Title: Shades of Descent
+ second part of the tiles arc +
Author: kc-chan ([email protected])
Rating: PG-13 to R; this part- R
Warning: Language, Violence - torture, yaoi, angst, death, AU, possible OOC, lemon later on.
++SPECIAL WARNING++ real chants are used here folks, I take no responsibility if you happen to use them and you get hurt/injured. I personally don't mess around with things I have no control over. No daemons were summoned during the scripting of this fic. In fact, I don't think I want to test them. Three rules to life- never be around before, during, or after a daemon summoning.
PAIRINGS: 6+5/5+6 ; 2x11.
++SPOILERS++: to be safe I'll say the entire series especially Blind target, Episode Zero manga, and Endless Waltz.
ARCHIVE www.wired-dna.net ; www.fanfiction.net um... whoever has previous okays take it. Anyone else please email me (not like I am going to say no or anything. . .)
DISCLAIMER: not mine. . . please don't sue. Only borrowing them.
Thanks to my beta-ers- Cheshire-san , Lilie-san, and Aya-chan for all their wonderful help and translating help! I love you!!! ::glomps::
COMMENTS: that would be nice.

Shades of Descent
Part 1

By: kc-chan

Shrieks poured out from the brick buildings and fields as black spheres fell from the sky. Men in black poured from the forests, swords and guns spilling the red waters of human guts and flesh along the town's small road. People groped about in the dark, instant smog and the rolling smoke of the explosions confusing the en mass.

A bronze arm ripped out of the black haze, stumbling forth to grab a girl's arm.

"Ni mei shi ma?"

"Hen teng..."

Blinking around, he scooped her close to his thin body and starting sprinting towards the cover of the forest. "Ren zhu, wo bang ni." <1>

Small fingers clutched his dirty black garb, burying her face to hide her tears. The ground ruptured and split as more and more firepower opened upon the confused people. A blast knocked them, sending them tumbling to the shaking dirt.

"Gege!" The little girl shrieked as bullets slid and parted her flesh like tissue. <2>

"Mei Lian!!!"

Wetness crawled into his vision as he watched the larger men plow through the girl with their guns. Fury overtook him and red rage stung his senses. The curs had no honor to run to their town and slay them all like dogs.

A large hand swooped over his mouth, pressing a dark cloth to his nostrils. Kicking wildly, he gave a fight to free himself. The man bent over and pulled the child closer. "Ni zai dong wo jiu tu sha ni, xiao hai." <3>

A mild hiss of pain and panic came from his lips as the strange odor in the cloth confused his thoughts, sending him stumbling into a muggy unconsciousness. Black eyes blinked, settling his last memory of his home on the sight of his sister's mauled and bullet-riddled body. A few tears were able to escape as he went lax in the man's arms.

~~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

The winter sun glimmered across the gleaming silver and black metal of the Orient Express, capturing the delicate design of intricate patterns, and creating a magnificent opus catering to the elite of the cultured world. Through the crowds walked one couple, standing out for the ladies remarkable dress and her gentleman companion, heading towards the chattering train at a fast pace. Smoke enveloped the crowds as the first whistle sounded off, the hiss of the steam rushing over the platform, rushing as a great force of wind and billowing ladies' skirts. Shrieks of embarrassment and shock sprung up as they hastened to keep from showing their legs.

The strange man held a small birdcage covered in a fine red velvet and his lady's black gloved hand in the other. Behind them trailed a slim boy carrying a trunk. "M'lady" the gentleman spoke, his amber and auburn braid slipping over one shoulder as he helped her off the platform and onto the steps to the car.

Once on the car's steps she waited for the man to join her. He nodded and signaled for the boy to follow. "I believe our room is this way, Lady."

The beautiful couple caught more than one strange and curious look as they passed through a few cars until reaching their cabin. The braided haired man opened the door, handed the woman the birdcage, and gave the slim boy with the trunk some coins. "Thank you, lad."

"Thank you, sir!" >> the boy exclaimed and ran off in the direction of the exit.

Leaning down, the violet eyed man lifted one end of the trunk dragging it into their room and firmly closing the door behind them. Setting it down with a smile he relieved the brown eyed woman of the birdcage, fastening it to a convenient hook from the ceiling. "You like it?"

She chuckled, mouth parting into a brilliant smile. "It's very exciting! I'm surprised they let me go at all!"

Raising an eyebrow in humour, the violet eyed man replied with a devious grin, "Or surprised they let you go by boat to France to take a train through Europe, a single, unmarried, beautiful female with a brash American?"

"Maxwell!" she gasped in shock, "To think anything would happen to innocent me!"

"When you're around, the impossible happens, Anne." He leaned forward and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "And that's Duo Maxwell, my dear Lady, your fianc� for the trip."

Anne slid her arms around his shoulders, pressing her breasts to him. "Hmm? Lady Anne Saint Une-Maxwell? It does have an interesting sound to it, mein leibe..."

"I always thought it was uncustomary to marry one's pets, milady."

"I'm an unconventional type of lady," she mused back at him.

"I thought you said you were innocent," he retorted, violet eyes twinkling back.

"Depends on your definition of the word..."

Suppressing a laugh, he flashed her another naughty grin. "So do I lock the door and prove to our neighbors how unsavory and ill cultured Americans like myself are?"

Brown eyes met his challenge as she pulled the blinds on their windows. Slipping a finger into her dress front, she began loosening its strings, pulling it out and slitting open the front of it. Plump ivory breasts pushed the material loose, and graceful arms unbuttoned her skirts, letting them pool around her feet.

Violet eyes watched the sudden strip show with interest, there were precious few that could catch his wonder in beauty. Her long chocolate hair rippling down her pale skin, rich, warm eyes reflecting some inward secret passion and flame. He carelessly tossed aside his jacket and white shirt onto the nearby chair.

"Is the door locked?" she whispered, looking up into his eyes.

"Yes."

"Good. Let's give them a wonderful show, shall we?"

~~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

She walked slower than most people rushing towards the gleaming machine that stood waiting by the platform. Causally sauntering with a tall, handsome young man, her arm resting on his. They strolled to the back of waiting cars stopping when they had reached the plain baggage car.

They were ignored as they boarded and another person followed them with a large trunk beaten and worn in travel. The small child struggled with it up the stairs but quickly was on his way to following the couple through the backside of the cars.

"The question is whether or not to leave it with us or place it in the baggage car," the man drawled out, sharp black eyes contemplating the situation.

A pale white arm reached out, resting a black gloved hand on his shoulder. "I would feel safer if it was with us, doux Monsieur. This way..."

He looked down at her, carefully reading her thoughts she hinted at with her green eyes. "Understood." Turning to the small child waiting their decision, he ordered, "Dai zhe ge da xiang ze gen wo men lai, xiao hai." <4>

~~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

Icy eyes, as blue as the country's skies, peered out the window, obviously excited as the city blurred past him. There was a brilliant smile on his lips as pale fingers tucked a shoulder length strand of blonde hair behind his ear. "Where do we go from here?" he called out over his shoulder, eyes still fastened to the building scurrying past them.

"We will be traveling onto Strasbourg," a gentle voice replied from his door.

"And from there? We have how many days on this train?" the young boy asked, eyes focusing from the blurring scenery to the woman standing just inside his room.

"I told you when we first arrived in Paris yesterday." The woman laughed, stepping into the room and closing the door behind her.

"I wasn't listening..."

"Quite understandable. Now please listen to me now, my angel," she replied, a soft hand reaching out and turning his gaze away from the window. Twin sets of ice blues orbs looked at one another. "Your father is going to be dreadfully worried about us, my love. I am in the next reserved car to your left when you enter the hall. I have a guard in front of your door and the entrance to the car at all times, as the same with my personal car."

"Guards everywhere. I understand..." the young boy murmured, eyes longing to look back out the window to watch the city burst past him as they would enter the country and mountains.

"My angel, do understand that I would die if anything happened to my baby. No mischief. You don't need to be reminded that your father would very much like to cancel this venture," her stern words stood firm about them.

With a sigh, the boy looked up and nodded. "I promise not to stir up trouble. But at least allow me to explore the train! I'll be bored if I have to stay in my room all the time!"

Fingers pulled away from his chin, brushing her own pale strands over her slim shoulder. "As long as the guards say it is alright. They don't have to be next to you, but don't you dare try to loose them, do you understand, Millardo?"

"I understand, mother."

"Good. Now I will be joining the Duchess for lunch, would you care to join me, or would you rather eat lunch in here?" she asked, walking towards the door.

"I would rather eat it here. May I go exploring?"

"Tomorrow. Today just finish your studies, you do not want to be doing your lessons when we meet up with your father's friends in Istanbul, do you?"

"No, mame."

~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

Emerald eyes glared as the small Asian child ran to his master's arms, transforming back into a more convenient form for the trip. The black cat curled up along his shoulders, seeming to melt into his thick black hair pulled loosely back.

"Monsieur Chen-Sying Long, what do you want *me* to do with it? I was thinking that you would be keeping him, not I." That same verdant colored glare moved to him.

Emotionless black orbs did not bother to blink at the fire brewing in her eyes. "I believe that it would be more convenient for you to keep track of our investment. After all, I merely am here on behalf of the Long clan to watch over him, to make sure he receives what he deserves."

"And what am I to do with a petite that can not understand a word of French nor any other European language?" she hissed back, flipping a lock of black currant hair over her shoulder before placing both of her hands on her hips.

His nostrils flared, but other wise he showed no outward sign of anger. "I would suggest that you do as you were taught."

Blinking rapidly, the surprise clearly shown in her small features. "You want me to connect him to me until..."

"Until we reach Istanbul."

"I could have had him brought there to begin with! Do you have any idea how hard it has been for me to continue to drag that child across two continents?! You and you're accursed clan. This is a favor I am doing for them. Do not forget that! I rarely dole out favors to anyone."

"I had to get some business in order before I was able to arrive in Paris. Besides, our mutual friend and business confidant is aboard." He replied, dusting his nails on his lapel, fruitfully ignoring the rest of her banters.

"Grand-Duke Krushranada?" Eglantine asked.

Long nodded. "I exchanged letters with him, and as you know it was he who helped procure the object for you, and once he is brought to Her, then you are free to go." He paused, taking a moment to scratch his little pet on the head. "I do suggest you make haste and hook up with his Grace Krushranada in the dinning car, and then make use of the few days we have until we are at our destination, Madame Delmare."

Reaching out she stopped just short of grabbing his wrist, thinking better of it. The Chinese man did not need to know that she was a step ahead of him, that she had already contacted Trieze long before he had. "Let him think that he controls this situation for now... After all, I doubt he knows the true extent of the Long Clan's devices," she mulled quietly in her mind. Smiling, adding the right amount of curiosity to her features, she asked, "Trieze?"

"Yes. He knows we are aboard and obviously knows that the package is with us. Now, I will see you later tonight, Madame." He nodded once more, a fall of ink black hair cascading over his well toned shoulder before he turned and left her in the room.

~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

Clear eyes mulled over the few people passing through the dining car heading back to their respective cabins, after all it was well past most people's dinning hours. He sat gently sipping from the crystal cup, candlelight breaking into clusters of tiny rainbows across the stemware. The cider scent tickling his nostrils, he set the glass down to pull out his pocket watch. Nine o'clock. Refraining from a sigh, he settled back in his chair, placing his embroidered cloth napkin upon his lap. The rustle of cloth next to his chair alerted him to another body in the still half-full car. The scent of lavender and rosemary wavered about them mixed with an unidentifiable spicy undertone.

"Madame."

"How kind of you to meet me on such short notice, my dear Krushranada," she greeted back, pale white hands stroking the deep mahogany of his chair.

The man stood, stepping around the table and offering her a chair. "I assume you were unpacking, Madame? You seem well."

"Ever such the business man, my dear. But yes, I wanted to make sure... that it was still perfectly fine. Gifts and transactions like that are difficult to come by," the green eyed woman smiled, her English tainted with a heavy French accent. "I remain healthy, despite those wishes of others who would rather see me lying dead in a ditch. But I endure, same as always."

"A gift, you mentioned earlier in our correspondence?" Krushranada replied, not even wanting to hide his curiosity.

"Hm. I shall tell you all about it. Now, shall we order our dishes, some wonderful vintage or two, and convene back to my cabin where the food can be brought later?" The woman suggested a bright twinkle apparent in her emerald eyes.

"Agreed" and with the quick waving over of the young waiter and ordering before standing up to depart.

Offering his arm to her, the ginger haired man led her through the cars to her cabin. "Now is this gift here, or like the others where you stick it in the baggage car?"

"What do you take me for, Trieze?" The woman replied letting him into the cabin and locking it shut.

Crossing the distance he kissed her on the hand and smiled in a dashing manner. "I consider you, Eglantine, one of the most devious and carnal women across most of Europe and Russia."

"Coming from the son of one of the most influential royal families in Eastern Europe, I must say I am rather impressed with my title!" The French woman smiled, twirling about before sitting down on a large black chest.

Trieze smiled, sitting on a chair provided in the room. To the ordinary person the chest was a simple black chest, marred by one's normal traveling, but to his keen and trained eyes he could make out the powerful wards surrounding its surface. "Must be quite some gift, my lovely. I would hasten to wager that he is quite an extraordinary creature. So when do I get to see him?"

A sharp laugh escaped from her lips. "Oh, Trieze! I should have guessed you would know something. Oui! He is marvelous, and I must say you were quite right when telling me it would be nigh impossible to have received him without your friend's ties. You will give Duke Barton my eternal thanks, will you not? And of course, Monsieur Long."

"Barton is quite a remarkable man, and it was no trouble at all. And as for Chen-Sying, I talked to him briefly while he was in Paris waiting to depart yesterday. He seems to be quite a bringer of fortune to his clan." He waved away her thanks with his hand. "But I do look forward to seeing him, Eglantine. You will allow me to see what my connections enabled you to get?"

With a grin more in tune of a cold smirk, the woman nodded, standing up and unlocking the locks and barrier spells. Lifting the trunk's cover the ginger haired man peered in, face remaining expressionless.

A small boy lay asleep, whether willingly or not he did not know, curled into a small ball. Trieze knelt beside the trunk, eyes softening some; a slim finger tracing the bronze boy's face noticing the tear trails along his cheeks. He leaned his head to the side, noticing the slim-ness and leanness of the child. Barely more than fifteen, the young Asian boy laid now in the hands of his new owner, and through prior experience with the woman Trieze knew where this special boy would end up.

"Beautiful, is he not? Too old for your tastes, if I remember correctly, otherwise I would have offered him to you," her soft voice breathed over his shoulder.

Standing up, those blue orbs slid over the small child-man once more before sealing the top.

Green eyes watched carefully, remaining passive while she internally measured his reactions and stance. "You find him that attractive, Trieze?"

He paused, eyes still connected with the closed trunk. "He will be your undoing, Eglantine."

"Wha-?" Reaching out, she tried to grab his arm to find the meaning of that ominous statement.

Walking past her and to the door, he opened it and repeated it. "He will be your undoing, Eglantine." And closed the door behind him.

Blinking for a few moments, the woman finally tossed a book at her door in frustration and annoyance. She had not invited the precognitive to her suite to chat about idle affairs, but help her with this venture. Obviously she had procured a valuable commodity and she already had a few interested buyers...

She mulled over his statement, at times the ginger haired Eastern European was decidedly vague, knowing more than he ever let on or purposely leaving out important information. A pout formed on her bright red lips.

Stalking over to the chest she reopened it and removed the sleeping spells from the child. "Wake up!" she demanded, reaching one pale hand in to shove the boy.

Before she even touched his body, a slim bronze hand closed around her small wrist tightly, and two black eyes were level with hers. "Ni shi shei? Wo zai nar?" <5>

<< "I suggest you release my arm before you get hurt, you little mongrel," >> she grated out in her native tongue. <6>

His grip tightened and she called forth a small spell. Within moments the boy was hissing and shuddering as power rushed through his small body.

"You speak English?" she asked, glaring down at the bronze skinned boy.

Foreign words danced at his ears, one more musical than the other. The first language was sweeter in tones and the second so guttural and harsh, nothing being understood. He was dazed from the forced sleep, thoughts and memories scattered for the moment, and black eyes darting about the small room that was so completely alien to him.

<< "Curious I see. You shall simply refer to me as Madame." >> Gripping his chin with her hand, she turned his gaze to hers and repeated the word, "Madame." <7>

He blinked slowly; half guessing the word she said was referring to him. Stumbling over the word, he tried to repeat it, "Maadamei?"

With a growl, she released him. << "Stupid mongrel!" >> <8>

A frown formed on the boy's face, not quite sure what she had muttered, but he did know that it wasn't a compliment. It wasn't his fault that she spoke inferior languages.

He watched as she muttered a few more curses before turning her fierce green stare at him. Being at a loss, the French woman merely gave the boy another look. The Asian boy was quick; he had sensed her immediately, which showed he had some talent already worked into his habits.

The brat was a pretty thing, she mused leaning forward and tussling his black hair, admiring his golden features. There was confusion in his large eyes so it proved the spells and wards were holding nicely... But she would need to remedy the linguistic dilemma.

With a sigh she activated the sleeping spell, watching as the boy dropped to the floor, thin limbs flailed this way and that. Opening her bags, she searched through her belongings before finding the velvet bundle of red. Placing the fabric on the floor, she opened it removing the silver ceremonial knife from its folds.

The ancient words hummed from her lips as she dipped forward to strip the boy, removing the red and white oriental silks from his prone body. Rolling him onto his stomach, she trailed her fingers down his spine delighting in the shiver that overcame his comatose body.

Pale white fingers glazed over the small symbol of her marking on the small of his back. "I need to make you very desirable, my pet. You will bring me a lot of business. I have some lovely Americans who would pay me millions to own you. Half of the royal families will want a pet as well versed as yourself..." >>

Energy crackled around the knife as she called it forth << "Chaos!" >> She bent forward, eyes misty as the power began to surge into her body. "TIAMAT-MARDUK NOKOMIS-MICHABO JEHESHUA-LUCIFER ODHINN-LOKI SET-RA SHIVA-KALI BAPHOMET-CHORONZON!" Sweat beaded and crawled down her face wrung in concentration, her breathing heavy as the power she summoned forth danced through her veins. << "I believe in this sacred place!" >> <9>

The silver blade of the knife slid into the golden flesh, twisted and turned forming an intricate pattern. "FACH DIBONGOV..." she hissed, voice echoing against the small cabin's walls. Silver strings of power slipped around the golden boy, tangling around his limbs and binding to his body.

<< "I am Eglantine Delmare and I offer his soul for all eternity to you." >> <10>

The symbol glowed as she touched her personal marker on him, watching as they began to pulse with energy, opening his body to her bidding. Her thick accented voice seemed to hiss through the room, << "You will do my bidding until we find you a master, child. Open you mind to my voice... Let my words become yours and my bidding your only thoughts." >> <11>

Tossing the knife aside, she turned the boy over watching as the spell formed about him. His small face was calm as his mind began connecting with hers and his black eyes opened, never coming into focus.

<< "Perfect! Simply perfect!" >> she hissed in excitement, green eyes gleaming in joy and face flushed with excitement. Tremors and shaking began to touch his body, limbs trembling as the raw chaotic power surged through him as her chantings grew stronger with each breathe he took. His thoughts were hers; the beating of two hearts became one rapid beating, his soul temporarily becoming hers in that moment of time. <12>

Slowly he drifted into consciousness, ebony orbs flat as ink, no emotion there for there was none to be given. Inside his own mind he floated in a hazy sea of darkness, afraid to move while unknowingly, his body bound to the woman's, awaited her every whim.

"FACH VEXIB" the Frenchwoman smiled as the spell drifted down to nothingness. Lifting up his chin between her two pale fingers, Eglantine parted her lips in a cruel smile. "Just for now, child. I have bigger plans for you."

Black eyes remained flat.

~~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

Blue eyes twinkled in excitement as he walked through the tiny hallways on the moving train, slowly meandering his way to his cabin. Wanting to rush nothing, he took his time, young eyes taking in the patterns of the wallpapers and fabrics. It had taken him all of the previous day to learn his guards' patterns, but now he was sure he would be able to sneak out and fully enjoy freedom for the next few days. He had not recognized too many faces of the other passengers, but he was certain he remembered one of theirs. Heading towards the next car he paused and caught sight of an open door.

Blonde hair fell to the side as two ice blue orbs blinked into the crack.

The ginger haired man blinked as his door was opened by a lithe blonde with streaming locks. Blinking twice, the elder boy looked at his guest in some shock. He had not known...

Two arms flung around the man's next as he received a bundle of pale limbs and platinum blonde hair. "Trieze!"

Cornflower blue eyes glistened in delight. "My prince."

Lips formed into a slight pout. "I told you never to call me that!"

Running his fingers through that yellow silken mane, the Eastern European smiled. "Millardo."

Those pale blue eyes bloomed in blissful happiness. "I missed you!"

"My regrets, business has pulled me not only from my home but from Europe as well. Unfortunately, the Sank Kingdom was not in my itinerary, as much as I wished it had been."

"Then where were you? Did you just arrive in France? Why didn't you visit us in Sank?" questions bombarded the ginger haired man.

"Easy, little one, I arrived only two days before the Orient was to depart, and my days were filled with plans. Trust me when I say that it was upsetting that my plans did not include stopping by," he replied, tilting the teenager's chin up. "Aren't you a bit big to be attacking me like that?"

Shaking off the pink blush on his cheeks, the prince smiled. "Not in the least! I knew I saw you on the list of passengers!"

"Aa. So now that you have tracked me down, what do you wish to do?" Trieze asked, straightening his jacket. "I dreamed about you and your dragon the other night, I should have realized that it meant I would be meeting up with you again."

"That is all nonsense!" the blonde replied, moving to sit in the chair.

Trieze sighed and chuckled. "Grown tired of that story?"

Blue eyes narrowed in intelligent thought. "You told me I would meet a dragon one day! I am still telling you that you are wrong, old friend. I don't know what they teach you over in those countries, but stories of dragons and faery folk are not part of my education."

Sapphire eyes glistened in anticipation as he watched the prince's aura flicker. Since he had first met the child when they had both been younger, he had seen the power that had been in his House. The Peacecraft's were pacifists and healers by not only political standing, but not so long ago, by calling as well. The majik still flowed strong in a few. It had also helped that Millardo's father had paired his weakening Peacecraft blood with that of the Old Italian House of Kajetan, and that his wife was rich in majikical blood.

Not that it mattered now, since most houses were so interbred that the majik was slowly dying and few still married for anything other than political connections. But his beautiful Millardo was a brilliant star, waiting to bloom in talent. The first time he had touched the boy he had a vision of a brilliant red and black dragon encircling and protecting the boy, and it had soon become his friend's most loved story as a child. But that child was now a healthy young gentleman of sixteen and though it saddened him, he doubted the boy would ever be trained and that power would fade.

The western Europeans did not have the deep roots in mysticism that his country and other Eastern ones had. But that long ago vision had returned the moment he laid eyes on that small Asian child in Eglantine's room. He knew she would try to control the boy and what the Long clan had planned for the dying Chang Clan...

Turning his eyes to those shining frozen blue orbs, he wondered how the untrained prince would come into play...

~~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

The young prince nodded to a passing couple as he headed back to his quarters, the pleasure of seeing his childhood friend and dear companion still making him bubble over in joy. He moved to the side as another man stalked down the hall, his black cat following him.

Black eyes blinked up at his pale blue ones. With a loud purr, the cat rubbed its body against his leg and nuzzled him firmly. Releasing a laugh, Millardo bent down to pet the beautiful creature. There was a strong current of something ancient connected to it, but he chose to ignore it and instead scratched behind the cat's pointed ears.

"Beautiful, is he not?" a deep voice asked.

Blinking up, the young blonde noticed the exotic man leaning against the line of windows of the car's hall. "Your cat is beautiful, sir," he replied.

With a nod of thanks the cat jumped into the Asian man's arms and they strode down the hall. The blonde haired boy stared off in the direction they had left, and though the man was now beyond his sight and well into the next car, Millardo felt a strange shiver in his blood. Everything felt decidedly off about that man.

The rustle of a long skirt had him quickly rising to get on his feet. He watched as a tall, jade-emerald eyed woman of stately beauty walked out from her cabin. Nodding his head as she passed, his eyes widened as his vision seemed to split. At first he saw a black cat follow behind her but as his eyes met the small felines', his sight seemed to heighten. The dual image of the cat gave way as his blue eyes locked with the rich chocolate-black eyes of the cat's and spawned the image of an Asian boy, no more than his own age.

<< "What is your problem, child?" >> Eglantine murmured as the boy starred strangely at her pet. <13>

Shaking himself from the cat's gaze, he blinked. "Nothing, madam. Good day." >> Running off through the cars, the young prince repressed a shudder till he was well beyond either's sight and safely locked within his personal cabin, having ignored both his mother's and his personal guard's questions.

Sliding down the ornate papered wall, he shivered violently. What he had seen was not an ordinary feline. That he was sure of. It was as if the furred beast was trying to touch him... Connect with him on some level. He intimately knew the creature and his soul reached out to claim it as his own.

Eyes lifted in shock as the revelation dawned on him.

He had seen his dragon.

~~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

Tucking a loose strand behind his ear, the black eyed gentleman watched the people mull about the dining car before turning to rub his pet beneath its chin. "Do you think she realizes what is happening yet?"

His companion looked up from stirring his tea. "Honestly, sometimes I think she does and others I believe she may be completely clueless. Nothing has truly indicated either. A cursedly wile and cunning woman is what she is, Chen."

The Chinese man nodded slowly, poking the fork at the strange food lying upon his plate. "Is there any word from your friend in America?"

"Sure, how about good afternoon, gentlemen?" a mocking voice at the fringes of insanity and brilliance replied. They both raised their heads to see a bright eyed, auburn braided man grinning wildly at them.

Recognition flickered into Trieze's eyes and he stood slightly out of courtesy. "Maxwell."

The said man nodded and took the empty seat next to the Eastern European. "How are you all doing? Quite a trip, Annie had to hide the whole part of yesterday whilst we were in Strasbourg, family and all. But I am looking forward to taking a quick breather in Vienna, yourselves?"

"Chen, this is Maxwell. Lady Saint-Une's... pet." Trieze replied with some humor in his eyes.

Violet eyes twinkled before shaking the Asian man's firm hand. "*Duo* Maxwell for this trip, old friend."

"Long Chen-Sying." The black haired man nodded back in greeting. "Lady Anne?"

Dismissing the inquiry with a nonchalant wave, Trieze answered instead, "Nothing, Maxwell is an old friend from America, who also happens to excel at what he does."

"And that is?" Chen solicited.

"Burglary and theft, slight of hand, things of that nature," the American replied, petting Chen's black cat before adding, "and a pet and servant to Lady Anne."

Lifting a slim eyebrow, the Chinese man looked somewhat amazed. "Not a typical pet, I see."

"There is nothing typical about Maxwell."

Tipping his head in a mock bow, Duo grinned. "Thank you. And no. I am by far not a typical pet. I don't take well to leashes. And while I understand the need for... other forms at times..." tipping his head in the direction of the Asian man's own pet, "I do like my freedom."

"Understandable."

"He chose Ann," Trieze added softly.

Taking a sip from his coffee, Duo smiled. "But we are truly here for is to save a person, are we not? I know I have seen her waltzing about with the boy in his pet form since late yesterday eve, but I don't think he's even aware of his transformation."

"She's powerful, gentlemen, and until we reach Istanbul... The boy is on his own," Long replied.

"We are not going to leave him in her hands!" Duo demanded, roughly putting his cup down.

"I don't think that will be necessary..." Trieze murmured his blue eyes hazed over like he was in a trance.

"Trieze?" the American inquired.

Shaking his head, the said man merely smiled. "Don't worry. It's out of our hands until we arrive in Budapest."

Duo kept a soft growl to himself as he watched the Asian man over his coffee cup. There was something off about that man's intentions. There was a flicker of something in his eyes when Trieze had made that little revelation. He made a personal promise to finish the conversation with the European as soon as possible.

Trieze stirred his coffee before inquiring about the market growing in China. He was still dazed in his psuedo reality, since that latest vision showed Zech's stumbling into their plans. Praying to whatever god was lying over them at that moment that the Sankian Prince would be alright...

~~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

The whirring and clanking of the wheels awoke the small Asian boy from his deep slumber. Momentarily confused, he noticed that it was dark out, but could not identify his surroundings. Slowly glancing around, the room was shrouded in darkness, but he could see nor feel any other presence in the cabin.

Letting his eyes adjust to the blackness, he stepped from the trunk, feeling a slight wave of dizziness hit him as he left it. Stumbling to the floor, he gripped his head as a thrumming pain ripped through his body, leaving him gasping for air.

Biting his lip to keep from crying out, he shut his eyes wishing for his family back in China. The fresh air, the trees and villages...

Flashes of screams and searing human flesh flickered into his thoughts. He choked back a soft sob. There was no way of knowing who had survived the Long Clans' attack on their village. The two clans ancient rivalry finally unfolding as they dropped bombs on their small town, massacring them and efficiently wiping them from existence.

The cries of sisters and brothers, of relatives and friends all haunted his mind. It was possible that a few might have escaped, though would have probably been hunted and found by the Long's men.

A creak from the floorboards outside the door alerted him to another presence. The black eyed boy crept closer, unsure of anything but the growing pain rippling through his body.

Outside the door a young boy knelt, glad for the soft light of the halls. The room conferred a dismal, vile feel to it as he passed it, and some how something inside that closed cabin called out to him.

Running his fingers along the door's wooden design, he bite down a shriek of fright as the lock clicked and the mahogany door flung open.

Black eyes blinked, staring at the thin, tall boy around his age, clasping his heart in horror and partial relief, limbs flailed apart, shoved against the wall across from the door in apprehension.

A bronze arm reached out to touch the boy's golden lock, soft and silky, running through his fingers like water. << "Ni shi shei?" >> <14>

Millardo blinked. The boy hadn't ripped out his heart nor yelled out for a guard. Sitting up slowly, the young boy calmed his breathing and focused on the strange words the black eyed boy had whispered. "Um... Sorry?"

It was amazing, looking at such an exotic person. Leaning closer, the prince smiled. "I'm Millardo."

The smaller boy narrowed his eyes, pointing his finger to Millardo's chest and whispered back, "Millado?"

Lips parted in a smile. "Close enough. Call me Miri, it is easier to say and doesn't sound so... royal. And you are?"

Words crept close to familiar, though the Chinese boy had never heard the language in his life, prior to being torn from his family. The boy's voice was musical, hypnotic to the hearing. Leaning closer still, the small Asian boy replied, "Wufei."

"Wufei." The blue eyed boy smiled. "That's nice."

The slam of a door a car down alerted the blonde to other's approaching them. Hastily standing, he leaned forward to whisper in the boy's ear, "Have to go!"

Panic spawned in those rich black hued eyes, and fingers curled around Millardo's pale wrist. The words he needed to say were not there, they did not lie in his comprehension.

Blue eyes flickered between the person slowly walking down the other car towards them and the boy's panicked face. "Please! I need to go... If you need to find me I'm near the end of the train. The royal sleeping cars. Um..." thoughts flickered over his last day of exploring, "five cars from the end of the train."

The bronze skinned boy relaxed his grip enough to let the taller boy slip from his grasp. Wufei watched sadly as the boy slipped out of the car, parting with a brilliant smile before disappearing behind the door.

~~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

His cat slipped off his shoulders, landing with a graceful leap onto the silky sheets of the bed. In a few seconds the creature returned to normal size, a lithe Chinese child, sitting next to the taller man. "Lao ye?"

Chen-Sying ignored the child's soft inquiry and merely stood up, stretching. "Trieze is hiding something... That nu ren is hiding something... that Mei guo xiao xiang mao is hiding something!" Pausing, he stopped his pacing and glowered at the wall. <15>

The Asian child blinked, watching his master pace and murmur. He had liked the loud American cat-human. Never had he known that a pet could have that freedom, that independence from a master. Maxwell was what the precognitive referred to him as.

Shining violet eyes, long mane pulled into a tight braid, a smiling face... all those things made that man so intriguing. That he was walking and functioning as a human, moving about and having his own life... That was something to covet.

"Ni you mei you ting dao wo shuo de hua?" a deep voice demanded, drawing the child's attentions back to the reality of the room.

"Ting dao, lao ye. Wo bu dong, dan shi wo hui zuo" he whispered back. <16>

A snort and Long went back to contemplating theories. Oh, how he wished he understood what was happening. Whatever his master and the green eyed woman had planned, his heart went out to the boy of the Chang clan. But when his master spoke out of their tongue, he became lost, since his owner cared not to teach him much of anything.

How could such a useless thing help make things better? He could only pray that his ancestors would look over and protect the Chang boy from the enemies surrounding him.

Looking up at the stars and darkened hills and mountains as they rolled past them, he wished he could taste the air that freedom gave to the others. Once. That was all he asked, one fresh breath of true freedom before he died.

~~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

Night had fallen hours ago, but as the silver machine bulleted down its course, Trieze found a deep sense of foreboding sat with him, keeping him from his sleep. He instead had turned to watching the dark countryside and high peaked mountains rush past them. Vienna would come with the sun, a stop there to gratify the many other royal personages aboard. The cars would be fairly empty, carefully watched, but nothing too extravagant.

Curiosity sat with him as his barricade to a restful sleep. Thoughts of the future tantalizing his senses, he had not experienced such a barrage of them in such a long time. Somehow, the sinking gut feeling that sleep would not be with him until he saw his plans through.

Resting back in the chair, he let the moonlight wash over himself and the room, streaming in and illuminating the small cabin in a silvery light. Dark blue eyes rested on the rolling scenery once again.

A year ago, a woman had come to his country asking his family's help. An unusually tall woman, whose coloring was strange compared to those he had seen in his travels to the east. Speaking in Russian, she told him her story and the dreams that had come to her, that ended up leading her to him. She had come in search of people who could save her Clan, save them from a disaster 'that would change history from its course.'

He had laughed then, that was until his own dreams and fortellings began to convey the same tales. She had left soon after, to where he could only assume, but he had the suspicion that she had never made it back to her people.

The blue eyed woman spoke of a land of dragons and warriors, combined they would bring strength; torn apart they would lead to death. Dragons were not new stories to him, though the dragons he grew up with were woven from Ottoman tales and flavored with an Arab telling.

A dragon.

It was those words that had reminded him shortly later of a vision he had received when he had first met the blonde Sank prince. When their hands clasped in meeting, his mind fleeted from reality, twisting into a forethought. The image had never left him.

Millardo Peacecraft being surrounded and protected by a black eyed dragon of the Far East.

Sighing, he rubbed a hand through his ginger strands. Nothing made sense, he had bits and pieces that had been given to him, and though highly thought of as a grand thinker, for the life of him Trieze could not figure how that small Chinese boy who looked so frail could be who his foresight told him he was.

The moment he had laid a hand on the child the foreboding thoughts that the child would bring the end to Eglantine Delmare were upon him. So swiftly pieces feel into place, but not until they reached Budapest.

Two days until something was to happen.

Standing to pace his room, Trieze wished that the whole matter would become clear. He knew that the child had found Millardo, that was certain. The connection waved through his mind as he felt their souls touch, even if they were not aware of it.

~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

Violet eyes ran themselves along her pale naked form. In his safety she slept, trusting him completely. Passing a finger along her cheek, trailing it down and around her breast he sighed. There was work to do and he didn't need to have her get in trouble.

Momentarily his thoughts drifted to another, the small black cat in that large man's arms. A child still in both forms. Hairs on the back of his neck stood up, as the thought of the pain a fellow pet was going through.

If he wasn't pressed for time, there would have been another rescue that night; unfortunately, time was not a fair mistress. Carefully he stood, eyes appended to the sleeping woman the entire time. With the grace of a thief he slipped to the door.

He made certain to open it a crack before changing into his form and slipping through it, pausing to shut it, content when the lock clicked. He would pick it open if necessary later, but now he was pressed for time.

Scurrying down the hall he raced to the end of the car, privately thanking the guard for holding the door for him. Dashing down the next car, he kept to the shadows, returning to his human guise briefly as he passed from one car to the next.

Maxwell was a stealthy man, quiet, and so sharp that no one could hear him pass though the cars. His senses were peaked tonight, the slightest shuffle made him sink into the shadows deeper, violet lupine eyes glowing in hellish light.

Three, four, five cars he made it through in what had to have been less than a minute. Entering the next car he felt the aura of her smack his senses like he had run into a brick wall. Growling softly he inched closer not wanting to trigger any alarm that might have been set up.

Surprisingly, she was either too trusting in her abilities or plain stupid, Maxwell decided as he shifted into his human guise, making ease of the door's lock. Worry stuck with him, too easy sometimes meant a trap.

Creeping closer to the bed, he looked for any sign of the child. The room was empty, aside from her sleeping, curled up in her red satin sheets, obviously deep in slumber.

Violet eyes widened as he walked closer to the woman lying in the bed. She was remarkably still for a sleeping person. Decidedly too still. Leaning closer he touched the base of her neck.

Dead.

It was then he noticed the blood on the sheets, the pillow wasn't red satin- it had been soaking up her blood.

"Fuck" he growled, eyes darting around for the unseen killer. The child was gone, the wards on the truck had been tampered with, and the woman was dead. Not that he minded, seeing as she wasn't a wonderful person to begin with... But the Chinese boy didn't do it. The secondary power that permeated the room grew apparent, too strong to be the child, raw power or not.

"Mother fucking Christ..." he murmured in disbelief and annoyance. This whole scene through a fairly large wrench in their plans. Shifting once again, he set off down the hall towards Trieze's room. Half wondering how the man had not seen this turn of events.

~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

Binds secured her tightly to her bed. Twisting once again, she tried to shriek through the thick cloth shoved in and around her mouth. The leather cut into her soft flesh, bound and woven so tightly around her limbs. Hazel eyes widened as a small body came into view.

A set of onyx orbs caught the gleam of the moonlight streaming in though her window as he passed from the shadows into her line of vision. On his shoulders sat a small animal, barely able to distinguish its form from the child's inky mane, she gathered it to be a cat of some sort.

A second gleam flecked off a long piece of silver hued metal. A scream curdled in the back of her throat, unable to pass through the bindings over her lips. Breathing became sharp gasps for air as he nearer her.

No noise came from where he stepped, and he paused upon reaching her side, sparing a blank look in her direction. A rustle of cloth alerted her to another presence in her cabin.

A well dressed gentleman slithered from the darkness, appearing behind the child. "Beautiful, is he not?" he whispered, bronze finger petting the child's black mane. "It was a hilarious thing, but I had this theory. Maxwell and Trieze somehow knew about this child, this remarkable child. Madame Delmare, who really that woman is not, just merely a stand in for our real lady of hell, was here to serve as my decoy."

Hazel eyes widened as she shook in fear, the man's fingers slid down the boy's arm, circling the wrist that held a painfully sharp knife.

He continued, "You, my dear Lady, were planning to help them. Unfortunately I had to move my schedule up. After all, we reach Vienna soon and Budapest is a long way off. I promised my Clan this child who was stolen from the Elders by a stupid businessman, and they shall receive him. And I hate to harm you, such a delicate and lush beauty, but I am afraid that your pet is just a tad to dangerous to leave hanging around. My condolences, because this is going to hurt you."

A coolness jabbed itself through her arm, descending downwards harshly in a jagged motion, slicing roughly through skin, muscle, and bone running its course to her left wrist. Tears beaded in the corners of her eyes, damning the situation. It was beyond herself as to how that man had discovered their plans. She was so sure that they had played their parts off right...

A twist sharply snapped her wrist in half, severing nerves and shutting off feeling to her arm. Buckling upwards, terror and hysteria settling on her mind, Anne twisted and screeched, praying to be heard. The frightened motions were no obstacle as the Asian boy pressed the knife into her other arm, slowly ripping the flesh like tissue.

"Slowly, you want her to writhe in agony, the more pain on her, the more of a struggle her pet goes through. I dare say it might even kill him before we finish off her." The black haired man instructed, lifting his personal pet from the child's shoulders to stroke its silky fur.

~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

"Trieze!!" Maxwell sternly called out, pounding on the man's door. "Trieze! Open this door, dammit!!"

He heard the click and the door unbolted to reveal the ginger haired man, slightly disheveled. "Maxwell?" he asked, looking slightly surprised at the braided haired boy's presence at that early hour of the nocturnal morning.

"Open the fucking door." Came the brash command and surprisingly, Trieze opened the door wider admitting the American.

"She's dead" was the next two blunt words that were given.

"Who is? Maxwell you aren't making a bit of sense..." he murmured, shaking his head and yawning. "Do you have any idea what hour it is?"

"Were you sleeping?"

"Not...really..." the blue eyed man admitted.

"Then it doesn't matter. Remember how I was supposed to check up and nab the kid?" a firm nod came from the man across from him. "Well three guesses, he's gone, the bitch was murdered - though not by the kid - and the majikical scent spewing from the room is none other than our cohort."

The European's jaw dropped. "Wufei is gone?"

A firm nod of disdainment.

"Are you sure she is dead? I mean Eglantine is an extremely talented woman..."

The American raked a frustrated hand through his mane of hair. "No shit. Let me put it this way, the woman who was in the Chinese kid's room? She's staining her white satin sheets a beautiful shade of red. If that isn't dead, well then she's one hell of a deep sleeper. I mean I think I would make up if I was fucking bleeding from my head, or at least be dead and then not care!"

"Murdered" the taller man agreed, slumping onto his chair and sparing a glance at the American. "Is it possible that we've been played?"

"You helped her get the kid from China to Istanbul to Paris, am I correct?" Duo asked, pausing in his pacing.

"No. You misunderstood, I only found out about the child when she requested my help in Cairo to help get the child and herself passage into Istanbul. From there I had a friend and business associate, the Barton's, help her attain passage to Venice and from there I received her letters that she was continuing by train to Paris."

"When did she tell you about the child?" The violet eyed boy asked. "I mean this is a wonderful time to enlighten me, Trieze! Perfectly smashing!"

Choosing to ignore his friend's rather crude outburst, the European continued calmly, "In Paris, she and I exchanged a brief correspondence. I know about her business, Maxwell, and the child she had mentioned, but that the child was to be sold as a pet. That was a discovery I partially uncovered in our letters." He caught the strained look of bloodlust in the American's eyes. "Listen, you are what you are, you are born and you will die a pet, Maxwell. Neither anything you or I do will change that. So drop that look now."

With one last stern look in his purple orbs, the man merely shifted his weight and asked, "Is it possible the woman here was a decoy?"

Lingering for a second, he considered his companion's words and questions. "It would not be impossible... I have seen and spent time with the woman, but is she talented enough to disguise another to look like her? I would not know... That is beyond my skill, I merely glimpse into what could be." Trieze paused and studied the American. "I have not foreseen this, Maxwell, but I do get the impression that if anything happens before Budapest that we will have lost our game."

"So what now then? Interrogate the train? Whoever that body was is dead. The child is gone..."

Blue eyes lit up as an epiphany dawned upon him. "We've been played."

"Hm?"

"How could I have overseen that one fact?!" Trieze murmured to himself.

Grabbing the said man by his shoulder's, the American shook his friend. "What?"

"Don't you see? Why would she book passage on a train to Istanbul? She was just there and needed me to get her out of it... And why go through the sheer amount of trouble and liability of getting other's involved?"

"Oh... my..." realization dawned upon the violet eyed man.

"A puppet. We've been dealing with a puppet. Whether or not Eglantine was behind this charade or not, it doesn't matter..."

Maxwell looked up. "Probably not, but the name has been used before to pull anybody from rich clientele to investigators from around the world to it. Why not us? Both you and I have personal connections with the woman. You as a businessman and myself as a previous acquirement and good."

"I think it's time to visit Long and see what the hell is going on..." Trieze muttered, pausing to pull on his suit jacket over his slightly rumpled dress shirt.

A sharp gasp of pain and the sound of the American slamming against the cabin wall brought his attention and body whirling around. Sapphire eyes widened dramatically as the American hissed and gurgled in anguish.

Reaching out to the boy, Trieze's voice dropped to a mere whisper, "Maxwell?"

Breathes became saggingly heavy, sweat beading on his brow, fingers clutching at his arms, claws sinking into his own flesh, tearing at it to seemingly rid himself of an unseen terror.

"Maxwell?!" the ginger haired man's voice rose in alarm, watching as the boy fell forward, barely catching the child.

Trieze held the American as the young man wriggled and hissed in his arms, the pain ripping from his very pores. The violet eyed man kept reciting "Anne" over and over till it became no more than a nonsense word.

~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

The German woman shrieked and convulsed as the glittering metal crept down her other arm, making powerful twists and rotations in the muscles, ripping them to raw shreds.

Every nerve sung in severe misery, a chorus of despair hung in her throat, working her voice box to rawness. The blade slicing off her fingers, ripping up nails, provoking every ounce of anguish it could from her bounded form.

Slipping the dagger out, the black-eyed boy reinserted it flat on her belly. Following the man's instructions with apt attention, Wufei delicately slithered the cold metal under the flesh and lifted, the pale white fleshy tissue parting under the pressure, blood cascading out. Her eyes widened as she bore witness to her own innards slowly being extracted from her body.

Terror huddled itself in her mouth, her heart beating rapidly, Lady Anne blinked as tears blurred her vision and ran their paths, wetting her hair.

A bronze hand petted his feline, watching in delight as the boy practiced some of the finer points of torture with such grace and ease. "Her legs, my child. Can't let a certain pet's rush to her timely rescue..."

A slow nod came and the woman watched with a strangling cry her thighs slowly get sliced off, bit by bit. The knife cutting her like some piece of ordinary meat, neat, practical slices devouring her body, taking it apart piece by piece.

Somewhere between the hazy, blinding pain of her mind the residual connection she shared with Maxwell flared to life. He was feeling her pain. It was neither a comfort nor a condolence that she was at fault for that. Had she not been so insistent upon sharing a more intimate connection with him, he would have been able to save himself... Save them both even.

~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

The violet eyed man clawed at the floor, every nerve screaming and searing with a white-hot agony. His voice growing raw and mind throbbing as he transformed, auburn ears unraveling and his tail thumping on the wooden floor.

Still Trieze cradled him closely; holding him and rocking him as he felt every degree of torture ten folded upon his own self. Buckling and straining from the taller man's arms, the burden pressuring him towards madness.

"Anne!!" he called out, violet eyes unfocused, mind instinctively melding to hers. Damning himself for getting to close, for letting them be connected, and finally for letting her become his master in every sense of the term. If the God in heaven would will him to live again, he would never bond to a human. Damn his soul twice over, he was never going to die like some dog for another mortal ever!

~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

He walked the halls, empathically feeling the walls of the moving train wash over with blood. Cringing he paused by Trieze's cabin, wanting with all his heart to go to him, but something tugged at him, pressing him forward.

His pale hand slid along the wooden walls; moonlight flickering through the small windows lining the other wall. Walking from one car to the next, wincing as the pain swelled and buckled, he pressed on, hearing the screams others could not.

~~~~'~~@@~~'~~~~~

Her spine crackled as it bent harshly, wrenching up against the bloodied bonds, the leather firmly wedged into her flesh. Her body carved up like some man's meal, blood and guts lining her bed sheets and walls.

Standing, the black haired gentleman brushed nonexistent dirt off his pants, straightened his lapel, and swept a strand of hair behind his ear.

Lady Anne gave one last raw-throat, bloodied, muffled shriek as the blade surged into her stomach, acid quickly gushing forth eating her flesh, bubbling up like a fountain, and painfully devouring what remained of her body. One last bud of pain, her mind finally shutting down as the shock thundered in it.

A muffled cry of alarm came from the door.

Chen-Sying turned, pinning the intruder with a frightening glare. The teenager stood firmly, jaw hanging, eyes pinpointed in unadulterated traumatized alarm.

Ice blue orbs wrenched open as virgin eyes were damned with the appalling site that greeted them. The boy wanted to move, run off; leave the scene before him to the darkest of nightmares. The reality of it bringing his mind to a halt.

The Chinese man was far from amused. He had seen to it that all obstacles were presently busy, yet he had not thought that another aboard would have noticed his presence. With a suffering sigh he motioned the youth to come to his side. Petting the child, he murmured, "Ni hai you yi ge yao sha de. Kuai qu diao zhe ge...tao yuan." <17>

Millardo made a strangled cry as the black eyed youth he had seen mere hours ago walked towards him, silver blade dripping with wet blood. Wishing with all his might was hardly enough, his mind was broken, his reactions dead.

There was no way of stopping the other boy as he approached him, blade drawn back and awaiting to strike.

The movement was so swift and sudden that pain did not reach his mind. Blood slowly crept from his side, slithering its coils around bronze fingers clutching the handle to the knife embedded deeply into that luscious pale skin.

A strangulated gasp finally crept from the prince's lips, tears welling and silently streaking down his ashen cheeks. Fingers inched up, finally clasping around the Chinese youth's hands. A warm haziness stole into Millardo's brain, wrapping him in a blanket of warmth.

Wufei blinked as the balmy blood trickled along his fingers, moistening the blade's handle. He flinched as those pale hands clutched his own, those icy orbs fixed upon his black ones. An asphyxiated feeling grasped a hold of him. The blonde fell forward, slumping upon his small shoulder and a painful tinge scurried up his spine. Black eyes refocused as a throbbing pain began to grow in his side.

Swallowing, Wufei came upon the realization that the ache was mirroring that of the blonde youth's. He hissed as wound crackled and his own blood broke skin.

Caught between shock and terror, the Chinese boy ripped the knife from the other boy, tossing it aside as if it was some vile creature. The blood stained his flesh, seeping into the cloth covering him. Panic ripped through his person as those pale fingers clung to him.

One thought final pulled to the front of his thoughts through the ensuing chaos of his mind.

Take the blonde boy and run.

Chen-Sying blinked in surprise as the Chinese youth went from standing absolutely steady to trembling. Within a moment the child had grabbed the blonde boy and took off running.

Wufei gasped as the ache steadily grew stronger, the thrumming increased pounding his spine as he half carried, half dragged the prince. There was no logic in his motions, nor could he come to any understanding of why he *had* to help the boy.

The growing presence that Long was following swelled, and Wufei released a cry as he stumbled, hitting the floor as a small knife embedded itself deeply within his shoulder.

Wobbling he rose, diving and hissing as the next knife entrenched itself within his chest. Why was he so determined to save this boy? The answer did not dawn on him, but he simply took the boy and mustered his strength to move him, taking care to keep the blonde from harm.

Passing between the cars proved to be an obstacle. He tore the knife from his flesh, hissing and ignoring his own tears and balancing the boy in one arm, shoved the knife into the door's frame. It wasn't much, but it could buy him a little time.

Struggling he finally managed to pry open the door on the windy and shaking space between the train cars. Falling into the next hall he grimaced as he bumped one wound in his fall. Yanking the other small blade out of the wound, he pressed it into the door's lock, jamming it closed.

Sliding his arms under the boy's, he dragged the heavier teen down the corridor. Sweat poured down his brow as he moved along. Pulling the youth close to him again, he managed to open the doors and make another pass to the next car.

His body itched and throbbed as if something was growing inside him, making his muscles sore and tighten, and his head pounded, growing more intense with every step.

Licking his dry and cracked lips, Wufei could taste the copper of his own blood dripping along his face. Panting, he pressed on, the clanking of the wheels on the tracks beating in time to his own pulsating pain.

A light crept from a door a few meters away, praying that it could be someone to help, Wufei hissed and draped the boy's arm over a shoulder, supporting the taller blonde's weight and hurried towards it.

Sapphire eyes looked up in shock as two bodies literally collapsed through his open cabin door, falling upon the ground. While Maxwell was still in some pain, he managed to open a violet eye from his position upon the bed. "God... It's the kid...."

Sitting up, Maxwell ignored the vertigo and stumped toward the two children. Wufei instinctively grabbed the blonde against him, lips curling back in a growl.

Trieze eased forward, whispering softly, half surprised that the train wasn't over run with guards by that time, and stroked the black eyed child carefully, such as one would stroke a kitten. The Chinese youth gasped as the Millardo's body slumped against his, thrusting back and eyes clenching shut as twanging agony poured though every vein.

"Fuck, you didn't say they had bound yet, Trieze!!" The braided haired man hissed, carefully extracting the blonde from the Chinese boy's grip, slipping his arms around the small boy. His own wounds still fresh, Maxwell lingered a moment before drawing the child into the room and kicking the door shut with his foot.

Leaning against the mahogany wood wall, the violet eyed American gasped for air.

"Maxwell?" Trieze asked in concern as he lifted the prince onto his bed, stripping off the boy's shirt and examining the wound.

Gritting his teeth, the American lifted a hand to calm the black haired boy. "I'm... fine."

"You sound like you're in quite some pain still. Rest." The European murmured, leaving the blonde to grab a cloth to press to the wound. He looked up and turned to his friend, "I am sorry about Anne..."

Nodding, Maxwell closed his eyes briefly and exhaled. "We certainly fucked up. Get that kid cleaned up so this brat will stop bleeding all over me."

"Understood." And returned to cleaning Millardo's wounds.

A faint mewing came from the bronze skinned boy as he cried silent tears, he *hurt*! Thoughts were in disarray, flashes of a body disassembled, blood tainted memories. Warmth... he wanted... He wanted...

A feather-light touch stroked his hair back, a velvet voice whispering soothing words, words he didn't quite grasp.

He wanted the pain to leave him. He wanted to be back in China with his family and relatives. He wanted the nightmare to stop and release him...

He wanted his warmth back...

Slowly, carefully, he was lulled to a deeper sleep, left wanting that something.

That someone.

Wufei turned over, pressing into the warmth that surrounded him, entangling himself in a lost desire. Only the warmth wasn't as real as another person.

Black eyes slowly blinked open as the warm light of the sun hit them. Scrunching his eyes, he groaned, fingers flexing and slowly pulled himself up.

Flecks of white porcelain had embedded themselves in his skin. The kitchen looked as if the American had been cooking in it. Shaking his head, Wufei cringed as a slight vertigo swirled around him.

His body ached; muscles were overly sore and overstretched, straining and begging to be distended. Grunting as he sat up, he turned his head back and forth, crackling his spine all the way down.

Wufei sighed, his eyes finally taking in the kitchen floor, smothered over in flecks of broken dishware and glasses. Flexing his fingers he took notice that his fingertips were still shaped like claws.

A loud beeping pulled him from his contemplation and to the direction of his bedroom. His alarm clock was going off. Wufei slowly stood up, dolefully choosing to ignore the fact that his tail bounced behind him; he crossed his way over the kitchen floor and through his living room. Willing his eyes to ignore his bedroom mirror, he slammed his finger down on the alarm.

Six am.

He had maybe had two hours of sleep, that was of course, he noted grumpily after the phantom sexual experience and the growing of animal limbs.

The Chinese youth was very tempted to call in sick and half heartily wondered if was even a possibility. He certainly couldn't go to work looking like some science experiment gone wrong.

Suffering another sigh, the aroma of burnt coffee reached his nostrils. That was right. He had been making coffee and after he collapsed it was left on. Walking back into the kitchen - he had been tempted to take his firearm and blast the coffeemaker to its creator - and turned the machine off.

Striding back to his bedroom, he glanced at the bed longingly. He had not slept in it for almost two to three days. Scratching his head, his fingers grazed along his furry ears, an undignified yelp left him before his overly tired mind had the dawning realization that it was whatever had grown out of his head the night before.

"You would think I would be hysterical by now..." he grumbled, slumping towards his bathroom, but realized he was merely not seeing the full scope of what had happened yet.

The yellow tinted light flickered to life as he hit the switch, eyes blinking rapidly as his image in the mirror greeted him, and again he wondered if it was too late to call in sick.

Feeling rather silly, he lifted a finger and poked at his ear. He wasn't pleased at all. "I look like a fucking cat," he stated out loud.

"I think you look rather endearing, husband!" a familiar voice giggled, sounding much too cheerful in his opinion.

Counting to ten before growling out his response, the black eyed boy slowly answered, "I wouldn't suppose you would have anything helpful to say."

She poked at his tail.

"Cut it out!" he complained, taking the said tail into his hands and yanking it away from her. "You knew this was going to happen!"

"Not really, but I half guessed something along these lines..." she replied in a sing-song manner. " You might want to think of a way to cover those adorable ears, husband. They might catch people's attention."

A bright flush bloomed across his cheeks.

Laughing, she danced around him poking and touching in interest.

"Mei!!" A hand finally darted out, snagging her wrist, halting her playing. "What is going on?!"

It took him a few moments to realize that she wasn't paying attention, her eyes locked upon where he had grasped her arm. His own eyes widened, voice failing to create any further remarks. Black eyes were fastened to his own bronze hand actually touching his wife's arm. His *deceased* wife's arm.

"Mei...?" He asked softly, daring not to even breath in fear the moment would break. Tears brimmed in his eyes, threatening to spill over. He could nearly feel her flesh beneath his fingers. The sensation of a corpitual coldness that enveloped her.

Meiren hiccupped, tears falling softly, words fleeting her own mind. Gradually she turned in his grip, relishing as the familiar feeling of nearly four year's past returned, and for that moment she wanted more than anything.

Little by little she pressed closer, inhaling his scent, the smell of coffee and green tea, a slight hint of the incense he loved to burn. "You broke through..."

His body steadily started trembling. Hell. He had been through hell and he finally was able to touch her... *Touch* her. A familiar ache coursed through him and he looked down and inched a hand up to run it through her air.

He likened it to running his fingers through water.

Lifting her chin, his warm black eyes fixed themselves in hers and leaned down, pressing his lips ever so faintly to hers. It was far from kissing a human, she lacked the essential warmth flesh and blood possessed, but he needed to do it. Just that once... Refusing to let time take that one moment away from him.

No air rushed from her as they parted, after all she was dead and didn't need to breath. "You...why?" she whispered, staring deeply into his eyes.

"Forgive me for not doing that when you were alive..." he managed to get out, tears descending from his eyes.

"We were children..." she murmured, a hand ghosting up to touch her lips. Only her imagination could tell her what it really would have felt like. Forcing a smile, she reached up and brushed a loose strand of black hair behind his ear. "Looks like you're back to normal..."

Blinking, her words brought his eyes to the mirror, gazing at the image of himself, completely human. "How...?"

"Hm, never mind that... You have to go to a meeting, remember?"

"Aa," he replied quietly, letting her slip from his grasp, it turned his heart to let her go, but he did as she asked, he always would. "Wo hen ai ni..."

"Wo zhi dao, zhang fu, wo zhi dao." She grinned and vanished, though this time he didn't feel as empty, just... very small and somewhat lonely. <18>

Glancing at his clock, he bite his lip in thought, he really didn't feel very apt at driving to work, not with his rough night... Eyes darted to the phone, red light blinking with Zechs' phone message.

He walked over and auto dialed his partner's number.

Three rings later the familiar blonde picked up, "Hey!" blue eyes blinked in what Wufei believed to be surprise.

"Good Morning, I was wondering..." Bronze fingers gripped the desk as a lifeline. This wasn't supposed to be difficult, after all it was merely his partner. "I didn't sleep well last night, do you think I could get a ride in with you?"

Zechs tucked a platinum strand behind his ear. "That's not a problem. I'll get there in twenty minutes, we can grab an early breakfast before we get in, sound good?"

"Um...yeah," Wufei replied, relaxing his fingers slightly.

"Hey, you alright? You look like you got a few serious gashes on your arm..." the Sank prince asked in worry. It wasn't merely a few; there were a few dozen cuts along the boy's arms.

A slight blush crept to his cheeks. "I had a shelf collapse in my kitchen last night... It's nothing."

Not sounding quite convinced Zechs let it drop. "Okay, see you in twenty."

"Bye," he replied, hanging up the line. He grabbed the jeans from his pile on the floor, realizing then how lucky he was that the packages of Quatre and Duo's shopping venture had not been delivered to him yet, grabbed a white shirt and headed to his shower.

To be continued...

Notes:
<1> "Are you alright?"
"Hurt..."
"Hold on tight... I got you."
<2> "Brother!"
<3> "Struggle again and I will gut you, child."
<4> "Follow us with the trunk, child."
<5> "Who are you? Where am I?"
<6> "I suggest you release my arm before you get hurt, you little mongrel,"
<7> "Curious I see. You shall simply refer to me as Madame."
<8> "Stupid mongrel!"
<9> "Chaos!"
"I believe in this sacred place!"
The spell according to Akumu no Miko and her roomie is a chaotic/karmatic spell. It is used in binding objects to one's self. I don't know where they attained it, nor how real it is, all I do ask is not to try and find out. As soon as I find a web page dedicated to karmatic/chaos spells I will add it to my info.
<10> "I am Eglantine Delmare and I offer his soul for all eternity to you."
<11> "You will do my bidding until we find you a master, child. Open you mind to my voice... Let my words become yours and my bidding your only thoughts."
<12> "Perfect! Simply perfect!"
<13> "What is your problem child?"
<14> "Who are you?"
<15> "Master?"
"....woman ... that American alley cat!"
<16> "Are you listening to me?"
"Yes, master. I don't understand, but I'll do as you wish."
<17> "You have another to get rid of. Swiftly deal with this inconvenience."
<18>"I love you dearly..."
"I know, husband, I know."