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"The King and the Shaman "Written By: Jewel of Hell Disclaimer: Don't own nothin' but these words Rating: NC 17 Warnings: AU, Fantasy/Drama/Romance, Yaoi, lemon, language (the usual), peril, violence, animal shamans, neko Duo, king Heero, impending war, sentient-formless evil Pairings: 1x2, others Summary: Heero is the young king of a country
he wants to expand into an Empire. One day he is approached by a woman
who claims she is an animal Shaman, creatures of legend and myth.
She makes an offer Heero cannot refuse. " The King and the Shaman "
Things were going to change again. He could feel it. And he was fairly certain he knew what they were changing into. o8o o8o "Heero?" Duo's voice had turned from silk to velvet. Pitched lower now, deeper than before, it was still honey-sweet. The effect it had on him was different now, too. Before his heart had warmed considerably, filling with affection, deep fondness, and tender emotions like that. Now, something warmer, deeper, and borderline-uncomfortable filled it. Something dangerously close to desire. And that was flat-out something he could not allow. Duo was his charge, it wasn't appropriate. He'd raised him from infancy, for heaven's sake. What would Duo think of him if he knew his guardian desired him? He would be appalled. It was wrong. So wrong. That didn't make looking at his beautiful face, his lovely body, all that smooth skin any easier. "Heero?" Those eyes, those indigo-violet eyes, so dark and deep. His skin was like silk, and Heero knew. Duo didn't wear clothing to bed, and he slept pressed close to his guardian, making it all the more difficult— Two cool hands gently cupped his face to make him look up. "Heero. Are you awake?" Blink. Heero finally focused on the beautiful youth trying to get his attention. "Yes?" he said, faintly amused at the focused, determined look on his little darling's face. Duo frowned, probably sensing he was being teased. "I've been saying your name a hundred times," he said reproachfully. Then he brightened. "What are you thinking about? Even your smell is distracted." Heero blinked again. "My smell?" "Mm hmm. Haven't I told you before that your emotions usually have a specific smell? The stronger they are the easier it is for me to pick up on it. Anger is especially easy." "Really," Heero mused. "No, you haven't ever mentioned that." "Huh," Duo said, frowning adorably, his nose wrinkling in thought. "I could have sworn . . . oh well." He smiled, leaning forward and burying his nose in Heero's neck. "You always smell like . . . you." "Wow," Heero said, raising an eyebrow. "Who would have thought. Silly kitten. Who else would I smell like?" Duo giggled. Sometimes he still acted very much like a kitten. "I smell like you, too," he pointed out. "Isn't that weird?" "Well, you do sleep in my bed," Heero reminded him. "Oh," Duo said as though it never would have occurred to him that would make a difference. Maybe it never would have occurred to him. Smiling, Heero ignored his own better sense and pulled the young Shaman against him. "Are you up to a journey with me, little love? I want to travel to a neighboring kingdom. It will take about three or four weeks." Duo pulled back enough to peer into his eyes, smiling brightly. "Yes. And I can make sure we have optimal traveling weather!" Yet unused to Duo's unique powers, Heero blinked before it occurred to him what his kitten was talking about. "You don't need to squander your power on something so trivial," he protested mildly. Duo did that thing he'd been doing since a tiny kitten: nuzzled his nose into Heero's neck. The always vaguely-ticklish feeling was now a little more distracting. "I don't mind," he mumbled, and Heero could feel his soft, warm lips moving against his bare skin. It took all his self-control not to shiver. "Duo," he asked quietly, "have you taught yourself to hunt?" That made the young Shaman pull away to look at him inquisitively. "Yes. Why?" "Mm, I was just curious. I know you're a carnivore, but it's not sensible to take fresh meat on a long journey. And I don't want you eating dried meat, either. That stuff is tasteless and probably unhealthy." The look Duo gave him was hard to interpret. But those amazing indigo-violet eyes were shimmering, a bright gleam that captured Heero and would not let him go. To his shock and amazement, he realized Duo was leaning toward him, very slowly, ever-so-slightly canting toward him. Does he actually want me to kiss him? Somewhere in the courtyard, the herald let out a noisy announcement that Lord Wufei Chang had arrived. Heero blinked, feeling like he'd been caught in a momentary time warp. Duo started as though coming to his senses and rose with something akin to a flush dusting his pale cheeks. It was quite lovely to watch. Stop thinking like that. Heero stood, reaching out and brushing Duo's face as he walked by. "Would you like to greet him with me? I bet you can stun him into speechlessness, my pretty one." He gave Duo a smile too gentle to be a true grin - which was what he'd wanted. Unfortunately, Duo really was pretty. More, he was beautiful. Stunning. And that lovely flush deepened. "Do you really think I'm pretty, Heero?" Heero's light touch turned into a caress, his thumb stroking Duo's full, lower lip. "Yes. Very. I'm positive there's no one in this country or any who wouldn't think so." Lowering his eyes, looking shy and adorable, Duo leaned into Heero's touch. Reluctantly pulling away, Heero focused on getting dressed. It was too dangerous to allow his thoughts to stray that way. To Duo, he was sure it was simple flattery and nothing more. "You didn't answer me, sweet. Did you want to greet him with me?" "As long as your court won't be assembled," Duo said, hopping to his feet. "No," Heero assured him. "Not today. This will be a private audience. I'm going to finally meet the new Lords of the Land for my empire. Now that you're grown, I can pick up where I abruptly left off." He snorted. "I guess I can't keep the other kingdoms hanging indefinitely. I wouldn't want anyone getting an ulcer." Duo's giggle drifted up somewhere behind him, then abruptly he was being hugged from behind. The Shaman buried his nose in Heero's neck, breathing deeply as though enjoying his guardian's scent. "I've never met anyone who smells as nice as you," he mumbled. For a moment, Heero fought with his burgeoning desire. "Oh?" "Mm. Yours is the first scent I can recall." That fleetingly reminded Heero of Kal'an, how she'd so innocently requested that Heero lend her his cloak only to return with Duo wrapped in it as a tiny, tiny kitten. More than two years ago. It felt so long, yet so close. That day that had so suddenly and completely changed his life. For the better. "What?" Duo whispered. "What are you thinking about?" "The day you came into my life, actually," Heero replied. "Here, wear this. You look nice in red and black." "Okay!" Duo chirped, snatching the clothes and shimmying into them. The form-fitting, full-leg breeches were a shiny ebony, while the lace-up blouse of red was pure silk. The black tunic had silver embroidery on the lapels, twining designs neither symmetrical nor geometrical. Heero did manage to convince his Shaman to put on soft leather boots. Himself he dressed in royal blue, his signature color. He decided to forgo his usual formal robes, because Wufei was a trusted friend. He also neglected his gold crown and pulled on his own boots. Smiling at Duo, who was perched on the windowsill like a perfect masterpiece, he held out his arm. Duo returned his smile, lighting up to shame the sun and laid his slim, pale hand on Heero's arm. Since yesterday when Duo had transformed into his final, mature form, no one had seen the young Shaman. Heero couldn't wait to see what kind of eyes his beautiful youth drew. Undoubtedly he would make anyone at all stare. Indeed, when he entered his audience chamber, the heralds both stared until Heero was sure their eyes would fall out of their heads. His chamberlain looked fit to faint. "Ah, Y-Your Majesty," he faltered, "is that . . . umm . . . when . . ." Biting his lip and rescuing the poor fool, Heero nodded. "This is Duo, chamberlain. Please greet Lord Chang and escort him directly here." After a few seconds more of staring, the chamberlain bowed so low he nearly fell over on his pudgy face and scuttled off. As soon as he was gone, Duo actually hissed. "Repugnant man," he growled. Heero couldn't help it and laughed. He led Duo to the dais. "What about him is so distasteful?" he inquired. "Besides everything?" Duo replied sweetly, nuzzling Heero's ear. Chuckling, Heero pushed him away. "He always stinks of fear and timidity," Duo answered, settling himself gracefully in the gilded chair beside Heero's throne. That struck Heero funny, too. "You've been around me too long," he mused, watching Duo. Had he always been that graceful? "I did pick up a few things from you," Duo said, sounding thoughtful about that. Then he grinned. "I'm glad you're a king, Heero. It would have been the pits to be raised like someone mousy like the chamberlain." Heero laughed out loud at that. Imagine that! He was quite certain his feisty little kitten would have given the chamberlain ulcers. Probably already had, and he seldom saw Duo. "Well, you'd better not be laughing at my expense," Wufei's familiar, rich voice said from across the hall. The tall, elegant man strode toward the throne with a smile, followed by four people all his height or more. Heero smiled and rose, shaking his head. "Never, my friend," he assured the slightly older man, embracing him warmly. "Please, introduce me to the men and women who will be ruling my empire for me." He winked. To a one they smiled broadly. Good. Treize Khushrenada was from the province of Kortal. He was the governor thereof, which would explain why Heero had never met him. Though Kortal was well within Cairon's jurisdiction, governors had a lot to do. It was good to know the man took his job seriously, rather than abandoning it for Court gatherings and posturing. Lucrezia Noin was actually from Tiam. The second cousin of the queen, she looked every bit as regal and commanding as the queen herself did. That little tidbit pleased Heero greatly. It would appease Tiam (though it didn't matter one way or another) that one of their own would be in Heero's confidence. Trowa Barton was a relative unknown. The young man didn't speak of his past, and Heero didn't pry. It was his right to know, as king, but he didn't much care. The man was strong and a fully-capable leader, and for the last year he'd served as a high-ranking leader in Heero's army. "This is Sally Po," Wufei concluded. "She's a scholar and scribe from the University of Pandaea. I know you care little for your chamberlain . . ." he smirked. "Now that those are out of the way and we are all friends, you have an introduction of your own. Surely that lovely creature by your side cannot be our kitten, Duo?" Smiling, Heero took Duo's hand and pulled the young Shaman to his side. "Indeed it is. My friends, this is Duo. He is a Storm Shaman, and he has been with me from infancy." No longer the shy little thing that hung back behind Heero, Duo gave them all a graceful - and somewhat shallow - bow. His smile was full of mystery and veiled intent, his eyes hiding much and saying little. "Welcome to Cairon." "Storm Shaman?" Trowa repeated, his one visible eyebrow raising. The other remained concealed behind locks of soft brown hair. "As in, the animal Shamans legend speaks of so briefly?" Sally Po picked up, looking intrigued. "They are thought to be pure myth." "I assure you they are not," Heero mused. "Duo is a leopard, a fully-grown Shaman of storms. He can control the weather at will, and it is impressive to behold, let me tell you." A hint of a flush crept over Duo's lovely cheeks. "I would like very much to learn more of where I came from," he said, smiling at Sally. "Heero's library of books is extensive, but it holds little obscure literature like that." She nodded. "Most libraries don't. There's depressingly little information on your people. I can, however, tell you everything I know. It would be my pleasure." That flushed deepened a tiny bit, and for a moment Heero was entranced by the beauty. Blinking, he dragged his eyes back to Sally. "Consider that your first duty as my new chamberlain."
He smiled, then encompassed all the others in his gaze. "Tomorrow,
I will issue a formal summons to all the reigning monarchs of the
kingdoms. As of this moment, I am officially moving forward with my
campaign to dissolve the kingdoms and build my empire. My armies are
poised on the brink of action and you, my friends, will be at my side
as we create a new world, a better one, a stronger one. One
that we will lead into the future!"
tbc |
