If Treize Krushrenada had so much as brushed up against Wufei in the night, not a single sign of evidence traced his handsome face or steady, measuring gaze.

"Good morning, my dragon."

"Treize." Wufei looked over at the little pewter alarm clock on the nightstand. "This is not morning. This is the ungodly hour of five a.m."

Treize laughed deep in the back of his throat. "Ah yes, little one. But to the general of all OZ, it is very much time to wake up."

"Why? You planning on starting another war?" came the sleepy quip.

"Not if I can help it," returned the cold reply.

Wufei�s eyes blinked, and suddenly he felt very cold and very awake.

"Surely you do not mean--"

"No, no! My, you are quite the pessimist! I merely meant that should OZ fight another war, it will not be my doing."

Wufei sighed and relaxed back into the warm silk sheets. "What am I to do today?" he said a little sheepishly.

Treize pulled his robe from the end of the bed with a sigh. Damn it felt cold. "Your profile stated that before the war you were a scholar, is that not true?"

Wufei started. "Um, yeah, sort of�"

"Well then you should be right at home here. I have pulled various books from my library, which I think you would enjoy. You will have tutors in the arts, math and sciences, and I wish to teach you Latin and Greek myself."

Wufei blinked rapidly. What the hell HAD they put in his shrimp stir-fry?

"You want to teach me Latin?"

"And Greek."

"And Greek."

"Should I take to calling you my parrot, my dragon?"

"I am NOT learning LATIN!"

"Why ever not? It�s a very useful language�"

"Because I�m not fucking learning Latin!"

Treize smiled in such a way that made Wufei positively shiver.

"You will learn Latin, Wufei. And Greek."

"Or else what?"

Treize blinked. "There is no what else. It simply will be done."

Wufei sat up. "What the hell is this about, Krushrenada?"

"Treize please," the General corrected.

"Treize- whatever. Look, what are you up to already? I give up. You claim me as a war prize but give me a beautiful bedroom as a cell, you don�t guard me but give me a dog collar, you sleep in the same bed with me but don�t touch me and now you want me to learn the classics? Doesn�t that sound a little fucked up to you?"

Treize winced. "We are going to have to do something about your expletives, dragon�"

"Don�t you do that! Don�t you take away my right to say whatever I want! I can think what I want and if you even try to subvert me--"

"You are right," Treize said gently, as he laid a hand on Wufei�s knee. It shocked the boy into silence. "You are right. I have no right to control your mind, Wufei, I simply ask that you try to be more courteous when someone is trying to be courteous with you."

"Oh." Had been all Wufei could think to say.

Treize took his opportunity. "Dragon, there are only two rules you have to remember while you live here. One: you must never try to escape. Ever. I can promise full retribution if you do so. Two: you are mine and no one else�s. All that I require is your presence, beside me, in quiet moments, when I am not being the General of all OZ� your presence alone is enough to� it is enough."

"...Why?"

"Why is not something you need to know right now, dragon. Perhaps when you are ready, I will teach you why. Until then, it will be Latin. And Greek."

Treize smiled evilly. "And French."

Wufei groaned a buried his face in the pillow.

"Saa, I will return in the evening�"

"Where are you going?" Wufei couldn�t hide the shiver in his voice.

"Why, to work, my dragon. OZ doesn�t run itself."

"What will I�"

"You are free to roam the halls, just wear your necklace, dragon, and all will know who you are and who you belong to."

That last part made Wufei shiver terribly. Treize noticed the blush across the boy�s cheeks. "I bid you enjoy your day, dragon."

Wufei had been all over the building, soundlessly, as his training had ingrained in him. Except for guards that stared out into the space right in front of them, the building had been fairly deserted. Stupid guards. Maybe if they actually looked at what went on around them, they wouldn�t have been so easy to kill during the war� Then again, he felt bloody grateful they were easy to kill during the war, so what the hell did he care?

Wufei realized that this building had been as huge as a palace, with several wings and corridors leading in a labyrinth of twist and turns. He discovered a magnanimus ballroom, with a grand piano in the corner. Wufei walked over to it shyly. The room had no lights on, but he could still make out the keys. He sat down and brushed the dust off the lid. Tentatively, he began to play a lull-a-bye taught to him as a child. He had loved music before the war� but had no time to keep up with his hobby. Soon after piloting Nataku he forgot how to read sheet music. Then again, he played the tenko drums, and one didn�t need to read music to find a beat.

"That is lovely, Chang san. Oh! Forgive me for startling you. I didn�t mean to make you stop."

Wufei�s thoughts were interrupted by the sudden appearance of a strange blonde man he had never seen before. He jumped up to his feet and tried to find his best soldier�s voice, but he didn�t dare speak for fear he would squeak. This had been the first person he�d talked to besides Treize and he didn�t know quite what to expect.

"That was a lovely song you played just now. What was it called?"

"I don�t remember. My grandmother, she played. She used to sing it to me�" Gods I must sound like an idiot�

"Saa, the women in my family always excelled at music too."

"Hn."

"But forgive me, we have not been properly introduced, and I fear you do not remember me..."

"�."

"You may call me Milliard Peacecraft."

"Peacecraft?!?"

"Yes. Formerly Zechs Marquise."

"Ze�Zec�"

"Zechs Marquise," the man finished for him. "I have returned to OZ for the peace talks. It seems the good General has outdone himself."

"Indeed." Wufei behaved coldly. The Lightning Count just stood there in front of him, making polite conversation, pretending that it wasn�t odd to be back at OZ, pretending that he didn�t want Treize Krushrenada dead only a few weeks ago, pretending that Wufei never suffered the humiliation of becoming Treize�s rare pet.

"Do politicians always say such pointless drivel?" Wufei caught himself.

Zechs looked like he might cry.

"I�m sorry.."

The man burst out laughing. "No, you�re honest, and I like that about you Wufei. You should keep Treize on his toes for sure!"

The blonde man looked down at the piano, suddenly solemn. "He�s not a bad man Wufei. He�s just�"

Wufei looked down at the piano. "I know. There are no words to describe him."

"While I am here, shall we play a duet sometime?"

"I have forgotten how to read music�"

"Oh dear! That simply will not do! Let�s see�. Are� Are you allowed to move about freely?"

"Yes, so long as I wear this." Wufei motioned to the silver open-ended necklace.

Zechs eyes narrowed only slightly. "I see. Then perhaps after dinner, you and I could practice a little? It�s been a while since I�ve played�"

Wufei considered it. "I would like that, Zechs. Provided my *master* allows it." The word had been chewed on and spit out at Zechs.

Zechs let himself smile as he realized it was only a matter of time. Check mate Treize. "I think we can persuade him."

Wufei had sat in a most uncomfortable silence throughout the course of the meal. He didn�t know anyone there save Treize and Zechs and both men were so engrossed in discussing politics that they barely noticed the boy. Or at least, that�s what Treize would have him believe. He stole glances at Wufei, carefully cutting his meat, delicately sipping his wine, and the light blush that rose because of the smooth liquid. He watched Wufei lift his food to his mouth with extreme hesitancy. It seemed only natural that he felt nervous. Everyone else in the room had been starring at him like he had been the latest addition to a bizarre circus show.

"Is it not to your liking, our German cuisine?" a snide little lobbyist asked the slender Chinese pilot.

"No sir, it is simply that I am not used to eating so much meat," Wufei replied, his voice dripping with insincere honey.

That�s right little dragon, you�re learning how to deal with them, thought Treize.

"Is that so? I thought a soldier would enjoy eating meat quite often�"

"I do not eat flesh much anymore, sir. Out of respect for the animal� And� I am not a soldier anymore..." Wufei looked down into his wineglass the entire time he spoke, the last part barely audible. Treize had heard every syllable, however.

The fink seemed satisfied with that and turned back to his left to engage another idiot in conversation. Wufei looked up at Treize, and Treize found he could not unlock his eyes from the boy. There resided such sadness there.

It made his chest ache.

"May I play the piano with Zechs after dinner, Master?" Wufei whispered to him, and it took Treize a moment to register that the words had been spoken to him, rather than merely thought to him.

"Yes, Wufei. It would please me very much to listen."

Zechs found himself smiling again. Not long now at all.

After about a half-hour of reviewing sheet music with Wufei, Zechs decided to test how much the boy had soaked in. He chose Ave Maria by Bach, and sat down beside Wufei, taking the lower part of the piano for himself.

Wufei narrowed his eyes and his eyebrows nearly touched in strain. This had been a very hard piece for someone who hadn�t touched a piano in over two years. And Treize sat there in a big chair only a few feet away. That did not help much. But the determination to impress this man rose from absolutely no where, and Wufei found himself playing with all his might. He stayed calm, and confident, and even though he didn�t get everything right, there were no glaring omissions. Zechs sat by his side, holding down certain chords, turning the pages for him, guiding him into the right tempo. He couldn�t read the words, but he hummed along, surprising himself that he could hit even the high notes. Apparently his voice hadn�t changed all that much with puberty. A depressing thought.

Wufei blinked as they came to the end of the song.

Zechs smiled at him softly. "Very well done, Master Chang" he whispered.

"Thank you." He looked back at Treize, unwilling, yet searching for praise.

Treize said nothing. He didn�t want to spoil the moment. At that point in time, his little dragon looked like an angel, so unsure, yet so very placid and open. And the song had a trance like quality to it. He had been mesmerized.

Wufei noticed the sparkle in his eyes, and turned his face away, to hide his blush. What ever did they put in the food around here? That must be why he felt so out of it.

Zechs cleared his throat to ease the tension. "Forgive me, General. I fear it has been a very long journey and I find myself in need of rest. I will bid you goodnight." Zechs bowed to Treize and to Wufei, who merely nodded in a daze, feeling slightly weightless, and unsteady.

"An excellent idea, Zechs. I think we shall follow your example. Come Wufei."

Wufei rose from the seat and closed the cover to the piano keys, focusing on the small chime that his actions made. It all felt like a dream. He followed Treize to their bedroom and didn�t even think to protest when Treize began to help him out of his dinner jacket. However, when Treize�s fingers scraped over his right nipple Wufei snapped back into the here and now, turning sharply and undressing himself.

"I would like you to wear this tonight, dragon," Treize said, as he held up a pair of green silk pajamas from the highboy. "I shudder to think of you sleeping in your clothes every night."

"I haven�t any others," the boy said simply.

"Nothing else? You brought nothing else with you?"

"They didn�t give me anything else."

"Why not?"

Wufei looked at Treize as if he just fell off the stupid truck. "They didn�t expect me to live long enough to need another outfit," he said dryly.

Treize gave a wry grin, as he stepped up to Wufei and whispered, "We sure fooled them, didn�t we?" tossing the p.j.s onto Wufei�s chest.

"Ahh�ah." The dumbfounded reply lost as Treize stepped back.

"What do you think of my palace Wufei? Does it meet with your approval?"

"Well enough," Wufei said, regaling, which only made Treize grin even harder�the opposite he hoped for. Suddenly Wufei became seized by fear. "May I go outside?"

Treize frowned. "On the grounds, you mean?"

"Yes, outside, under the sky." Wufei gesticulated with his hands to indicate the stratosphere.

"You may go in the gardens away from my presence. No where beyond that, without me. Understood?" Treize frowned.

"Yes, Treize."

Treize�s frown melted. The boy responded to him without fear, but still obeyed his wishes. This seemed a remarkably good thing.

"Very well then, dragon. You may go outside tomorrow if you wish." He thought he saw a glimmer of happiness in his dragon�s eyes before they were averted. "But you must come back in by four."

"Why?"

"Latin lessons."

Wufei groaned, but nodded. "Is Latin one of the first languages you learned?"

"Ha." They lay down.

"Did you learn it in school?"

"Ha."

"Did you like it?"

"Iie."

"Then why are you making me take it?"

"Everything I make you do is for your own benefit, dragon."

"I doubt that, Treize. Where did you go to school?"

"I had home schooling until I went to the Academy."

"Did you like your sensei?"

"Ha. Very much."

Wufei yawned. "Was he very hard?"

"Ha."

"Are you going to be very hard?"

Treize opted not to take up the double meaning in that one and simply replied, "You can count on it."

"Good. I like a challenge."

"I know that, dragon."

"Why do you call me that?"

"Are you not of the dragon clan, Chang Wufei?"

"Ah. How did you know?"

"I know everything there is on record about you Wufei. I know about your colony� your family� your wife�"

"You had no right�"

"Yes well chalk it up to me being a bastard and then get some sleep."

"Treize?" Wufei yawned again.

"Yes, dragon?"

"You ARE a bastard."

"Thank you, dragon."

Wufei fell asleep, his head unknowingly resting on Treize�s arm, his soft breath falling upon Treize�s neck and chest. Treize breathed in deep. His little one slept so close to him. So beautiful. But he must not reach out and touch. No. Wufei must come to him or not at all. All of this would be for nothing, if he didn�t let the boy decide. Treize snuggled closer to the little body and closed his eyes for the night.

Wufei sat on the marble railing of one of the many terraces overlooking a very bleak, expansive garden. All the flowers and bushes were blanketed in freshly covered snow, but the birdbath seemed still lively and full of colorful visitors. Wufei listened to them sing and breathed the crisp air, letting it fill his lungs with a chilly tickle, only to puff out past his frozen lips. He felt happy. And couldn�t for the life of him think why. It had been such a pretty day. The sun shined but had no warmth. The sky looked blue and lonely. The birds flew away and took with them the feeling of happiness, as Wufei let himself sink into his thoughts, which were turning to despair.

�.Minna. What am I doing here? Is this where I will always be? Will we never see each other again?� Minna�. I miss you. I miss your stupid jokes, Duo. And your smile, Quatre chan. I miss your gentle spirit, Trowa� and even you, Heero. I can�t help but smile when I think of you, baka!

Suddenly the snow crunched under someone�s foot. Wufei snapped his head up. Two big officers were standing not more than two feet away from him, looking a little less than friendly.

"Well, well, well. What do we have hear Muller?"

"Let me see Alex� Ah. What a pretty necklace, little one. Where did you steal it?"

"I�I didn�t steal it. General Krushrenada gave it to me."

"Oh. Are you the General�s new pet then?"

"Easy Muller, easy. I don�t think the General will like what you have in mind!"

"Oh but Alex. Let me have some fun nee? It�s been so long since I�ve smelled blood."

Wufei got up off the railing and considered where he could flee too. Fighting could not be an option. Two armed officers�officers that belonged to the conquering army�would not be a legitimate fight by any means!

"Leave me alone!" Wufei spat.

"Leave me alone!" Muller mocked. Wufei had been caught off guard by the swift kick to his gut. All his cold breath tumbled out of him and fell on his knees to the ground.

"I don�t think so little one!" Muller proceeded to kick him again, this time lifting Wufei off the ground with the blow. "What, not gonna even fight back? Very�.wise�."

"Muller, that�s enough. You�re gonna get court marshaled!"

"Oh Alex, go shit your pants somewhere else, okay? This little cock tease might be the General�s but I got a feeling he won�t be a squealer! Hold him down!"

Alex obeyed as if in a trance.

Treize looked at the pewter clock. Wufei had been late for his lessons. Treize frowned. Not like his dragon; he grew impatient and then extremely angry. He rapped the textbooks with his long fingers. Damn it! He would teach the boy to obey him, it would be that simple. Treize got up from behind the desk and strode toward the door, a scowl etched on his face.

"NO! nononono! Stop�humphhh."

"I said hold him down, you pussy!"

Wufei bit into Muller�s leg and got a nice swift kick in the teeth for it. Hot blood gushed from his mouth and spilled onto the virgin snow, causing a little steam to rise from the ground.

"Fuckin bitch!"

The sound of Wufei�s clothing being torn from his body echoed throughout the deserted garden. Wufei�s eyes stung. This is not happening! This is not happening. Treize! Treize make them stop!

Alex slapped his face. "This will go easier if you�d stop being such a pain in the ass, kid."

"Oh yes, very good, rationalize with the brat. You fucktard! Get his pants down!"

Alex�s hand shook, but they ripped Wufei�s pants down around his ankles.

"No!!!!! NOOOOO! Ahhhhh! Stopstopstopstopstopstop�"

"Oh don�t worry little one, you�ll like it once I put it in you, sweetie�"

"TREIZE!!!!!!!!!!"

The screamed bounced off every single object within a good forty feet.

"Shit! Shut him up Alex, before somebody comes. Jesus what a little fucker! Just for that kid, I�m gonna fuckin� forget to be nice!"

Muller pinned Wufei face down in the snow, trapping him with his weight, muffling out his cries. He unzipped his pants and whipped out his strained erection, pressing it against Wufei�s smooth skin.

Wufei couldn�t breathe. He couldn�t see. Where were his walls? Where is Treize? Why would this happen again? Not again, not again, not again��

Suddenly the weight on top of him vanished. Wufei gasped for air and lifted his head to see Treize Krushrenada�s towering form over him.

Treize beat the fucking shit out of Muller, to say the least. He thoroughly punched every inch of the Mech pilot�s face, then kicked him in the ribs for a good minute or two and finally proceeded to bash his head against Alex, who just stood there like a deer in headlights.

After both men had been smashed beyond all coherency, Treize turned his attention towards Wufei. The anger flashing in his eyes turned into sympathy and concern, but all Wufei could see had been a figure towering over him and he whimpered and tried to push himself away.

"Not again, not again, not again��" he kept whispering.

Treize hoisted him up over one shoulder and carried him into the building. Once inside their bedroom, Treize placed Wufei on the bed and then left to get cloths to wipe up the blood and to tell the guards to arrest the rapists, giving strict instructions to keep the matter confidential.

Treize mopped up the blood from Wufei�s face and tried to coax him back into reality. The boy just rocked back and forth and chanted to himself, his eyes very far away. The General got into bed with him, drug the covers up high over both of them, and cradled Wufei in his arms, stroking his back slowly. Wufei began to come back to his senses.

"Oh, master. Treize. Oh�..OH! Ohh�" Wufei breathed as the passing events sunk in.

"Its okay, Wufei; you�re safe now. Are you hurt?"

"A little�I�"

"Do you need to see a doctor?"

"No, I--"

"Did they� did they do anything to you?"

Wufei shivered. "No, they� you stopped them�.I�"

"You what, dragon?"

"I�m sorry. I missed our Latin practice."

Treize let out a puff of air. "Shshhh. Shshhh, my dragon Fei. I will teach you some Latin now. Your first word will be a hard one, but then you like a challenge don�t you?"

Wufei nodded against Treize�s chest.

"Then our first word will be pulchritudinous. Can you say that?"

"Pol�Pulcri� tudinous."

"Good. Very good. That is one of the words I will use to describe you, my dragon."

"Treize?"

"Ha."

"What does pulchritudinous mean?"

"Beautiful. Exquisite. Elegant. Pulchritudinous."

Wufei whimpered.

"Dragon?"

"Yes, Treize?"

"Sleep now. I will keep you safe. Sleep now, you are tired�"

"No I�m no-�."

Wufei fell asleep in Treize�s arms for the third time in thirty six hours. Why did the child act so sleepy? Why did he become so resolute? He didn�t even argue anymore. What had happened to his dragon? Treize had a pretty good idea, but he didn�t want to let himself admit it yet. He sighed. His poor dragon Fei. It would take some time�. But�.He would never let him go. ~*~

Weeks passed. Treize did not press the issue with Wufei. He quietly arranged for Muller and Alex�s hanging and then decided the entire incident best to be left in the past. Every afternoon during his break, Treize would come to take tea in his room. There he would practice Latin, French and Greek with Wufei. Wufei proved a fast learner. Although he stumbled over Greek quite a bit, having a marked distaste for it. When Treize asked him why he disliked it so, the boy simply replied because he could and left it at that. He certainly kept Treize entertained.

Apart from study time with Treize, Wufei excelled in math and science and found that he really enjoyed historical novels. After dinner Treize would retire to their room and read in front of the fireplace while Wufei poured over his homework, without complaint unless it had been Greek, and the two found the quiet companionship most comfortable. Zechs came on diplomatic missions about twice a week and so Wufei�s piano playing improved greatly. All in all, he was shaping into a fine young man.

Treize decided that it was time to move forward�.

"Dancing! Are you mad?"

"I assure you I am quite sane, dragon!"

"But Treize� master� Would you seek to make me an aristocrat?" Wufei snarled.

Zechs bit his lip to keep from laughing. Oh, but Wufei knew what buttons to push and just how hard to push them.

"Wufei�" Treize sung, as he crossed the distance between them, "you should know by now that your efforts cannot exhaust me. In truth they only fuel my desire�" Wufei backed up against the wall.

Zechs� eyes glowed merrily. Apparently, Wufei didn�t realize they were already dancing, in a way. Now they just had to move their bodies.

"And dragon, I would never make you � an aristocrat�" Treize teased. "I merely wish you to be able to hold your own in their presence, as you will find yourself in their presence quite often."

"But! But why? I like it here. Away from everyone. I� I don�t what to�"

"Dragon! Are you saying you wish to hide from the world?"

Wufei hung is head. His voice got very soft. "It�s quiet here. It�s nice. No one looks at me� no... one sees me�"

Oh if you only knew the half of it, Wufei, Zechs thought, but he wisely kept his mouth shut and his face lowered in the direction of his book.

"My dragon." Treize purred. "Beauty such as yourself cannot be shut up from the world. Are you scared my little one?"

Wufei stiffened. "Don�t call me that. And no, I am not afraid." His voice trembled.

"Ah. Very good. Then we will begin with the waltz. It�s very simple. You follow me, and then later I will teach you to lead."

"Why? Who do I have to lead?"

"Oh dragon, you are so exasperating! Women of course!"

Wufei clutched at Treize in a totally unprecedented display of panic. "No, please!" He shook his head.

Treize started, completely shocked.

"Please don�t make me dance with women. I�ll dance with you, but� no one else. I�.I don�t like women�."

"But�"

Wufei�s bright black eyes beamed up at him. "Please, master!" The boy whimpered.

Treize stroked loose hair from that delicate face and something in him melted. "Very well, dragon mine. You shall not dance with anyone you do not wish, how is that?"

"Thank you, master!"

Treize pulled Wufei into a fierce embrace. "You know I could deny you nothing, dragon. We are equal in that respect, at least. You will obey me in all that is right. And in turn, I will deny you nothing." Nothing but the right to leave me. Nothing but the right to die. Nothing but the right to ever be afraid, alone, or unhappy. These I will never give to you, Wufei, Treize thought

"You�you are very kind master."

"Saa. Flattery will get you no where with me!"

"But you are too clever for flattery master!"

"I think I have trained you too well!"

Wufei grinned at Zechs, who smiled back shyly. Part of him felt that he intruded on something private, but the other part of him felt fascinated to see how deep Wufei�s hooks had found their way into Treize, and how different Treize had become because of the small boy in his arms.

"One, two, three, pivot. One, two, three, pivot. There. We go like that, just like that, all the way through."

"Surely there is more to your dancing than this?"

"Well, there are turns and such, which you will learn later�"

"You people have the most boring customs."

"That�s very polite of you Wufei; thank you."

Wufei reached up and pulled the silk scarf from about Treize�s neck. A split eyebrow shot up but Treize said nothing. Wufei untied the scarf and wrapped it about Treize�s hand, and then his own.

"This is how we used to dance in my village."

Wufei circled Treize, pulling the scarf around so as to keep Treize moving or encasing him in the cloth. It seemed very slow and very delicate and somewhat intoxicating to be so close to the boy.

"This is very nice," Treize murmured. "But I can recognize when you seek to distract me, dragon. You still have to learn the waltz."

"Very well, master," the boy chirped. Treize regretted that he did not argue with him in this matter, but there remained an objective in sight.

"Good. You have three days to learn to waltz, tango and fox trot."

"Only three days? Are you-"

"No, I am not mad. And yes, three days. That is when I will present you at the Spring Ball."

"Ba-ball? Oh shit."

"Wufei."

"Sorry, master."

"Yes, Ball. Now, head up, eyes on me, and put your left hand up on my shoulder, yes like that. Ready? One, two, three, pivot�"