A Priest's Pride Kaoru-san smiled smugly to himself, as he sent the servant to go and attend to Saint Die in the bath. Aghast Kyo stared after the servant darting off in the direction they'd come from and then had to hurry to catch up with the lean priest, who had resumed his way down the corridor towards the new Saint's chambers. --------- Die sleeked his wet hair back out of his face and wiped the water from his eyes. The bath had grown quite boring after Kyo had left, even though he dived a little, delighting in the feel of his trained body moving easily through the water. //I wonder which rooms Kyo will get.// He ought to have no troubles finding out though, for he had found his way into many a room yet, to relieve it of some overdone decoration and trinkets. Silently Die smiled to himself. //Perhaps I'll pay Kyo a visit this evening... seeing how he's settling in and such. Practically owe it to him as a fellow Saint. And I ought to keep an eye on him so he doesn't get caught in any rash, unplanned escape attempts.// and of course he could showoff and tease a little, added a little voice in his head. //Well, that's never wrong.// Content with this reasoning Die started to wash his arms and chest, briefly scorning Kaoru-san for the lack of the promised servant. He was almost sure the beautiful priest had forgotten it on purpose. Ah, well, he'd pay him back, making him so hot that he'd curse his vow of chastity. It really was a pity... on the other hand it made teasing him all the more exiting and he had to acknowledge Kaoru-san's strength to resist despite the hunger and wild passion he sometimes saw burning in the priest's beautiful, hooded eyes. Die sighed longingly his body tingling with sensual need. Suddenly the door to the bathroom was opened energetically and Die looked up alerted, just in time to see the head of a young man pop in and look around searching. A long braid dangled down on each side of the slightly frowning face, a pouting mouth finishing the expression of petulance. But as the young man spotted Die through the curling vapor he smiled. "Ah, there you are, Saint. Kaoru-san sent me to help you, but I confused the bathrooms." He announced unabashed. Die was rather surprised at the energetic apparition, but then he remembered having seen the bouncy servant around the temple a few times. "Ano... so he didn't forget..." he said still a little overwhelmed. "Well, come on in then." "Hai!" The young servant whirled in and shut the door somewhat noisily, making Die wince. With a kind of horrid fascination he watched as the young man, wearing a white apron and a little white cap bounced closer, the braids dancing on his shoulders. "You want me to get into the bath?" he asked with innocent eagerness, as he slumped down at the rim of the pool, the apron creeping up his thighs to reveal baggy trousers, with a spill of lace under the knees. "That would be advisable if you're going to scrub my back." Die remarked mockingly and then added almost pleading. "And, please, take off your clothes." The young servant pouted, distrusting the redhead's motivations for wanting him to strip. But he got up and discarded his original outfit, before he slid smoothly into the warm water. Die watched the young man strip, being somewhat reconciled by the prospects of a rather cute, naked body. Still he turned his back on the other man, letting him go to work. The hands running over his back felt pleasant enough and the bouncy servant took his time, obviously delighting in touching the beautiful redhead. Unseen by Die he tilted his head sideways a considering pout on his face and then started to massage the Saint's back. Most surprisingly his skill equaled his enthusiasm. The unexpected initiative quite astonished Die and he gave a pleased purr, closing his eyes. "That feels good." "Does it?" the little servant asked eagerly, going on to ease the tension out of the smooth muscles on Die's back. Die didn't bother to reassure the other man again though, for his thoughts drifted back to Kyo. In his relaxed, blissful state he had to admit to himself that he really hoped that the little guy wouldn't do anything stupid in his stubborn resolve to escape from the Temple. He might be right that the Temple pursued its own advantages with the Saints' powers, but who did not? Anyway it was much better here then in the slums and in the Middle Districts... and who knew, perhaps their powers could make the sun return again somehow. Die really would like to see a bright, blazing sun in a high, blue sky someday. He smiled absently, wondering if Kyo's hair would be shimmering golden in the sunlight. It was really mean of the little bugger though, that he wouldn't scrub his back like they'd agreed - well, not exactly agreed, but still. He wondered how Kyo would be going on about washing him. How it would feel to have Kyo's hand run over his naked skin, to feel his sturdy, sleekly muscled body press against his own and to see his wild, black eyes ablaze with lust... "Hmmm, Kyo ..." Die purred softly, lost in his reveries. "My name is Emiru, you know." Reluctantly Die's eyes opened and he looked somewhat confused. "What?" "My name's Emiru and not Kyo." Emiru pouted, stopping his massage. Die couldn't help it but grin at the bouncy servant's not very subtle tone of hurt and offense. "Indeed... Emiru. It's a pretty name." He said gently, using his Voice to reconcile the pouting servant. He didn't see how Emiru's eyes widened but he heard his soft, shaky intake of breath, delighting in it. Slowly he turned around and took another long look at the young man, who gazed attentively up at him. Emiru lacked the allure of style and elegance, but on the other hand his energetic nature could prove rather useful... A cute, squirmy body... Die licked his sensuous lips. He was rather interested in seeing if he could wear out that bouncy servant. With a smile he suddenly backed Emiru up against the rim of the pool and reached out to tug playfully at one of the braids. //The problem is that using my Voice and my powers always affects me too, especially if I use it this way...// "You'd like to attend to all my needs?" he whispered low in Emiru's ear feeling the shudder run through the lovely body pressed against his own. Still the young servant pouted slightly. "You Saints are such a lusty bunch." Die chuckled amused. "We can't help it. It comes from using our powers." "Is it too a gift from the Sun God?" Emiru asked wide-eyed, causing Die to ponder on it for a moment. "Hm, yes, could be. To make up for the pain and the dangers our powers put us through." Then he smiled wickedly and slid his hands slowly down over Emiru's shoulders, while he moved his hips sensually against the other man. "And it enables us to let others see the promise of the Sun in all its glory more often..." Emiru gasped softly and squirmed eagerly against the Saint's beautiful, aroused body, being very attentive to the offered pleasure. "I want to see it." he announced demandingly. Still somewhat horridly enthralled Die tugged again at one of the servant's braids. "Kaoru-san really has a peculiar sense of humor. I'll pay him back though." he murmured softly to himself, pushing the braid back to lick along the curve of Emiru's neck. "Nani? Ahhh...hnnn..." --------- Kaoru-san sneezed and smirked. "Seems someone is talking about me." He mused, getting a sideways glance from Kyo that clearly bespoke his doubt of the priest's sanity. "Yeah. Die surely is cursin' ya for sendin' him such a...such a..." he searched for any word to describe the servant, but it was clearly beyond the range of the vocabulary of the slum slang. "That." He therefore ended rather lamely, relying on practically spitting the word out to convey his disgust. "You should go more easily on your voice, Kyo-sama. It still isn't completely healed from the ravaging experience of your Revelation." Kaoru remarked mockingly. Kyo glowered sullenly, but kept his mouth shut, for most annoyingly the priest was right. His throat burned slightly and he tried to swallow unobtrusively to ease the pain without giving it away. Out of the corner of his eyes Kaoru noticed the small Saint's trouble, but for once he bit back any smug comment, not wanting to bring Kyo up against himself again. Moreover they'd reached the bronze-inlaid double doors that led to Kyo's new rooms. "Here we are, Ray of the Sun." he announced, turning the handle and pushing open one door wing. "Your chambers, if it pleases you." Kyo hesitated a moment before he stepped in and Kaoru had the satisfaction of seeing the young man's black eyes widen in awe. "Oh, fuck!" Kyo then muttered under his breath, making Kaoru grin behind his back. "I take it the room is to your liking then?" he asked with wry amusement, not really expecting an answer, for Kyo was far too absorbed staring at the elegant living room. The walls and high ceiling were covered with gold, green, and red ornaments that wove into intricate patterns, forming frames for asymmetric panels, which held pictures that looked spellbindingly real. And yet everything seemed distorted and unreal at the same time, for the ornamental frames sometimes became part of the pictures and the people, animals and flowers from the pictures interwove with their ornamental frames. Some of the ornaments dissolved into the wall, while elsewhere the wall became ornament and you couldn't tell anymore what was what. Kyo didn't know what the pictures were about, for he was too overwhelmed by the overall effect, but he noticed that the landscapes and buildings shown in them were flooded by an unreal golden light, slanting rays of sunlight making every surface glow. Between the panels holding the paintings were some with milky mirrors that reflected ornaments and paintings in a confusing way. It took Kyo a moment to realize that one of the young men, one with blond, ruffled hair and wide, black eyes that seemed to be part of a painting was actually his own reflection. Unconsciously he drew the oversized robe more tightly around himself and stepped further into the room so his image was no longer caught by the mirror. //I'm not gonna be part of one of their freakin' pictures!// He tore his gaze away to inspect the furniture of the room that matched the wall's ornaments in design and color. There was a small delicate table standing beneath one of the mirrors, an oil lamp resting on it, whose light was tinged golden by a screen surrounding it. The surface of the table with its inlaid stone and woodwork glowed warmly in the syrupy light. Another bigger, but lower table stood in one corner, being surrounded by two high-backed and cushioned chairs and a divan. In an artful arrangement the table held a bowl with fruits, a decanter and three goblets of crystal glass, painted with entwining lines of lead. Only after some time did Kyo realized that there were no windows, the only light coming from various screened oil lamps and a candlestick. To the left another set of doors stood a jar leading into the joining room. Kyo just stared at the doors feeling dizzy and too stunned to remember how to move. As Kaoru put a hand lightly on his shoulder Kyo blinked and then tensed, his gaze darkening to hide how uncomfortable he felt. "Don't you want to move on into the sleeping room, Kyo-sama?" the priest suggested calmly. "You shouldn't overdo yourself. You still need to recover from your fever." Kyo hesitated and then nodded, even letting Kaoru guide him to the sleeping chamber. Worriedly the priest gazed down at the smaller man and then just caught him in time as Kyo's legs buckled and he collapsed. Kaoru gave a soft curse and scooped Kyo up in his arms, searching his pale and slightly shiny face. //Damn it. I ought to have taken better care. The bath and the long walk from there to these rooms must have been quite exhausting in his wasted condition. And I reckon all these impressions added up to it.// After a moment of complete disorientation Kyo found himself being carried. The priest held him cradled up against his lean chest and had his sinewy arms wrapped tightly around him. Kyo tensed up at the unsettling closeness to the other man and then started to struggle against Kaoru's hold on him. "Fuck! Put me down!" Unmoved the priest tightened his grip. "No. You're worn out evidently." "I ain't! I can walk by myself, cursed bastard!" "I see, you just were so very impressed that you wanted to kiss the floor then?" The priest taunted heartlessly. Kyo snarled enraged, the sound making Kaoru's skin crawl with the uncontrolled power that lurked in the small man's voice. //Shit!// Kaoru was so diverted by the danger posed by Kyo's Voice that he didn't see the elbow come that drove right into his stomach, making him almost double over. //Ahhh... that little...// "Kaoru-san. Are you experiencing troubles?" A raspy voice from behind them interrupted their struggle. Kyo felt Kaoru tense in alarm, his arms flexing around him. Suddenly the priest put Kyo back on his feet, though he kept a steadying hand on the smaller man's shoulder then turned around to face the intruder. Kyo back on his own feet again stopped snarling and struggling to turn around with Kaoru. There was a young man standing in the doorway, at least Kyo supposed it was a man, because of the raspy voice and neatly fitting livery on the thin, boyish body. But his long, soft face almost seemed like that of a girl, with its generously sweeping lips and the gentle and somehow sad looking eyes. Russet hair framed the face, the bangs falling into his eyes and two wavy strands brushing his cheeks, while the rest of it was held back by a ribbon. The livery jacket with its big cuffs was closed by a double row of gold buttons down the front, and reached almost down to the young man's calves, the ends being folded back in the front and held by buttons so the knee breeches, with their ribbons and the white silk stockings, could be seen. Silently the thin boy observed them, his whole bearing conveying a neat, contained demeanor, while he waited for the priest to explain himself. Kaoru bowed respectfully. "Shinya-san." His voice sounded a little pressed because of the blow he'd just gotten in his stomach, but otherwise the priest managed to express his competence and conscientiousness in the one word. It didn't work to impress the boy though, or if it did, there was no way telling it. So Kaoru went on just after a short pause. "Saint Kyo is still suffering from the shock of his Revelation. I am getting him to take another rest." Kyo's black eyes suddenly blazed with new rage, not liking it at all to be talked over the head, like he was a stupid child. "The fuck ya're!" he hissed annoyed, making the air between them crackle slightly with the power of his Voice. He felt Kaoru's grip at his shoulder tighten, till his fingers dug painfully into Kyo's flesh under the collarbone, making the smaller man wince slightly. //That fucking...// But then Kyo hesitated, his instincts taking over. //He's warnin' me.// Confused he frowned and gazed at the beautiful young man. Shinya eyed Kyo, his expression giving nothing away, a beautiful, melancholic mask, which somehow spooked the small man. //Curse it, this temple is full of weird people. Freakin' priests, pesterin' redheads, servant...things, and now nifty, spooky boys. And I can't tell what they're all playing at. Fuck them. They are giving us this sama-shit, but the priests have the run of it.// Kyo considered the young man in the livery again, tensing up. //Or that one, whatever he is. Kaoru seems interested in keepin' me alive, but if I make a great stand now, I bet votes will be goin' up to do away with me. Fuck it! Fuck it! Fuck it! I feel like screamin'. Screamin' till they'd all burn, blast, be ripped bloody and broken...// Kyo's sturdy chest heaved with the effort to suppress the urge to give Voice to the desperate, blind rage ravaging him inside. He wasn't quite sure why he tried to stop himself. A part of him wildly gloried in the idea of killing those two men then and there, making them writhe in pain. But there was another small part who shied away of it, recoiled horrified and shocked that he, Kyo, could do such a thing without feeling any regret, without feeling anything but rage and loneliness... //Shut up!// Kyo inhaled sharply, concentrating on the pain of Kaoru's fingers digging into him. //I'll get out of this Temple alive. I'll get out here fuckin' alive!// Kaoru's knuckles had turned white, but he kept the pressure up, feeling the bones slightly crunch beneath his fingers. Cold sweat bathed his body, making the already tightly fitting bodice of his robe cling to his back. He felt the small Saint's struggle reverberate through his hand, an electrifying tension, and he knew that if Kyo lost it there'd be a most agonizing death for him. It was his responsibility and strangely, even now at the brink of disaster he didn't regret the chance he was taking with Kyo. The Saint's face was distorted mirroring his struggle and shortly his wide-open eyes turned all white. Then Kaoru sensed how the small man suddenly regained control, a small jolt and then he relaxed slowly, beginning to sway. Kaoru loosened his grip at Kyo's shoulder and instead slipped his arm around his torso to hold him up, Kyo being too dizzy to protest. A triumphant smile spread on the purple head's lips and for a moment he just revelled in the euphoric feel of the blood rushing through his body. As the priest looked up though, he saw that Shinya's fist hovered a breath away from Kyo's temple. Slightly aghast he stared at the thin young man, who then lowered his arm again, looking like he'd never intended to knock the Saint out cold. "This shouldn't have happened, Kaoru-san." He said evenly. Kaoru licked his dry lips, his eyes still being shiny. "But he did fight it. He was able to control his powers. And you've sensed just how strong they are." "Get him to bed, subdue him and then join me here in the living room." Shinya just told him. Kaoru gritted his teeth, but then inclined his head in a slight bow. "Hai, Shinya-san." After the priest had recognized his orders, Shinya turned and walked over to the other side of the antechamber to wait there. Kaoru's narrow eyed gaze lingered at the young man's thin back, but then his attention was brought back to Kyo by a tremble that run through the small body slumped against his own. "Cold..." the small blonde whispered softly in a cracked voice. The priest guessed that Kyo wasn't aware that he voiced his discomfort out aloud. "There's a warm bed waiting for you." Kaoru said soothingly and coaxed Kyo into the sleeping room, practically carrying the exhausted and disoriented young man. Kyo was too much out of it to even remotely notice that the sleeping room was decorated in the same style as the antechamber, only with a big four-poster bed being the main feature in matters of furniture. Though he did notice the soft mattress as Kaoru lowered him down on it and too the warm eiderdown covers which the priest pulled up to Kyo's nose, tugging him in. //Like my little, white cloud... so soft... Ah, but those have been drug-dreams...//Kyo mused strangely calm and detached. Suddenly he felt a cool hand at his slightly hot face, brushing some tousled strands of hair out of his eyes. Confused Kyo focused on the purple haired priest's face, growing rather uncomfortable at being watched by him. "You did great just now." Kaoru told him calmly. Kyo was too exhausted and stunned to get worked up at the words that couldn't be meant other than patronizing, surely. "Fuck it!" he whispered softly, curling up beneath the warm covers that mounted above him, almost swallowing him in their feathery monstrosity. Silently Kaoru gazed down at the young man, whom he had intended to encourage with his words. But Kyo just looked lost and scared. //He really did great! I'm right about it, we can and should train him!// "Well Kyo-sama, rest for now. And I'll get you something to eat later." //After I've dealt with Shinya-san.// Kaoru got up from the edge of the bed, thinking that Kyo had already fallen asleep on him, therefore it startled him as he suddenly spoke again. "Who was that guy? Not a priest?" "Shinya-san? He is the secretary and nephew of the arch-priest..." Kaoru explained in a hushed voice. "Bastard..." Kyo muttered and then truly drifted off. Kaoru hesitated, then walked over to the small vanity to one side of the bed, and dimmed down the oil lamp standing there, so its light wouldn't disturb Kyo's sleep. Well, it seemed like the young man would sleep anyway, but it gave the priest time to gather his composure before he faced Shinya-san again. Silently he walked over to the door and stopped there, finding Shinya still waiting at the other side of the antechamber, with his back turned almost completely towards him. While he gazed at the secretary's ethereal beauty, Kaoru became uncomfortably aware of his sweat soaked robes clinging to his back and he shifted with a slight frown. Everything about Shinya-san looked neat and correct, from his clothes, to his hair and even the way he stood there, one pale hand laying lightly on the backrest of a chair, while he seemed to observe one of the paintings decorating the wall. The priest wondered if he even breathed... "Is he asleep?" Shinya asked suddenly without turning around, surprising Kaoru, who had thought he hadn't been noticed yet. "Yes, Shinya-san." The priest recovered smoothly, while he watched the beautiful secretary turn around slowly, keeping his hand resting delicately on the chair. "Did you give him some of the sedatives?" Kaoru shook his head. "No. He's already been given a lot the last weeks. He is so exhausted now anyway that he'll sleep for a while." It unnerved the priest that he couldn't even remotely tell if Shinya was angry with him about not having followed his orders. He guessed the arch-priest's secretary disapproved of him and the risks he took with Kyo-sama, but nothing in the young man's composure, facial expression, or even voice gave it away. At no occasion had he ever seen Shinya-san show any emotion, neither joy nor anger. This was especially unsettling because of his position as the arch-priest's most trusted confident. No way to tell if you were in his favor or not. But then Kaoru shrugged inwardly. He'd never been hunting for favor. He knew he was very good at training the saints and he took it very seriously. So, he'd made his decision with Kyo relaying on his experience and on his instincts. And he'd stick to it, taking full responsibility, whatever the arch-priest and his secretary might think of it. //Yeah, what a great guy you are!// Kaoru couldn't help mocking himself, a slight lopsided grin tugging at his mouth, giving him an unintended smug expression. "I know, he is quite wild, Shinya-san, but you saw just now, how he managed to control his powers." The purple haired priest announced. "Just barely though. You ought to realize how close this was." Came the secretary's curt reply. "I think it is even more important that he *wanted* to stay in control." Kaoru pointed out calmly. Unmoved Shinya returned the priest's intense gaze. "The facts are that he is disrespectful, blasphemous and very hard to control. Therefore the arch-priest thinks it unwise to keep him. It will be more lost than gained." "But he is so very strong!" Kaoru insisted, unaware of how his slanting eyes sparkled. "Please, Shinya-san, I'm sure I'll be able to handle him." The beautiful secretary seemed to get even more distanced, confronted with Kaoru's imploring tone. "What I've seen just now, gives me no reason to believe so." "He did stay in control." The priest repeated, trying to let none of his anger and frustration show. "And I haven't even started to train him yet." "The arch-priest is aware of it, that you've proven your talent and abilities continually. But he wants me to remind you that Kyo-sama wouldn't be the first Saint we've lost without it being any priest's failure." Shinya told him utterly neutral. "You shouldn't let yourself be blinded by your ambition, Kaoru-san. Don't let all your attention be consumed by this Saint, especially not now, with the rumors about Saint Sugizo raising again." Kaoru groaned inwardly, about the lecture and about that old tiresome story. //Saint Sugi.// "Nothing has ever been proven about this." He waved it off a little impatiently. "Exactly." The arch-priest's secretary countered neatly. "Nothing has ever been proven. That's what makes the rumors run wild. We need proof that there is nothing to it." "I see." Kaoru bowed slightly to admit his ignorance and to hide a wry smile. But then he turned his attention back to the topic at hand. To Saint Kyo. He wanted to get clear about this. "So, is this my order to kill Saint Kyo on account of him posing too great a risk?" Shinya didn't blink. "Not yet." he answered emotionlessly after a moment. "Be prepared for it though." Calmly Kaoru nodded. "I will." He acknowledged evenly. For a few heartbeats the arch-priest's secretary gazed at him, then he gave a correct little nod. "Kaoru-san." "Shinya-san." Kaoru bowed, waiting like that, till the thin young man had left. -------- Just before the arch-priest's secretary walked out of Saint Kyo's chambers a figure dressed in bright red strolled nonchalantly down the corridor. A humorless smile played around its lips and its long fingered, sinewy hands played with a small, round object. It turned around a corner, the last thing vanishing from sight being one bright red point of a cap. Some moments later a fluffy, violet butterfly flapped silently away along the corridors. --------- Kaoru stared at the table, at the chair beside which the secretary had been standing, his hooded eyes burning with a smoldering, hidden fire. Suddenly his arm shot out and with a brisk movement he whipped one of the beautiful glass goblets from the table, smashing it against the wall so it shattered with a loud clash. HE had never lost a Saint! And he wasn't going to loose wild, powerful Kyo! End Part Three | Part 4 | | Tavernroom | Tales | Hosted by www.Geocities.ws