things he shouldn't have felt. Sadness. Loneliness. Anger. Longing.

"I have to find her."

And then, like an obsessed person, Teito ran with his power as the guide.

It almost felt like forever since Frau last slept a comfortable bed. It was far less comfy than his own back at the castle, but anything other than cold tile was better.

A content sigh escaped his lips as the King rolled to his back and felt his muscle relaxed into the bed. His eyes were closed but not asleep. Frau was thinking. About his kingdom, his life, his people, and finally, the mystery boy. As the last face came into thought, Frau's eyes snapped open.

Wonder of curiosity filled him with excitement. He had always been so intrigued with the tower. To have finally entered the so-called sealed forest was a big thing. Most importantly was that finding such gem in that rough place. It was a pleasant surprise. It wasn't his beauty that mystified the king so. Of course, the boy was certainly of a rare type. Appearance wise, Frau had seen men or women more exquisite, but behind that thin and small frame, hid a radiance. Something about the boy tickled his senses. That brunette attracted him like a bee to a flower.

Admiring the boy in his head was how Frau spent most of the day. Even after taking a few hours good sleep, the moment his mind was aware, his mind returned back to that boy. Like a stupid girl in her first love, the King sarcastically quip himself mentally.

"Or maybe a baby with a new toy." The King laughed. Finally awake, he rolled to his side. And with his elbow he pushed his body up. "I'd better take a look at that boy before my brain get damaged by too much sleep-talking."

On his request, the brunette's room was placed right beside his. Since it was still very early in the morning, the blond doubted the by had woken up. Still, the King walked out from his room.

When he first arranged it, Frau ordered no guard at his sleep quarter except for maids. Early in the morning, he didn't expect to meet anyone but chirping of birds. How surprised he was finding the brunette had woken up and standing with his back facing the king.

From the look of it, the boy was somewhat…astonished at the look of the garden. Frau couldn't said it was the best view he had since the one in his castle was far better. Still, he took pride of having a beautiful garden in his private villa.

The King hid his presence and inspected the boy from shadow. At the place he was, the blond King could only see a thin boy in the middle of flower admiring. That lean hand stretched out to a red blossom, carefully touching a drop of morning dew like it was a fragile glass.

"I should probably trace Ouka's power." murmured the boy.

It was the first time Frau heard his voice. It wasn't low like his or any other adult. That slightly higher pitch almost like a girl's. Frau would mistaken the gender if he didn't know beforehand. For a moment, that was all he did was raising his hands up toward the sky. A wall of wind appeared and blanketed the boy. Frau held his breath. The boy was using Zaiphon. That wind was probably not the boy's since it seemed like ejected out of his body. A moment after, a red line of flame appeared from the boy's feet, spiraling up the wind. This time, the boy was not moving but it could be a start of something. So he waited.

A while, probably five minutes or so, the boy finally moved and the wind and fire dissolved into thin air. Another murmuring, but Frau could hear him clearly.

"As if we're one…"

Frau was no saint, nor he was a telepathic. But for that one second, he could read the boy's mind. He was talking about the girl in that tower; the girl who tried to kill him. At the last thought, Frau almost stepped out. But the boy continued.

"I have to find her."

That was his cue, the King thought. He wouldn't let the boy go back to that tower only to be killed. Not when Frau finally got him. Not when the secrets were still unveiled. Not when Frau still knew nothing about the brunette.

The boy suddenly turned his face to the direction of the gate. Frau was there, standing unobstructed, in the middle of his attempt to reach out to the boy. But the latter, who clearly saw him, ran out, passing the king. For the first time, Frau finally knew his mystery boy's eye colors. Emerald green, more beautiful than any leaves he could find, but that color was dull and bleak.

Frau chased after him. With his longer legs, it was no effort to caught the runaway boy. Swiftly, the king slipped his hand to the brunette's torso, catching him into his side.

"I have to go."

The boy struggled. Normally, a captive would try to at least have a glance at his captor, whether it was to merely reflex or sue him later on, but the boy did no such thing. He only moved like a mechanical doll. No, probably more like a possessed person.

"I have to go." Said the boy again.

This time was probably one of a very rare moment for Frau because he was actually flustered. Nothing came to his mind when he thought of a way to stop the boy from moving or escaping. The king turned his thinking gears hard, trying to find a way. If he knocked him out, the boy would probably fainted and Frau would have to wait again until they could talk. Any means of knocking the boy unconscious was put back.

If there was anything helpful to this situation, it was probably…

"Zaiphon!" exclaimed the King. "You're a Zaiphon user as well!"

Under normal situation, using Zaiphon to a non-Zaiphon user was a taboo. It could kill them before they knew whatever happened. But for Zaiphon users, their body, their own Zaiphon protected their physic.

Not wasting anymore second, Frau casted his own Zaiphon. Blue light covered his hands. With an small explosion of energy, Frau pushed the raw power into the boy, messing with whatever power that had been working. Like a magic, the brunette stopped his struggle and fell limp. He was not unconscious, Frau noticed, from his short breaths.

"You okay, kid?" asked the King.

Only then the boy looked up. In that very moment, the time stopped. The most beautiful green had finally met the bluest sky orbs. And they both were silent with millions words as they were mesmerized by each other's eyes.

They stopped. Time froze. The world span. It wasn't that hard for both of them to feel the sudden attraction. Be it wonder or curiosity.

"W-what did you do?" Green eyes blinked in confusion. He looked around like a lost child. In the end, that honest emerald orbs returned to Frau. "What is this place?"

Frau smiled and stood, taking the boy's smaller hands into his, forcing the boy to get up as well. "You're at one of my residence, er…"

"Teito."

"Right. Teito. So what were you trying to do a moment ago?" The king motioned the gate. Disapproval latching his voice.

Teito's eyes trailed to the direction pointed by the man. A frown formed, but once understood, he nodded mostly to himself. "Ah, I was about to go home. How is your injury…erm…"

"Frau. I'm all good, thanks to you." The boy smiled and a part of Frau's heart throbbed. The king ignored it all and continued. "But I can't let you go home, Teito."

The pair of large green eyes looked up and tilted his head slightly in wonder. That gesture very much made Frau to use all his wit not to hug the boy. With that slim built, Teito looked much like an abandon puppy asking for a piece of meat.

"Uh…I can't let you go while knowing I'm allowing you go for a suicide."

Again question was apparent on his glass-like eyes. "But you're not. I'm not going to die. Ouka is angry at me. She will be sad if I'm gone so I'll go back to take her out."

"Ouka…" The word trailed off as images appeared in the King's head. Tower and the girl. Right. "So her name is Ouka. Anyway, I can't let you go. If you insist, I'll have to tie you up until Barsburg." Frau let a smirk graced his lips, silently conveying no refusal allowed. Usually it went well to any of his vassal.

Sadly though, the boy was unaffected. "I have to get her. She's alone in that place and I know how much it hurts to be alone. Now that I have had what I wanted, I want her to know it too."

Straight, honest eyes glittered like a precious stones in the midst of thick forest. Frau held those eyes with his piercing gaze. His eyes had no trace of lies. Only fervent wish and care.

Looking at those eyes reminded the King of who he once was. His dream. His past. His conviction. "I'm sorry," whispered the king. Their gaze were still locking. Why the man had that sad look, no one but the man himself could understand.

"I…"

Pulling the boy into crushing hug, Frau took palmed his fist and sent a hard blow to the boy's abdomen. Pained grunt sounded like a sad cry in the King's ears. Still, he steeled his heart. The boy was unconscious once again.

"Mikage, are you there?"

"Yes, Master."

Frau held his gaze at the brunette's face, softly brushing stray locks from his cheek. "I'm going back to the castle."

A pale-blond boy, about Teito's age bowed gracefully with a hand in front of his chest. "Understood, Frau-sama."

The King finally looked up to his personal servant and smiled warmly. "Thank you as usual, Mikage."

Mikage returned the smile and shook his head. "My pleasure always. But why don't you let him go home, Frau-sama?"

The king looked back to the boy, laughing a bit. "I've seen what the girl did, Mikage. I know what that look she had. She didn't care a bit about killing this boy. As long as they are together, even in death. I know too much about that. That's why I can't let him go."

The servant boy bowed once again. "I'll go and prepare the fastest carriage." And with that he left the king alone with that boy.

Being his personal servant, Mikage knew much about the King's personal life. From Frau's forlorn look, Mikage knew he had touched a sore point. At that moment, leaving the king alone was the best course of action.

Preparing the carriage did not take long because Mikage always prepared it for emergency case. For which Frau was always grateful. For the whole ride back to his castle, Teito was still unconscious. Perhaps Frau had hit him a bit too hard. His abdomen might be bruised later.

"Mikage, please tell Lab to come and check the boy. I might have gone overboard this time." The king said apologetically as they arrived at the front gate of the Castle.

His man-servant replied with hearty laugh. "Indeed you have. I'll take my leave here and fetch Labrador-sama."

The carriage stopped and Mikage jumped down. Thought before he ran off like usual, he turned back to the other boy. Unconscious, he was so innocent and pure. Even awake, he sounded the same. It almost like there was no ounce of darkness in his straightforward gaze.

"Mikage?"

The said boy looked up to his lord. "I'd love to talk to him when he woke up."

"Please do. Befriending you hopefully might prevent him to go back to that place," said the King. Sadness again fell upon his usually bright face.

With assurance, Mikage nodded. And finally, he ran off, leaving the carriage to deliver his King to the part of the castle where he resided.

"You're too much, Frau! Look at the poor boy's stomach! It's blue, you moron!"

The sullied King looked up from a document he was reading beside the bed where Teito slept. Labrador was on the other side, checking the wound Frau inflicted. The said King responded with guilty smile which made his friend heaved a long sighed.

"You'd better explain why you punch the kid in the gut, or I'll sue you for child abuse, stupid King."

"And you'd be hanged to death for calling a King 'stupid', Castor," said the King with playful tone.

"I'd be dead a thousand times if you intend to. Well, so?"

Frau waited until Castor put a tray with cups and tea to the table beside Frau. When the red-hair sat down on the chair at the other side of the table, Frau exhaled. "I told you the boy was in the tower, did I?" He started.

The red-hair filled the three cups with hot tea, passing one to Labrador first before seating back. "Yeah. And he treated you. Your life-saver or something like that."

"Right. When I woke up, the girl was strangling him for trying to save me. So I kinda snatched the kid away, and knocked the girl unconscious."

"You told me that. Oh, Labrador didn't hear about this, did you Lab?"

The doctor grunted softly. "He seems to have a lot going on, but I see no bruises other than the newest."

"That's because the girl has healing Zaiphon. She probably healed him everytime. She said Teito wasn't supposed to use her meds on me because she made it for him. She was furious and most probably strangled him for that." The King shrugged. It looked like the blond was trying to act nonchalant, but his two friend saw through the mask immediately.

"And the relation with what happen after is…?" the advisor urged.

"This stupid brat was too kind for goodness sake. He tried to go back to that tower."

"Ah, I see." the red-haired man took a sip of his tea. "Basically, you saw your stupid self in him."

"I can really get you hung, you know." The King smiled, replying the friendly banter. Though soon his countenance turned to a dark one. "But you're right. I was reminded of a past I try so hard to bury."

The room then fell into deep silence with only the boy's soft breathing. The three looked to his peaceful sleep. That innocent look brought smile to their face. He was really a rare one. Even in sleep, he drew people in.

"Frau, you can't bury a past," Labrador said, breaking the long silence. "You can't erase it, but you can accept it."

"Accept it and become a stronger person," added his other friend.

"…a stronger person who could protect his Kingdom, you mean?"

The two friends smiled approvingly. Their King had come so far, facing so many hurdles. But it wasn't without result. And no matter what he chose, they would follow him. To the end of their lives.

MysteryPT said she was ROFL-ing at the last part. Frau and Castor became comedy duo in this story lol

Anyway, as usual, please review :D