Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, only the plot.
Beta'ed by: MysteryPT
Been a while guys~ I'm sorry for not updating often...I'm feeling kinda down since it's not as good I might think. Seems less popular than my 2 other stories...I honestly thought of dropping it. But...seems there's still someone out there who likes it. So here am I again, posting.
Thanks to all of you, closet or not, for reading
In the depth of abyss he slept. In the bottom of the dream, he was. How long had the time passed? Mikhail's cage was long gone, crumbled like sand beneath his feet. It was sudden and Teito couldn't react in time. The floor was gone when he came to. So was the cage of fire.
Teito reflexively rubbed his arms. The place was not cold. Far from it, in fact. But Teito couldn't shake the ice slowly creeping into his soul. He hated to be left alone. Darkness scared him.
As he felt cold firmly invaded him, Teito drew his knees close. It was a worthless effort to keep himself warm. He knew it wouldn't help for the thing he needed was not that. His problem wasn't physical. But then, where could he find a place that he could belong to? A place to sate the thirst of his soul...
"Hmm..."
At the sudden sound of musing, Frau looked up from the papers he was engrossed with. After Mikhail had confirmed that there was no more poison in the boy's body, Castor wasted no time to bring more torturous jobs for the King. Frau protested, of course, saying that he had much to ask Mikhail. But being a cruel man he always was, Castor gave him a sharp stare. Though in the end, the red haired allowed him to stay, Frau still had to do his job at the same time.
"What is it, Mikhail?" The King put down the piece of paper he was holding and moved closer to the red-eyed boy.
Mikhail looked up, meeting Frau's eyes. The contact never stayed long as Mikhail closed his eyes and frowned. "Master is waking up. He is trapped in my consciousness. Before the abyss swallowed him, I have to pull him out."
"What do you mean?"
Opening his eyes finally, Mikhail finished his food in one big gulp and stood. "I'm not human, King. As I cannot physically live in your world, it's the same with my master. Human cannot live in my consciousness. Before, I left my master in his own consciousness. But it seems that I've been here for too long. I'm going back."
"Wh...wait!"
But Mikhail never waited for him. Frau still had so many questions unanswered, but it seemed like he had to wait for another time...if there would be any time at all.
Teito's eyes closed once again and a soft glow enveloped him in a warm cocoon. It lasted not more than a few seconds, then the light popped like a balloon. Teito's limp body fell forward, into Frau's waiting arms. His breathing was even and soft; a sign that Mikhail had left his body, or maybe just that he was no longer in pain.
A thin smile bloomed. It was a genuine smile, not the fake one he usually flashed. From beyond the door, Castor watched the scene unfolded with undecipherable shine in his eyes. Things had slowly but surely beginning to move.
Eyes fluttered open, Teito blinked twice, trying to make out the blurry shape. Familiar shapes and colors greeted him but it wasn't his assigned room. He knew this place for he had been here a few times for lunch with the King. So that meant, he was in Frau's room.
A bit dazed, Teito turned his head to the side, trying to scan the room. He was alone, understandable. From the blinding light passing through glass door leading to balcony, day must have been quite late for a morning. Midday, probably. Frau must have gone to his regular meeting with the ministers.
Left alone with chirping birds to accompany him, Teito felt a wave of peace washing through his soul. Strange how he had always been alone in his room but never once he felt like this. Being in other's room convinced him that someone would definitely come back to this place. There was trace of human activity in here.
"Ah, you're awake. How are you feeling?"
With slight difficulty, Teito pushed his upper body up a little bit to sit. Labrador stood by the door with his usual gentle smile. The man rushed to Teito's aid when he realized that Teito was trying to greet him.
"Thank you. I feel a bit weak, but fine, overall."
Labrador slipped a pillow to his back, and then put his palm on Teito's forehead. "Mm. You are not feverish anymore. Good. Can you eat?"
Answering the question was the rumbling of his stomach. Teito felt blood rushing to his face, coloring his cheek pink. Labrador chuckled good-heartedly.
"I have ordered some food for you. They'll be here soon." He assured. His countenance turned serious then. "Teito, can you tell me how much you remember before passing out?"
Teito closed his eyes as he recollect his memories. He saw himself walking to the kitchen to find the soup in the pot. The smell was inviting him and before rationality prevented him,Teito helped himself with two bowls and brought them to Frau's room. He remembered tasting it a little bit before giving it to the King. And then, there was intense pain.
"The soup was poisoned?" Realization came like a sudden revelation. He could barely contained his shock and anger. Not because he was the victim. But for he knew who the target was.
Frau had been kind to him. And to his people, the King was certainly loved. But he couldn't say the same with some other people he met by coincidence. Some ministers, Frau informed. Some of them looked at the King with adoration, but more than half had weird glint in their eyes. Teito had learned to avoid these kind of people. He had an inkling that involving himself with these people wouldn't end very well.
Being a kind King Frau was, Teito couldn't comprehend why there was anyone who would try to kill him. Unable to keep his emotion down, Teito bit his lips in frustation.
"Why? Did Frau do something wrong?"
Teito was certainly ignorant. Being confined for his whole life taught him nothing about the evil of politics. Even your own family could stab you in the back. Knowing this fact, Labrador gave him a small smile.
"When it comes about politic and power struggle, every single person are your enemies, Teito."
Every single person...that sounded so lonely. So sad. And that sadness reflected well in Labrador's violet eyes.
"...are you?"
"That," said Labrador, "depends on how you want to see it. How would you think?"
Teito considered the question in silence. As long as he knew about Frau's two friends, they had been nothing but kind. To him. And to Frau. Are they friends? Enemies?
"You...are friend," said the boy finally. Yes. His instinct told him so. Teito could trust these people. And Frau definitely could too.
"Thank you. We trust you as well, Teito. So I hope you could be Frau's strength when he needed it, when we are not there to help him. When...he could no longer trust anyone."
A tilt to side to show Teito's confusion. Why would the man asked a ridiculous question like that? Frau would never lose his trust for them. He couldn't. They were probably the only persons he could ever trusted. So Teito shook his head.
"He will never do it. Knowing him, I'll say he would probably decide to believe in you two even though you'll end up killing him someday."
"Ah," Labrador trapped Teito's face between his palms. "I see."
It sounded like casual agreement; At least to Teito. What the boy didn't know that it was a test of trust. As Teito mentioned earlier, Labrador and Castor would never - in the wildest idea - try to betray Frau. They had made an oath to themselves; That if they betray the King it would be the end for them. Teito was right. And his prize for it was a returned trust. A few days later, the King announced that he would bring Teito with them to the frontline.
The war was breaking out once again.
"Your Majesty, are you sane?! You're bringing a child to the frontline?!
Frau massaged his forehead and sighed. He had had this line of questioning for hours! Couldn't these people stop doubting his decision? It wasn't for fun that he brought Teito to war. For the sake of reasoning, let's say Frau had him tag along to keep a close eye on him. It wasn't on negative term, of course. Labrador had vouched for his innocence.
"I had explained this more than once. Do I have to repeat myself to each and everyone of you?" The King replied sharply. His eyes were narrowed to a slit.
When Frau gave them this look, most of them would yield; It was too much of a pressure. They knew nothing could sway his decision once he gave them the look; Not even violence for Frau could easily behead them in less than a minute. And not to mention his two trusted aides. The three were monsters together.
The minister - one with half bald head and slight grey strands - stepped down, head bowed in defeat. Murmurs of doubt were thick in the air, enveloping the room in tense. Frau never relented; Eyes sharp like hawk watching its prey. Not even a minute passed and most of the ministers gave up. They thought, if the boy could keep their King's mood in bay, it would probably the best to bring him. Not much they knew about him but many discreet whispers talked a disgrace and a harlot gaining the King's attention.
On his right side, Castor regarded each participants in the room critically. More than half - albeit circumspectly - shown dissatisfaction. He memorized them all, carefully noting their reaction. It was possible that one or more of these people had attempted the murder.
"If there are no more objections, I wish to adjourn the meeting."
Castor met the King's eyes in silent communication. The first gave a blink and turned away before any of the ministers caught the act. To wander about their intention was certainly tedious; not to mention it would be harder for Castor to act freely.
"Your Majesty, it is time."
Frau did not reply. Instead he rised up to his feet. With commanding eyes, he silently ordered every people in the room to leave, leaving only him and Castor.
It didn't take long for them to take the cue. The two followed their retreating back one by one until the only two left. Frau drew a silent breath. "That was...hard."
Castor patted his shoulder once to meet the King's eyes. His advisor looked as calm as ever.
"That is the least of our problem."
Frau's interest perked. Light from the ceiling reflected the depth of his blue eyes. It was a bit dark-blue instead of his usual sky color.
"The third prince's platoon had almost reached our border. We shan't waste more time here."
Lips were pressed into a grim line, Frau asked, "How long?"
"Less than a week at best, I presume." answered Castor in equal grimness.
"Then we have no more time for idle chat here. Let's go."
Krowell folded his hand, impatience growing fast. He was watching - supervising - his soldiers preparing the camp. They were moving slowly from the last town toward the expanding wasteland. The war which he tried to postpone couldn't be hold back any longer. His brother had grown less patient, less caring. And his second brother was still in house arrest. Not that he care that much about Kreuz.
Gnawing his lower lip, Krowell struggled mentally as he put his professional mask back into place. It would not bode well for his subordinates to feel his anxiety.
"Sire," Krowell regarded his second with his eyes, silently permitting the grey-haired older man to speak. "As you had guessed, Miroku seemed to...do something to make the King under his command."
"Have you found out what did he do?"
"No, sire, but we have found out his motive," the older male paused, regarding Krowell with his eyes. The prince saw hesitation in his countenance. Swallowing once, the old man forced himself to continue. "The tower, my prince."
Krowell's eyebrows were raised. He leaned forward and rested his head on his knuckle. "Oh?"
The second in command fidgeted nervously. He swallowed once, clearing his throat then, "He...uh, seems that you will gain immense power if you can find the legendary tower of the eyes."
That was a piece of information he knew beforehand. But that didn't kill the spark of interest ignited in his eyes. He might had known, but the fact that Miroku aimed for the same object amused him although their purposes were far from each other.
"What do you think, Hyuuga?"
At the call, Hyuuga made his presence known, appearing like a ghost from the darkness behind the kneeling man. The latter fought back the urge to twitch and turned his head. Much as he wanted to see, he didn't dare to. A man named Hyuuga was as famous as he was a death god. Though he appeared mostly cheerful with fake grins.
"I'd say," Hyuuga started, walking to the soldier's side. "Power makes people blind. This one's blind but sly, Aya-tan. Don't expect him to play fair."
"Said the very incarnation of the fox," Krowell responded with a slight grin. "Thank you, soldier. You may go."
It sadly looked like the soldier ran away with tails between his legs. Krowell never really understood what was so intimidating about him. Was it his rank? Was it his piercing gaze? Or maybe, his hard-to-comprehend nature? Maybe all, Hyuuga said with a playful shrug one day when he voiced his thought.
Both men waited in silence as they stared at the retreating back of the soldier. When silence followed a moment after, Hyuuga finally start. "I received information that the King of Barsburg is leading the force."
"Ho? Zehel himself? This should be interesting."
Hyuuga's dark eyes sparkling with excitement as he revealed the news he kept. "...and the boy's with him."
At young age, Krowell had learned every tricks to kept his emotion at bay. He never showed it on his face. At time when he let it slip, it was only amused grin or anger. Never once had Hyuuga seem his prince looked so blatantly excited. And Hyuuga prided himself for being the only person to ever see all Krowell's so little change in countenance.
It was hard to keep a grin formed. He lived his way through with fake grins plastered any time and in any situation. But to make Hyuuga smiled for real was probably something only Krowell could do. Their time spent together as children meant a lot for both.
"Have you made the preparation, Hyuuga?"
"Long ago," the raven beamed with confidence.
At that, the prince stood and patted his friend's shoulder. "Good. Let's go then."
It almost felt like forever since he saw sky so widely spread above. The blue almost blinded him but Teito didn't want to cover his eyes. This scene before him was something he always wished for. A scene of freedom. A life he wished so fervently before was now enfold before his eyes. Excitement was probably an understatement right now.
"Glad you seem to like the scene, but I'd appreciate it much if you would stop protruding too much. It's dangerous, Teito."
The boy looked back to the King, pouting. He huffed but sat back silently. "Where are we going?" Teito asked when they were left in silence again.
Frau didn't look up from the paper he was reading, but the frown on his eyebrows said everything. Though Teito couldn't guess where they were going, from Frau's countenance, it wasn't a leisure walk. Reading the mood, Teito didn't pursue the question further. He sank back into his fluffy seat and dozed off. Before long, he fell asleep, lulled by the soft whisper of the wind.
"...to? Where are you, Teito? Why did you leave me alone?"
Teito was back at the tower. But it looked different than usual. It was darker...much darker. On the floor, Ouka sat, sobbing. Her shoulder shook as she withheld her tears. She looked smaller than before. Smaller and gave off weird vibe. Like a dangerous animal. Hurt. Wounded.
She was a family, Teito reproached. It was a given that he help her, protect her from pain. With that reason to push his fear, Teito inched closer. His hand stretched to land a soft tap on her trembling shoulder.
"Ou..." The girl turned slowly.
At first she kept her head low, staring at Teito's feet. The green eyed boy thought she was hiding her tears. And he was right, except, that it was not exactly transparent. The moment Ouka looked up, Teito gasped in shock and stumbled down. Ouka's eyes were bloodshot and puffy, a sign that she had been crying so hard for too long. And...blood ran down from her eyes, marring the white cheek with streaks of red.
"Teito?" The girl smiled but it wasn't her usual gentleness. Bloodshot eyes pierced his soul.
Fear took root. He took a step back but unable to avert his gaze. The girl in front of him wasn't Ouka!
Was she not? You don't know her at all.
"Ouka?" His voice wavered. As did his trust. "Are you really Ouka?"
Affirmation was useless. This girl looked strange. Madness swirled about her reddening gaze. Teito should have known better.
"Yeah," her voice changed from high to machine like tone. "This is the real me, Teito. Come, come to me."
Teito froze on his feet. Helpless as the girl swayingly moved to reach his face. Her long, bloody fingers drew lines across his cheek, cutting his skin, into his flesh.
Fear gripped his soul so strongly. And he screamed. Blood trailed down his cheek. That was their world, a sad world of blood and sacrifice.