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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 "
The Agreement "Do you love Heero?" Relena stirred from her somewhat awkward perch and looked at her brother. "Why are you asking me that?" she said, feeling weary down to her core. "Frankly, I'm sick of your schemes, Zechs." The light in his sky-blue eyes was surprisingly gentle. "I'm being serious, Relena. I'm asking after your happiness, nothing more." For once, he looked and sounded sincere. And for some reason, it hurt. Not his inquiry, but everything it brought with it. She could feel the wistful bitterness of her own smile. "Truthfully? I do. I do, and it hurts. I have no reason to believe he reciprocates those feelings." To her surprise Zechs came to her side at once, enfolding her in a hug. "I'm sorry, 'Lena. Have you thought about just telling him how you feel?" Sighing, Relena rested her head against his shoulder. And what good would that do when he coveted the affections of Duo? She was fairly certain she would rather die than cause him pain. "I thought about it," she admitted, "but I suppose I'm not that brave." Zechs pushed her back and cupped her face in his hands. "I will ask him again to consider you as his queen." He smiled. "I should say, empress. Heero did a very thorough job of making sure we can't resist this change he's imposing. In all honesty, my role hasn't changed that much. Heero's new districts broke up a large part of the other kingdoms, but Sanc remains relatively unaffected. It was smaller to begin with, and Heero has allowed me to remain 'governor.' I would still like to see you happy, though. He does have several other eligible men in his entourage. I will seek their betrothals as well, if you wish." Part of Relena deeply appreciated her brother's devotion to her. A very large part of her. But she also wished he wouldn't try so hard. Would it be so terrible if she simply did not marry? Of course, that would mean her brother would have to take care of her for the rest of her life. That held little appeal, either. "I don't know if I could so easily transfer my affections," she said at length. "But I would appreciate a definitive answer from Heero, one way or the other." Zechs kissed her forehead. "Consider it done, little sister. Now, why don't you go find that lovely Duo and take him off Heero's hands so I may speak with him?" o8o o8o Morning had long passed when Duo finally stirred and lifted his head off the smooth, golden chest on which it rested. "Heero?" Heero, lying with an arm flung over his eyes, raised his free hand to stroke Duo's back. "Hmm?" Duo fidgeted. "Why don't you like Zechs?" He could smell Heero's surprise as the human lowered his arm and met Duo's gaze. "What makes you ask that?" Duo shrugged, a little uncomfortable. "I met him last night. Really and actually met him for the first time. He asked me to go for a walk with him. I . . . I like him. He seems courteous and nice." Smiling faintly, Heero reached up to stroke Duo's cheek. "I don't really dislike him, kitten. He just gets to me sometimes. He is quite courteous, but he's also a bit of a pompous ass." Duo raised an eyebrow. "So are you." For a moment Heero looked caught completely off-guard, staring at him with a stunned expression. Then he burst into warm laughter. "I suppose I am, aren't I? After all, I toppled thirteen kingdoms to build myself an empire. Despite what others may think of me now, I really didn't do it to make myself more powerful. An empire will run more smoothly than kingdoms. No more trade taxes or tariffs, no more border traffic and neglected roads. Everything will run smoother, now. I plan to impose new laws to make things easier for merchants and laborers." "Why?" Duo asked, head canting to the side. Heero's thumb brushed over his lip. "Why not? Don't you think that's a good thing?" "Yes," Duo said, nodding, "but why are you bothering?" Frowning a little, Heero dropped his hand to his chest. "I guess I never really talked economics with you, did I? My father was a good king, Duo. He won the trust of the common folk, made sure their lives were not made more difficult by steep taxes and land fees. He never took anything from them they couldn't do without, and he taught me that it is them who provide the stability and wealth of any kingdom." "Oh," Duo said, tapping his lip thoughtfully. "He must have been a wise man." He smiled. "As are you, Emperor." Snorting, Heero tucked his hands behind his head. "There's going to be a formal ceremony announcing me as Emperor Heero Yuy of the Axiom Empire. It is on that date that all my laws will formally come into effect." He abruptly sat up, his hand coming up again to touch Duo's face. "And there's something else I have to talk with you about." Duo didn't like what crept into Heero's familiar scent. Something troubled and worried. "What?" he asked. Whispered, really. Heero sighed. "I'm only throwing this out here for consideration," he said, "and I won't decide anything without you, I promise." "Okay," Duo said, voice still threatening to fail. The word sounded shaky. "It's important for a kingdom to have a queen," Heero said, his focus intense on Duo's face. "She helps establish and retain unity, garnering sympathy from the common populace." Duo thought his heart would stop as he stared into Heero's eyes. He swallowed compulsively, unable to say anything. Heero never stopped stroking his face. "It's the same for an empire," he said softly, "perhaps more so. I've been thinking about it for a few years, actually." "You . . ." Duo's voice lost its strength and he licked his lips, trying again. "You want . . . to get married? To a woman?" Leaning forward, Heero pressed a warm kiss to Duo's forehead. "It would be a ceremonial position, Duo. Nothing more. A business arrangement, if you like. She would never find her way into either my bed or my heart. You are the only person I will ever love in that way, and there is nothing more important to me than you." Duo felt weak. "And . . . I would be . . . what, exactly? Your . . . pet . . . on the side?" Heero swung his legs over the edge of the bed and pulled Duo into his arms. "No. Of course not. I have no intention of hiding my love for you, Duo. I had rather thought to make you my consort. If . . . if you decided to stay with me, of course." Duo had never, ever heard a hint of hesitancy in Heero's voice before, not even a trace. But there it was now, barely detectable. Heero wanted him to stay, feared Duo choosing to leave him. It instantly calmed all of Duo's fears. He tucked his head under his love's chin with a little sigh. "I think I would be all right with that . . . as long as she knew right from the beginning. And as long as I like her." He smiled. He knew what a consort was, of course, and he was fine with being Heero's consort. It was as close as he could ever be to his love. As a male he couldn't be empress, now, could he? He laughed softly at the thought. "What?" Heero murmured, lips brushing over Duo's temple. Sighing, Duo shook his head with a smile. "Nothing. Do you have someone in mind already?" "Yes," Heero said. "I think you will approve, too." o8o o8o "Duo, do you mind my asking how your talk with Heero went?" Duo paused in his romping and shifted forms. He gave Relena a bright smile. "I don't mind your asking. It was fine. Good. Everything is perfect now. And I was right, too. Heero does love me. He told me so. Many, many times." He blushed a little and ducked his head. Though Relena gave him a sweet smile, it was a hint sad. And there was something . . . something in her scent that reflected that, too. "I'm glad," she murmured. For a moment Duo gazed at her. It struck him what he must be seeing. It was similar to disappointment. Relena was in love with Heero, too. He blinked, surprised. How had he not noticed before? Then again, he of all people could understand. After all, he'd fallen in love with his guardian. What was not to love? "Are you all right?" he asked, opting out of commenting and instead shifting into his leopard form to rub his face against her cheek with a purr. She laughed quietly. "I'm fine," she assured him. "I'm glad it was Heero that took you in, and no one else. You deserve every happiness life can afford, Duo." So do you, Duo thought, licking her hand. o8o o8o "I know you can't have been ignoring the matter," Zechs said, raising an eyebrow. "A man in your position?" The younger man sighed. "No, I've not been ignoring it, Zechs. But there have been a lot of unstable changes occurring in my life. I could not afford to act thoughtlessly, nor would I have chosen to. But I have been thinking about it. I never disagreed with you that I should take a queen." "I see," Zechs said. "Then you've not only made up your mind, but made a decision, too." "Yes," Heero agreed, nodding. "And I'm going to make you an offer. One that comes with conditions. I like your sister, and I trust her. I will take her as my bride, but only if she is made aware from the beginning that I do not love her. Nor could I. After my coronation, I plan to announce my intentions to not only marry, but take a consort as well." Well. Zechs certainly hadn't been expecting that. Relena really did love Heero, so it would be hard on her to marry a man who did not feel the same. And how had she known he wouldn't? Ah well. Women seemed more intuitive to these things than men. She still couldn't do better in a marriage, and Heero would treat her well. "I'm fine with that, but I would request one thing. If she manages to find a love of her own, would you allow her to take a consort, as well?" "Yes," Heero said without hesitation. "I would not deny her happiness. This marriage would be a business arrangement, Zechs, nothing more. I know it sounds cold, but I believe in honesty." Zechs held out his hand. "As do I. I believe we have an accord, Your Majesty." Heero shook it. "Please leave the ultimate decision up to her." "I will," Zechs promised as he turned to take his leave. He paused on the threshold. "This woman you love, she is very lucky." A hint of a smile played across Heero's lips. "I'm the lucky one, Zechs." o8o o8o "The other monarchs seem to be more accepting, now," Trowa said. His mouth twisted into a grin. "It helps that General Blackstone keeps acting as though he's dying for them to enter into war with our forces." The general in question raised his eyebrow. "It ain't an act, young lord," he barked. "There are forces all over this great empire itching for a good battle. It's been far too long. We'd like a fresh field on which to test our skills." Heero couldn't help it and chuckled. Blackstone may be a bloodthirsty fellow, but he was trustworthy. His undying loyalty was to the Yuy crown, and Heero in particular. He believed in what Heero was doing, since he himself was among the common folk Heero defended. "You shouldn't wish for war," he chided mildly, "because you might get it. I made a lot of spoiled people unhappy. And it's not the former monarchs themselves that will cause me trouble. It's their nobility who will feel slighted the most." Blackstone shook his grizzled head. "Big bunch of worthless scum," he scoffed. "If they rally any kind of force into a semblance of an army, our troops will flatten them before they begin their first march." Heero opened his mouth to say something, but a knock on his study door forestalled him. Sally Po entered without waiting for an invitation, that boldness what had so appealed to Heero. "I am sorry to interrupt," she said, bowing, "but there are a few . . . special individuals here to see you, Heero. They told me you would remember and wish to speak with them right away. Do you recognized the name Kal'an?" Heero's heart jumped into his throat. So they'd finally come. He'd been dreading this day for months. "Yes," he said. "Please take them to my private audience chamber. My lords, we'll reconvene to discuss this further tomorrow." They each gave him a bow as he followed Sally out, heart pounding unpleasantly. "After you bring them to me, please find Duo. He's right outside with Relena. I'm sure they will want to see him, too." Her eyes were concerned. "They're Shamans, aren't they?" "Yes," Heero confirmed. Nodding, she left him. Heero briefly considered dressing in something more formal, but it probably wouldn't have much impact on Kal'an and whomever she'd brought. The animal Shamans were vastly different from humans. After all, even one of them was a thousand times more dangerous than one of Heero's army divisions. There were three of them. Kal'an, her daughter Tor'ai, and another Heero didn't recognize but knew just the same. She looked so much like his precious Duo there could be no mistaking her. Though her auburn-cinnamon hair was shorter than Duo's by a significant length and her eyes were paler, she was obviously Duo's mother. Heero felt a sudden and unkind rush of anger toward her. She had no right to show up now and demand he give her son back after she'd left him with Heero for so long. "Kal'an," he said, inclining his head. "I was rather wondering when you'd be coming back." The Earth Shaman nodded. "We held back long enough to make sure he's had plenty of time to transform fully. How is Al'duo'anon?" At that long name Heero twitched. He'd actually forgotten that was the name they'd given Duo. "He's fine," he said. "Your hopes were all fulfilled with this one. He's a Storm Shaman, just as you were trying for." The three women exchanged excited glances. "Please," said his mother, "where is he? Surely you asked that he come here?" "Of course I did," Heero said somewhat flatly, wishing he could make his voice more polite. Or something. "He should be coming now." "Has he been happy?" Kal'an asked. "I'd like to think so," Heero replied, "though I suppose you will have to ask him. I have tried to see he wants for nothing." "I'm glad to hear it," the Earth Shaman said, nodding. "Have you reached conclusions concerning our people?" "Yes," Heero said. "I will see to it no one progresses any further west. It will never be a wish of mine that drives humanity past the Dragon's Spine." They did look greatly relieved to hear it, but Heero didn't care. He didn't care about any of them. And he wasn't sure he would hold to that if they took Duo from him. All of their impressive magics could not keep him from Duo. Not now that he finally knew Duo loved him, too. Sally returned with Duo, and he gave Heero that painfully sweet smile of his. It made Heero melt inside, want to hold him and never, ever let him go. Then his eyes fell on the three women, and he froze. His eyes darted between them, and they stared at him. Heero supposed they smelled different than humans. It felt like time had stopped while they looked at each other, while Heero waited for Duo to make a move. To say something. Then, abruptly, he did. His body gave a little jerk, then he hurried to Heero's side, embracing him tightly. It wasn't what Heero had been expecting, but his arms immediately came up to encircle him. He felt Duo take a deep breath as he rested his head against Heero's neck. After a moment he looked at them. It was Kal'an who broke the strange, uncomfortable silence. "Have you told him what he is?" she asked Heero. He didn't get the chance to respond. Duo stirred and turned in Heero's arms to face them. His eyes were hard and cold, and he didn't try to step out of Heero's hold. "Yes," he said in a toneless voice. "Who are you?" Kal'an smiled gently. "My name is Kal'an. I'm an Earth Shaman. This is your mother, Al'duo'anon. Shai'a." Duo stiffened in Heero's arms, and he stepped backward. At least, he tried. He was already too close to Heero to move back much. "Why are you here?" he demanded. Shai'a twitched, but again it was Kal'an who responded. "We're here to take you home, of course," she said. "Your place is with us, not with humans." "My place," Duo nearly spat, "is wherever I wish it to be. And I wish to be by Heero's side. And that is not my name. It's Duo. I belong here, and I will not leave him!" "Duo—" Shai'a began softly. Duo sent her a frigid glare. "You are not my mother. Heero raised me and has cared for me all this time. None of you have any right to decide where I should be!" Heero tightened his arms, so relieved to hear Duo say these things he felt weak. The three of them stared at Duo, apparently at a loss. Well, what had they expected? Duo hadn't been raised believing there were plenty of Shamans. And that was at their request. "We brought you to him to teach him compassion toward our people," Kal'an said eventually. "You belong with us, Duo. Your people. The Shamans." Duo's slim body tensed even more. "You decided that on your own," he snapped. "I will not leave Heero, and I will fight you if you try to make me!" At that they visibly backed down. "Don't you have any idea how important you are to us?" Tor'ai asked with a frown. "We've been counting on your birth for hundreds of years." "You should have thought of that before you made your decision, then," Duo dismissed it. "What did you expect, anyway? Heero is all I have ever known!" "There's so much you have to learn that he cannot teach you!" Kal'an protested. "Duo, how can you possibly learn to control your power to the fullest without our teaching?" Now Duo hesitated, and Heero's heart stopped. "I will not leave Heero," the young leopard Shaman repeated. "Then what if we sent another Shaman here, to teach you?" Shai'a suggested in that soft voice of hers. "He could help you realize your full potential, Duo." At this, Duo turned to look at Heero. The request in his eyes was clear, would that be all right with him? That solution was far, far more attractive to Heero. The thought of losing Duo was . . . too painful. He nodded slightly, and Duo faced the three Shaman women. "All right," he said, "as long as you agree he will not try to convince me to leave. I will not." "We will see to it," Shai'a promised. There was real pain in her eyes. "Duo, may we . . . I . . . come to see you sometimes? I have . . . missed you your whole life." Some of the coldness in Duo's eyes relented. "If you want," he said at length. She merely nodded. Hours later, after they had gone, Heero held Duo tightly in his arms, watching the sun set from atop one of the rampart walls. It was a little cold, but with Duo so close he barely noticed. He lowered his head and breathed deeply of Duo's sweet, wild, familiar scent. "I'm so glad you don't want to leave," he whispered. Duo let out an odd little sound, a sort of grunting giggle. "After I spent so long persuading you that you really do love me and want to make love to me? Not likely. I'm not going anywhere, Heero, not even if you tried to make me." Heero snorted softly. "Not likely, sweet kitten. I love you, and I'm never letting anyone take you from me." Duo buried his face in Heero's throat. "I'm not," he mumbled. "What?" "A kitten. I'm not a kitten anymore, Heero." Smiling, Heero kissed his forehead. "Believe me,
I know."
tbc |
