043 Giggly

Title: Snap

Fandom: Original

Characters:

Prompt: 043 giggly

Word count: 1,655

 Rating: PG-13

Warnings/spoilers: none

Summary: a discussion, a game of snap and a revelation .

The evening meal was more subdued than it was the previous night. Aries, Takashi and Reki were all brooding on various matters, and Leo was just being quiet as usual. Wolfee, Sakamaru and Libraya tried to engage in conversations, but found it uncomfortable with the looming silence that hung over the rest of the party. Eventually they gave up, and once they had finished eating, left to the room across the hall where Libraya and Sakamaru and woken up that morning, to have a bit of fun and a decent conversation.

Leo left shortly afterwards. Aries glanced at him as he left and felt her back prickle uncomfortably. She was equally disturbed by the awful way he had made her feel and his teasing and newly found habit of making snide comments to her. She nudged Reki in the arm and indicated that she was going to leave. Panicked, Takashi said that he would also retire for the night. Reki’s eyes welled up and she grabbed Aries’ wrist as she was leaving, and stared forcefully at her to tell her she had to talk to her. Takashi said a curt goodnight to them and left, leaving Aries and Reki to walk down the corridor to Aries’ room.

“What was it you wanted to talk to me about?” Aries asked as she shut the door behind them.

“What happened with you and Leo when I was gone?”

“Nothing happened. I just don’t like him.” Aries tried in vain, knowing this wouldn’t fool her friend.

“What did he do?”

“I don’t want to tell you. I don’t even know! It’s stupid anyway, and you wouldn’t believe me.”

“I trust you Aries. You wouldn’t make up something ridiculous for no reason.”

“I- fine.”

They sat down on the side of Aries’ bed, and she explained to Reki what had happened. She slowed down when she tried to explain how she had felt when Leo had kissed her.

“I don’t even know how it felt, it just felt…bad. It scared me a little. It didn’t feel like it was Leo that made that feeling, it was as if…it was something else, something inside of him…”

Reki flinched a little at the description, but Aries wasn’t paying her much attention, so it went unnoticed.

“I know you didn’t make that up…that time when I passed out on the village green, that was from Leo…it just sort of hurt. Like his soul was screaming at me and trying to kill me.”

Aries looked at her.

“Uh…it wasn’t that bad. It made me afraid, but not like I was in danger. Just like, like he could kill me if he wanted to. Not like he was going to, you know?”

“Um, yeah. I guess I had a more extreme reaction to it. I wonder why.”

Aries smiled.

“You know why, though no one else does. I know you’re hiding something from me Reki, that there are parts of your story I’m missing, and if you get your way I’ll never know them. That’s okay, you don’t have to tell me. There are things you don’t know about me as well.”

“Yeah…you’re right. I would tell you if I could, Ari.”

“I know.”

“Thank you.” Reki hugged her.

“I wonder just what he is…I don’t really want to travel with him anymore, but at the same time, I’d feel better knowing he’s here, so I know he’s not…doing anything weird.”

Reki raised an eyebrow and giggled.

“Oh- you know what I mean! The man uses dark magic. I don’t think he’s human.”

“SNAP! I win again!”

“Fuck you Sakamaru! How good are you at his game? I’ve only won one hand!”

Sakamaru grinned as Wolfee forked over the money he had been betting. Wolfee grumbled and took another swig out of the bottle next to him.

“You know that alcohol dulls your senses, Wolfee? Maybe that’s why you keep loosing.” Libraya was lying on the sofa, and flicked a bottle top at Wolfee’s head as she spoke. Wolfee over-reacted when it hit him, right on the nose. Libraya smiled- one of her best talents was her precise aim. She had only been drinking lightly, so she found it endlessly amusing watching the wolf-boy slurring and trying to work out how Sakamaru kept winning at snap. He keeled over and started giggling on the floor, and Libraya raised and eyebrow. Sakamaru shrugged happily and pocketed Wolfee’s money.

“You are going to give that back to him, aren’t you Sakamaru?”

“Nope.” He smiled at her. “Why would I?”

“He was totally stoned when you won it off him.”

“Even better, he won’t remember it’s me who has it.”

“Sakamaru!”

He raised his hands in mock surrender.

“Look, it’s not just because he’s off his head. I just happen to be good at snap.”

“Oh really?”

“Yes. Want a game?”

Libraya shrugged and lifted herself off the sofa, and took a less comfortable seat on the floor opposite Sakamaru. He started dealing the cards, but Libraya stopped him.

“I think I’ll be doing that. I wouldn’t want you to cheat.”

Sakamaru smiled.

“I could never remember all those cards. I rely on my quick fingers and dashing looks to throw my lady opponents off.”

Libraya rolled her eyes and finished dealing the cards. Sakamaru looked at her with a wide grin on his face.

“So what should our stakes be?”

“If I win, you give Wolfee back his money.”

Sakamaru made a face.

“Fine, but if I win, you owe me double.”

“…Just how much is that?”

“Not much, only 600 gold.”

“O-oh.”

“Don’t back out now, Libraya.”

“I’m not backing down!”

She noticed too late the smile on Sakamaru’s face, which clearly showed that he had been egging her on. She whined and flipped over a card.

Ten minutes later, The two were still on the floor, with fierce looks of concentration on their faces. The piles they had in front of them were just about equal. Sakamaru was secretly a little worried; his quick fingers usually allowed him to beat any opponent within a matter of minutes, but Libraya was agile and had fast reactions. He didn’t like the thought of giving Wolfee back his gold though, so he kept his focus.

Libraya won the next hand, leaving only 20 cards. They flipped them over one by one. By the time they got to the last card, Sakamaru had made up his mind. As it stood, Libraya was winning. If he yelled snap at the end, he lost nothing if he was wrong. If he was right, however, the game was his. Libraya flipped it over.

“SNAP!”

Sakamaru grinned triumphantly at the two aces in the centre of the floor. Libraya groaned as she realised that she had lost.

“Pay up, dear.”

“I don’t have it. When I get it, I’ll give it back to you, okay?”

“Okay.” Libraya began to pack up the cards.

“Actually no, wait.”

She gave him a quizzical look.

“Let’s just say you owe me a favour, hmm?”

“I don’t know if that’s better or worse than the money.”

“Much better. For both of us.” He grabbed a piece of paper and scribbled a quick contract on it, and held it out for Libraya to sign. She gave it an evil glare before signing it. She felt sure it would come back to haunt her, but when Sakamaru pocketed it with a happy smile on her face, she felt sure that her friend wouldn’t treat her too harshly.

The next morning, the party found themselves seated in the circular room again, with the exception of Takashi, who still hadn’t turned up. A maid had bought the tea, toast and berry cordial that they were consuming, before opening the curtains and slipping away before Wolfee could catch her. Libraya and Sakamaru had been conversing about the night before, trying to avoid saying anything that would let Wolfee know that he was 300 gold short, whilst Aries and Reki were having a heated discussion about the nature of mountain bears. Leo didn’t have a book, so he was lazily throwing the odd comment at Wolfee, who responded with a waterfall of words that Leo was only half listening to. The air was bright and cheerful, with laughter hanging around them.

The doors opened, and a very washed out Takashi entered the room.  He plonked himself down on a sofa and discontentedly poured himself a cup of tea. Reki got up and sat down next to him, giving him an inquisitive look, but he just shook his head. She tried a few times to engage him in conversation, but found him unresponsive and chose to settle with eating another piece of toast.

By the time Takashi had finished his tea, the whole party had noticed Takashi’s gloom and were sitting in near silence. Finally, finding the silence irritating, Aries spoke up.

“Takashi, you look like a man whose last hope was snuffed out. What wrong? Did someone tell you you can’t wear frills anymore?” She looked disdainfully at the ruffled cravat he wore at his neck.

“Shut up, Aries.”

They all looked at him in mild surprise at the frankness of his response. Aries furrowed her eyebrows.

“Now I’m really confused. What’s going on?”

“I-”

He stopped and mumbled an excuse, making to leave the room, but Reki grabbed his shirttails and pulled him back. She gave him a stubborn stare, telling him he wasn’t going anywhere until he talked. Takashi slid his eyes to the side, refusing to make eye contact with her.

“I’ve been talking things over with my parents. You’re all off the hook with the whole execution thing…”

“Hey! That’s a good thing! Now we don’t get, like, killed.” Wolfee waved his arms frantically in happiness.

“Well, there’s a condition.”

“Whatever it is, it’s better than being dead! Name your price, m’dear!”

“I’m not travelling with you anymore.”

042 Giddy

Title: Stalker

Fandom: Original

Characters:

Prompt: 042 giddy

Word count: 1058

 Rating: PG-13

Warnings/spoilers: none

Summary: Leo only does it to annoy her (and freak her out for kicks).

Aries was very, very annoyed. After the whole incident, Leo had finished his tea and left, probably to the gigantic library or a quiet turret (she was trying hard not to think that a girls room might be on that list too) before Aries could get him back. She was stomping in a rather unladylike fashion around the gardens. To top it off, she was lost; the gardens were insanely large. She just wandered around without a purpose, believing that if she didn’t try to get out, eventually she would find the exit. Fate didn’t want to humour her though, and left her unrelentingly lost in the sweet-smelling maze.

She snapped out of her deep thought to realise that she had just passed the stone statue of the great king Conroy the second for the third time. Annoyed, she plonked herself down on an ornate stone bench under a rose arch. She snuggled into a corner and sighed, pondering how long she could wait before she got restless and had to move again.

Leo had been wandering around the castle, trying to find somewhere quiet to sit down and read.  However, Wolfee had been following him everywhere- he didn’t seem to understand that Leo’s idea of a good afternoon was not surrounded by people. He had tried to shake him off in the library (Wolfee couldn’t stand sitting still for more than a few minutes) by sitting down and reading a thick leather-bound tome on poisonous plants, but Wolfee had amused himself by flirting with the librarian.

Though he hadn’t had much success, it still kept him more entertained than Leo wanted. Finally he had given up, shut his book and left. Wolfee had, of course, followed him, but he had managed to loose the unrelenting wolf-boy by slipping into a small side corridor. Unfortunately, there was nowhere he could sit quietly, as the corridor ended in a cleaning closet, so he decided to find somewhere a little more glamorous. After checking Wolfee wasn’t behind him, he set off to the gardens.

On the third throne in the main hall, Takashi was waiting for his parents. He had been there for about half an hour, without any word. He had tried to leave twice, but the palace guards had ushered him back to his seat. He had thrown his legs over the armrest, with his back to the opposite corner. It wasn’t incredibly comfortable, but it was better than sitting normally- that made him feel like a pompous snob. He was letting his thoughts drift around, trying not to think about Reki who had snuck out of the castle to survey the town and forest. After five more minutes, the monarchs finally arrived, and took their seats. The thrones were arranged in a semi-circular shape, so that they could see the people on the floor down the steps and each other.

Takashi let out a sigh, knowing precisely how this conversation was going to go.

Aries woke, letting out a small moan- the stone she had been sleeping on made her back ache. She sat up, rubbed her eyes and spluttered.

On the opposite end of the bench was Leo, calmly reading his book.

“And just WHAT are you doing here?”

He glanced at her through his black-rimmed glasses.

“Reading.”

“I noticed. I mean what are you doing HERE?”

“Aah, then you should have emphasised ‘here’ the first time. Though the answer is still the same. I’m reading.”

“Don’t get smart with me! I passed hundreds of benches on the way here, why did you choose this one?”

“That statue is very famous, you know. I wanted to see it. Don’t fool yourself- it has nothing to do with you.”

Aries looked at him fiercely, resisting the urge to send out a flame to burn his book, or better yet, his face. She’d seen his powers firsthand though, and knew it wouldn’t work. She satisfied herself with retaliation.

“I bet you just wanted to watch me whilst I slept, you stalker.”

“You’re bothered by my love-life, aren’t you?”

“Excuse me?”

“You found out that I sleep around, and now you think differently of me. Or you would’ve said something else.”

Aries steamed, knowing he was absolutely spot on.

“Shut up. You think you’re so wonderful and gorgeous, but you’re not. Seriously though, you are stalking us- everyone else was invited whereas YOU just starting following us.”

“I have business with your friend. Plus, Wolfee happens to be the only person I can at least partially trust. It makes perfect sense for me to be here. More importantly, you don’t think I’m gorgeous.”

“How is that more important?! And no, I bloody well don’t!”

“No?”

“No!”

Before she knew what was happening, Leo had stood up and moved in front of her.

“What the hell-?” she cut off when Leo leaned in towards her. He had one hand on her shoulder, the other still holding his book. He stared into her eyes, and Aries shuddered again. His eyes were so sharp it hurt. It took her a few moments to process what was happening, but when she did she struggled. Leo didn’t let her- instead, he moved his moth until it touched hers, and kissed her.

She couldn’t think. She found herself blushing profusely and wanting to scream. She didn’t exactly mind the kiss- but it hurt, being so close and connected to Leo, as if hell was lurking in his body and trying to touch her.

Leo pulled away and she gasped, feeling far more scared and uncomfortable than she’d ever want to admit, even to someone as close to her as Reki. Leo smiled and she felt herself tremble with fear. He walked off without saying a word, leaving Aries on the bench, alone, afraid and perplexed.

041 frustrated

Title: fiend

Fandom: Original

Characters:

Prompt: 041frustrated

Word count: 635

 Rating: PG-13

Warnings/spoilers: none

Summary: it’s very short.

“I was so damn happy as well!”

They had gathered in yet another of the castles rooms, a large, bright, circular room with golden wallpaper and windows on more than half of the walls. There were several large, squishy armchairs gathered in a circle around a table, which had seven breakfast trays a teapot and a coffee pot. Libraya, Sakamaru, Aries, Reki and Takashi looked at Wolfee, who had just thrown the doors open with his exclamation and plonked himself ungracefully in one of the armchairs.

“What happened?” Libraya asked, whilst pouring him a much needed cup of coffee.

“Well, this morning, I woke up and there was a really pretty maid opening my curtains and laying out new towels and stuff. I was talking to her-”

“You mean flirting with her.” Aries threw into his monologue.

“Well, yes, actually, I was! And it was going really well! And and and…” he smiled deviously, “I kissed her!”

“Well, good for you. However, you’ve been making out that you’re unhappy- did she slap you afterwards?” Aries poured herself another cup of coffee. Her hangover had made her even more irritable than usual.

“No! She giggled and left the room. So I decided to go and boast about it to Leo, who always steals my sweethearts away.”

“Did HE slap you?”

“No one slapped me, Aries!”

“Then what happened?”

“I walked in and started telling him about how I kissed her, and she was reeeally pretty, and he kept nodding and saying ‘good for you, Wolfee, finally getting some action’, and JUST as I was about to leave- this blonde maid walked out of the bathroom wearing a bathrobe and asked if she’d left her bra under the pillow.”

Sakamaru furrowed his brow.

“Really? Leo? I didn’t think he was that kind of guy. He seems…you know, quiet.”

Wolfee shot him a dark look.

“He is quiet, and sexy, a combination that girls love. He never spends more than a night with them, but he does spend a lot of nights with different girls.”

“I don’t believe you. Who would sleep with an arse like him?”

“You remember when we were at the casino, Aries? And you went up the stairs on the left? Well, right at the start of the night, Leo went that way. He wasn’t up there when you went, was he?”

“No, but that doesn’t necessarily mean-”

“Yes it does. One of the girls I was flirting with was sharing a room with a couple of friends of hers, so we went up there, but she went in then came out. She told me one of her friends was ‘busy’ with a blonde man.”

“Just because it was a blonde man-”

“Wearing an all-black suit.”

“Anyone could wear an all-black suit-”

“With a top hat and a thick book about ancient Hallowhell?”

“Anyone could-”

“No, I assure you Aries, that that was me.”

Leo walked in, letting the doors Wolfee had left open swing closed behind him. He sat down in a chair and poured himself a cup of fancy, aromatic tea. He looked at them lazily, daintily sipping his tea.

“Bloody hell. You’re a man-whore.”

“Perhaps, though I prefer the term ‘sexual fantasy’.”

“You’re no ones sexual fantasy, you bastard!”

“Oh? Then look me in the eyes.”

Never one to back down from a challenge, she fixed her eyes on his. It made her shudder- there was something dark and chilling about his piercing green eyes.

“Right, now imagine me naked…”

She spluttered and blushed profusely.

“I think that clears that up.”

“You- you fu-”

“BEEEEEEEP.” Reki inserted weakly into the argument, but it wasn’t quite loud enough to mute the string of insults that tumbled from Aries- she still felt awful from the night before.

Leo simply smiled and finished his tea.

040 Flirty

Title: beer

Fandom: Original

Characters:

Prompt: 040 flirty

Word count: 1,949

 Rating: PG-13

Warnings/spoilers: none

Summary: blah. The ending is very abrupt.

Dinner had been a boisterous, though not unpleasant affair. The king and queen had flat out refused Takashi’s request for them to eat at the main table, so the food had been taken instead to a rather large and expensive looking drawing room, where several small coffee tables had been pushed together to make room for the enormous amounts of food that were brought through. Much beer and wine was consumed, and before long the majority of the party were singing and slurring. The mood was dampened slightly by the fact that they were still officially under ‘examination’, but Takashi assured them it would be near to impossible for a retrial.

Takashi smiled as his friends danced around the room, singing a folk song about moon fairies. Wolfee and Reki were the main ringleaders of this particular stunt, and had commandeered Libraya, Sakamaru and a rather grumpy Aries to join in. Leo was sat at the side, sipping the fine champagne that had been left untouched by the others, trying to ignore the commotion.

He had been nervous about talking to all of them, especially Reki, but they all seemed to have either forgotten or forgiven him as none of them mentioned (except in jest) the whole affair. He and Reki had been talking awkwardly for short amounts of time, until either he turned away or Reki reached for another plate of food. This particular problem disapitated after Reki had gotten several bottles of beer into her system, and Takashi had been very tempted to join her in the happy, mindless state that alcohol induced, before remembering that he had to plan what to say to her. Now he sat in the corner in a rather squishy and luxurious armchair, plotting his plan of action. Not that he’d be using it tonight- he assumed his plans to meet her on the tower had been erased by the alcohol. But it was going to happen at some point, so he felt the need to prepare.

Leo was the first to leave, truthfully claiming he had an immense headache. With much booing and some rather inappropriate language from Wolfee and Aries, he exited swiftly with the porter that had come to show him to his room. A short while later, a very giggly Sakamaru and Libraya left, though they only made it to the drawing room across the hall before collapsing, fast asleep on a sofa. Wolfee and Aries hung around moaning about the terrible state of life until they had both sobered up enough to walk without support through the door that Takashi dutifully held for them. He let the door fall too with a sigh, and turned around to see the floor strewn with bottles and plates, with Reki lying in the middle.

She giggled as he went over to her, and reached for the half-empty champagne bottle that Leo had left. Takashi smiled in vague amusement before moving the bottle away from her outstretched hand. She whined a little, before dragging herself into a sitting position.

“Mmmmfg. Takashi~ taki~ ta-ta-Takashi…hee! Taaaaaaakaaaaaaashiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii~! Oh- oh frick, my head hurts…”

Takashi slid his arm round her and attempted to pull her into standing.

“I’m sure. Look-” he pointed to the floor under the table “You drank about half of those bottles.”

“Huh. Takashi, I’m tired.”

Takashi led her to the door, helping her over the debris and making sure she didn’t cut her feet on any smashed glass. She managed to get nearly halfway down the corridor before loosing her balance, and sat giggling on the floor after a few unsuccessful attempts to get up.

“Can I sleep here tonight?”

“No, come on, its only…two more floors to your room…” he groaned inwardly at the thought of getting her up that many stairs.

“Then can I sleep in your room?”

“No! my parents aren’t too keen on you as it is.”

“Then can I sleep in your bed, Takashiiiii? I knoooooow you want me too!”

She winked at him, before collapsing into another heap of giggles. Takashi sighed and picked her up, carrying her in both arms.

“Oooh, Takashi~! Are you going to carry me over the threshold? We’re not even married yet! Or do you just want the honeymoon?”

“You know, I think I might just leave you in the corridor after all…”

“No no no no no! I want to sleep in your room! How far away is it?”

“one more flight of stairs.”

“yay!”

“…”

“Takashi, I think I’m going to be sick.”

“Oh, fu-”

Takashi broke into an awkward run up the last flight of stairs. He flung the door open and rushed her to the toilet just in time. The next ten minutes were spent pulling her hair out of the way and handing her tissues. By then, a large quantity of the alcohol was out of her system, and she had sobered up a little.

“Thanks, Taki. This is bloody rubbish. I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. I’ve got more to apologise for anyway.”

“I guess. Why didn’t you tell us?”

“Why? It’d ruin my reason for staying with you. I left the castle a year ago…”

He stopped, and Reki gave him a curious head tilt.

“It’s a pretty long story.”

“Bedtime story?”

“You’d better get ready for bed first.”

“will you help me?”

“Don’t even try. I know you’re sober enough now.”

“Awww.”

Takashi sat on her bed, and waited for her to appear. She emerged from the bathroom half an hour later, in a fluffy white bathrobe and a towel over her hair, smelling considerably nicer than she had been before. She climbed into bed and Takashi tucked her up, sitting on the side and resting on one of the many pillows. Reki smiled at him, giving him the go-ahead.

“…I left the castle a year ago, because I was pissed off.”

“At what?”

“My parents and life in this place. All the time, everyone was all ‘Takashi, don’t talk like a commoner!’ and ‘Takashi, those people are poor and unclean, don’t go near them!’. I hated it. I still hate it. I don’t get how I’m meant to rule this country if I have no idea what the majority of the citizens need! I’ve been taught to associate with nobility, but never with common people. I got a wake up call at the end of last summer, when a woman requested a doctor for her husband. The last village doctor had moved away a few months before, so the only doctor was at the palace…she was refused, and her husband died shortly afterwards. I watched them carrying the coffin off to pink town. I asked my parents why they refused, and their only response was that she was a peasant, and there were plenty more where her husband had came from. I…couldn’t stay after that. I left to find out how people really lived.”

“What does that have to do with travelling with us?”

“For the 48 span before I met you, I travelled across multi, working in fields or around town to earn a meal and a bed for the night. If I wasn’t in a town, I slept outside. Only nobility really know what the royal family look like, so nobody recognised me. I learnt very quickly that life was a lot harder when you didn’t have people catering your every need. I got to experience first hand the tyranny of overlords, the pain of not having enough to eat and how hard it is to work all day. I expected it to be hard, but not that…real, I suppose. It started off as a bit of a game- ugh, I feel sick to think about that now, I was so spoilt. Anyway, I’d lived in many places, but I’d never travelled anywhere with others. When you and Aries invited me along, I just wanted to find out what it was like. I…never planned on staying.”

“Oh.”

“Hey hey hey, I stayed anyway, right? I shouldn’t have. I should’ve left before I got too attached. Oh- don’t look at me like that, I- I’m glad I did stay.”

Reki pouted and Takashi reached out and rubbed her cheek.

“I don’t regret this at all. But…I can’t guarantee that I’ll be joining you again. My parents won’t be happy to let me go now I’m back. I’ll try my best. I really will! I want…to carry on with you so badly…”

Takashi faded off into silence, and they both stayed silent for a good while.

“I should probably be going back to my own room. I’ll see you in the morning, Reki.”

“Uh huh. Goodnight, Taki.”

He gave her a chaste kiss on the lips before sweeping out. Reki fell asleep shortly afterwards.

The next morning swept around. Libraya sat up and rubbed her eyes, before falling backwards again with the force of her headache. Two exclamations of surprise were heard, one from Libraya, and the other from the body of a person who had just been woken up by an impact on his stomach.

“Libraya! That hurt! Though,” he raised his hand to his forehead “Not half as much as my head does.”

“Sakamaru?”

“Yes, who else would it be?”

“Quiet you. What happened last night? I remember drinking and food…and not much else.”

“Moon fairies.”

“Sorry, what?”

“I remember moon fairies, though I’m not sure why. Maybe I was seeing things. Anyway, more importantly, where are we?”

Libraya sat up more carefully, and surveyed her surroundings. The room was pale pink with deep wooden panelling, and many expensive looking chairs were gathered in a circle in the middle. The heavy curtains hadn’t been drawn the night before, and light glared through the windows, making her eyes hurt.

“I’ve no idea. Some kind of living room? I don’t really want to get up and explore, as I get the feeling we’re not overly welcome here.”

“True that.” He smirked at her.

“What?”

“It means we’re stuck in this room until someone comes to find us. Together. Just you and me.” He winked.

Libraya shuffled a little uncomfortably and Sakamaru sighed.

“Your still not comfortable around me? Look, we hadn’t seen each other for years. We both changed, we’re different people. I still like you though.”

“Sakamaru!”

“I think we ought to get comfortable with each other again.”

Libraya nearly screamed when he grabbed her and pulled her back onto the sofa. He was laughing, and she struggled and tried to get away, laughing despite herself.

“Give it up. I’m stronger than you!”

She followed his advice, and stopped flailing. She looked up into his cheerful face, and at his happy, purple eyes. She blushed a little as he snuggled his face into her hair. His breath tickled her ear, and the colour in her cheeks flushed darker.

“Your hair smells nice. And you’re warm.”

“Of course I’m warm, I’m a living being.”

“You’re cuddly as well.”

“Stop it, Sakamaru.”

“And you’re so skinny! Do you eat, woman?”

“Of course I do.”

“Your chest is bigger than I remember it, too-”

“ENOUGH, Sakamaru!!”

She pulled away and looked at him in mock disgust. He smiled sweetly back at her, before flicking his foot out, making her stumble and fall back onto the sofa. The door opened, and Takashi entered with two mugs on a tray.

“Uh, sorry. I’ll come back later.”

Libraya lifted her face off of Sakamaru’s chest and tried to regain her composure.

“No that’s fine. We weren’t-doing anything, anyway.”

Takashi raised an eyebrow but dropped the subject. He carried the tray to the sofa and handed them each a mug.

“Hangover cures, I thought you might need them.”

“Thanks.”

039 Exhausted

Reki x Takashi

Title: death

Fandom: Original

Characters: Reki, Takashi

Prompt: 039 Exhausted

Word count: 1,421

 Rating: PG-13

Warnings/spoilers: none

Summary: stuff happens.

A disappointed “aaaaaah” was let out by the crowd as none of the seven fell.

They were hovering in place, the ropes at their necks slack. All crying and shouting fits were ceased temporarily, and the executioner sighed.

“I hate your type. It won’t help, casting enchantments to hold yourselves up. It’s been done before.”

Wolfee snickered.

“Oh no? It’s working quite well actually. See, we’re not dying.” He gave the executioner a dashing smile, which was returned wryly.

“Let’s see if our mage can change that.”

A mage walked up onto the stage and Wolfee gulped.

“Oh dear.”

The man looked bored, as if this wasn’t worth his time. From his robes, he was distinguishable as a mage who had been knighted into the service of the royal family.

“Bother.” Wolfee suddenly looked a bit paler.  “They only get knighted if they’re really good. I bet he can break this.”

The mage cast a spell, and Wolfee braced himself for the fall. He was surprised, however, when his enchantment was dispelled and he didn’t fall.

“Aaaah- ahahaha! Haha! See, you couldn’t break it! Take that!”

“No, he broke it, Wolfee.” Libraya sighed. “But all of us cast enchantments at the same time. We’ll drop when he breaks the others.”

Wolfee pouted and glared at the mage. He had already dispelled one more- Sakamaru had cast a spell to making a breeze under their feet for them to stand on.

“Just one more…”

Wolfee looked at the mage in surprise.

“One more? There are six of us! You’ve only gotten rid of two!”

“Yes, but only three of you did anything.”

Wolfee shot accusing glares at his friends.

“Who didn’t cast anything?! It’s your fault if we all die-!”

“Shut UP, Wolfee!” Aries returned his glare with venom. “Reki can’t use magic, and what would I do? I burn things! How would that hold us up?! And Leo- well, I guess he doesn’t give a crap if we die or not.”

“I care very much whether or not I die. There are still women and books in the world. I’m just not so fussed about you.”

“Oh, you little fu-”

“BLEEEEEEEP!”

Aries turned her head and shot Reki an exasperated stare. Reki giggled.

“We’re about to die, and you make a childish joke like that?”

“You should mind your language in front of royalty, Aries. Or they might try and hang you-“

She burst into giggles again and Aries rolled her eyes. The audience was shuffling uncomfortably at the hysterics of the party, unaccustomed to the jovial air surrounding the stage. The mages brows were furrowed in concentration, until finally his eyes lit up.

“I’m ready to get rid of this spell now. A rather unobvious solution…I wasn’t expecting it. But that’s not a problem now.” He grinned, and waved his hand.

The arguments, yelling and laughing were changed into a unanimous cry as the ropes lost their slack and the nooses tightened round their necks.

The crowd watched as all six of the condemned hung still. The muttering and talking died down as the king, queen and prince (Caelet had unlocked the chain binding Takashi’s hands) rose and descended down the staircase that led to the spectator grounds. The crowd parted and the guards around the stage formed a human wall, shielding them from the public. They royalty walked down to where the six motionless prisoners hung, and stood in front of them.

“Let this be a lesson,” the queen addressed the public, “to all the liars and false-facers in the world. We will not tolerate…”

Whilst she was speaking, the executioner cut the ropes. The bodies fell to the floor, one by one. The queen continued speaking over this until Wolfee’s body fell to the ground, and a loud “Ouch!” was heard. She looked back in shock.

“Oh bloody hell Wolfee, that was such a good opportunity as well! We could’ve gotten away if you hadn’t just held out for a liiiitle longer!”

The queen swept over to the holes in the holes in the stage and looked down, to be greeted by six smiling faces. Sakamaru grinned up at her.

“‘Sup, your majesty?”

“…”

“I apologise for our rather lively state, but I don’t really feel like dying yet…”

“Why,” Her voice shaking in anger, “are you still alive?”

“I’d ask your son about that, if I were you dear. Um, I mean, your majesty.”

She shot a sharp look at Takashi, who had been laughing gently. He stopped abruptly.

“Sorry, mother, but i wasn’t about to let you hang them…they’ve done nothing wrong.”

“What did you do?!”

“I made a large root grow under the stage. They were standing on it. Luckily they all figured out what I intended- if they’d reacted, our mage would’ve dispelled it…I suppose he didn’t see any abnormalities, so he didn’t check for more enchantments.”

The mage gulped, knowing that a demotion was coming his way.

“Takashi, this is ridiculous! They’re assassins!”

Takashi chose his words carefully, side-stepping the issue of Reki’s profession.

“None of them want to kill me, mother. Dammit, I swear to you that if you hurt them I will never, ever take the throne.”

The crowd gasped collectively and muttered. Sensing the turmoil, the queen gave her husband a side look. He looked just as worried as she was- Without a solid heir, there were many lords who would try to take over the monarchy.

“Takashi…” the king spoke to his son through gritted teeth. “Take that back, or we’ll have a revolution to deal with.”

“I won’t take back what I mean. Either they get a royal pardon, or I’ll personally make sure that every lord and lady knows that the throne is there for the taking.”

Caelet smiled and closed his eyes.

“Pardon my intrusion into this conversation, milord, milady, but I think the boy might be right this time. I do believe he’s serious. You’d probably be better off securing the safety of the royal family than hanging six unimportant, although thoroughly undesirable citizens.”

By now the whole party had dragged themselves up onto the stage, and were standing in the background, waiting uncomfortably for someone to tell them if they were to live or die. They watched the scene between Takashi and the queen with interest. When she turned to look at them however, they all looked away and pretended they were never looking. She wrinkled her nose in disgust and addressed the crowd.

“These citizens will be questioned for further information and made to prove their innocence. If we still find them guilty, then they hang. That is all.”

Libraya let out a sigh, and felt the others relax. Takashi and Caelet both approached the party.

“Well played, milord. Despite your disinterest for my lessons on political skills, you seem to absorbed some of what I have told you.”

Takashi winked  at him, before addressing the six rather exhausted members of the party.

“I’m…sorry. For not telling you, and for…well, this.”

He gestured to the gallows and nooses, and to the executioner, who was muttering about extra pay for all his troubles. Sakamaru grinned and addressed Takashi.

“S’all right, we’re all alive. Your highness.”

“Oh- shut up, Sakamaru! Geez!” Sakamaru’s grin broadened and he laughed. Wolfee and Libraya giggled as well, and Takashi smiled gratefully at them. Leo raised his eyebrows and dropped them in a wry glance, but stayed otherwise expressionless. Takashi didn’t mind, however- he didn’t expect anything else. His glance then slid over to Reki. God, Reki! What was he meant to say to-

Aries clonked him over the head.

“Well, you royal bastard, I hope your happy! I had to sit in a cell thanks to you, AND the noose mussed up my hair. You’d better make this up to us.”

“Yes, yes, I know. The food here’s really good. I bet your hungry, right?”

On cue, Reki’s stomach let out a loud grumble. She blushed, and Takashi laughed. Caelet gestured them off the stage and towards the castle. Takashi fell into step with Reki, and whispered to her.

“I don’t really know what to say to you right now…this evening, meet me on the north turret an hour after sundown? I’ll try to explain then…as well as decide whether or not I can continue travelling with you.”

Reki gave him a slightly shocked, sad look as she took it in that it was by no means certain that he would be able to join them again, before nodding.

038 Exited

Reki x Takashi

Title: Weary

Fandom: Original

Characters: Reki, Takashi

Prompt: 038 Exited

Word count: 551

 Rating: PG-13

Warnings/spoilers: none

Summary: there is a distinct lack of plot in this chapter.

The man with the long nose gave them a look as if to announce that they were sick, sick people. He proceeded to stand them all on the barrels that stood beneath the nooses, which proved a hard -yet rather entertaining for the audience- ordeal.

“Nooo! I don’t want to die! This is embarrassing! All the beautiful people in the audience! I want to talk to you all before I goooo-!”

Aries kicked Wolfee lightly in the ankle.

“Worry about that later okay?”

“There isn’t going to be a later! Ooooh, my poor, virgin soul!”

“Virgin? Virgin?! There isn’t a part of you that still has its virginity!”

“Well, I guess that’s true.” Wolfee winked at the girls in the front row again, who giggled in a rather disturbed way.

Leo shot him a glare.

“Will you please shut up? You’re hurting my ears.”

The girls at the front had a few swooning fits over Leo, causing Wolfee to burst into tears.

“Stop stealing the girls!”

“No. Now can it.”

By now, Libraya and Sakamaru were in hysterics, and finding it hard to stand without support, so they were leaning on each other. The crier tried to get them to the barrels, which he managed with great difficulty. They had given up resistance, rendered unable to do anything much by Wolfee’s antics, so instead they just stood on the barrels and laughed together.

Aries was put in place with much swearing and fire, as she tried to incinerate the crier. Unluckily, the crier had the same spell on him as the rope, causing him to get away with only a few minor burns and singed clothing.

Wolfee was shoved on whilst he was rambling about his love and being too young to die. Leo and Reki were the easiest to get into place- Leo stood on it freely, unwilling to let the man touch him. Reki cried a bit, and the crier just shrugged at her before forcing her into place.

“Now,” he announced sounding very worn out and weary, “We will begin.”

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“Lord Takashi, are you feeling well?”

Caelet quizzed the man in the seat next to the king.

“Oh yeah, just fine. What do you think, you bloody fool?!”

Caelet held up his hands in mock surrender. Takashi made to get up and leave, but found that a pair of handcuffs were holding him to his seat. He glared at the ninja, who shrugged and whispered “that’s not going to happen.”

Takashi looked over to the stage, making out a flash of golden hair.

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“Waaaaah! This isn’t fair!”

Reki pouted and gave the crier an accusing glare, so fierce that he physically backed away. She looked out across the crowd, and into the royalty box. She could see a figure, dressed in the royal colours of white, purple and gold, with long white hair that was tied back. Her expression softened as the truth sunk in, and she sighed his name under her breath.

A figure dressed in a black cloak came onto the platform, earning a mixture of cheers and boos from the crowd. He magicked up seven sprites to stand behind the barrels. With a short pause for dramatic tension, He waved his hand. The sprites charged forwards, knocking the barrels from under their feet.

037 Envious

Reki x Takashi

Title: Hysterical

Fandom: Original

Characters: Reki, Takashi

Prompt: 037 Envious

Word count: 663

 Rating: PG-13

Warnings/spoilers: none

Summary: Uh...the king and queen are envious of the party’s unbreakable spirit. Sorry for the long period between updates.

“...Five hours? Are you sure you heard that right?”

Wolfee sighed. It was the third time he’d been asked. Or maybe the forth. Time was going slowly in the cramped cells, and his concentration was beginning to fade.

“It was when that lady ordered it. It’s probably only two hours now...”

He pondered his sentence, and corrected himself.

“Uh, I meant the queen...”

Aries laughed wryly.

“Easy mistake to make. She was really rude. I mean hell, we’re citizens! We pay for this ridiculous castle! Damn royalty...”

In the silence that followed, Reki posed a thought.

“Takashi’s a prince, isn’t he?”

An awkward silence ensured, broken by Leo.

“Almost certainly.”

“Oh.”

Nothing more was said, until a happy Caelet walked down the stairs.

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“I have a feeling,” Libraya voiced, “that we may be in a bad situation.”

The party of seven stood on a rough wooden platform, with a hangman’s noose and several barrels. Below them was a wide area, undoubtedly for people to stand and watch from. Far across on the other side of the expanse were four heavy, elegant looking thrones, presumably for any royalty attending. Many guards were standing around the platform with heavy spears pointing at them. The party was tied together with a long rope that was bound their wrists behind them. Libraya, who had ended up in the middle, gave a disheartened sigh as she surveyed their surroundings and situation. She could see little way out of this. None of them were particularly happy with the arrangement. Wolfee and Sakamaru were fidgeting (as best as they could) and trying to think happy, positive thoughts. Aries was muttering as many small fire spells as she could think of, attempting to burn the rope that held them together, which was proving to be annoyingly un-burnable. Reki was quietly contemplating escape routes, trying to ignore the sickening feeling in her stomach that came partially from concern for Takashi, and partially from fear of Leo. Leo himself was the only one looking unfazed by the whole situation, although he was looking increasing less comfortable standing tied next to a restless Wolfee.

The grounds began filling with people, who stared, laughed and pointed at them. For the most part, the audience was ignored, other than a few last-ditch attempts at flirting by Wolfee, which didn’t go considerably well, undoubtedly due to the fact that he was a man on death-row.

“Aaaw damn! The blonde in the front row is hot! Of all the times to die...”

Aries gave him a wry stare.

“Yes, of all the times to die, now seems like a pretty bad one. We aren’t going down without a fight though, right...?”

“Mmmm....” Wolfee was undecided. “I don’t see how we can get out of this really...”

Aries grinned.

“Then let’s be the worst condemned criminals they’ve ever had. If I’m going to die, I want to really piss them off first.”

When the stadium was full, a man with a long nose and an obnoxious voice announced the presence of the king and queen. This gained cheers from the crowd, although they quickly died away as the ‘criminals’ began booing and laughing. The crowd unanimously agreed that they were mad.

Aries was smiling. If she couldn’t escape, she was going to make their lives hell in her last few moments. She was glad the others agreed with her.

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From the opposite side of the viewing area, the king and queen were staring. Caelet stood next to them, his eyebrows knotted and a confused, incredulous smile adorned his face.

“Behaviour like that alone gets you a death sentence...although they are already condemned, hmm?”

The royalty didn’t respond to his jibe. They were too busy staring at the six, laughing like they didn’t have a care in the world. Even Leo had a rare, amused smile on his face as the crowd stared in disgust and amusement.

Despite the impending doom heading their way...they were brave or stupid.

036 Enthralled

Reki x Takashi

Title: Foreboding

Fandom: Original

Characters: Reki, Takashi

Prompt: 036 Enthralled

Word count: 1, 066

 Rating: PG-13 (because of Aries’ mouth =_=)

Warnings/spoilers: none

Summary: uh...stuff happens. Royalty appear. Takashi acts like a girl. Title refers to them being rather enthralled by the king and queen. (I also believe that Leo was enthralled by their very expensive, shiny clothes XD)

Reki sat sucking her lollipop happily, momentarily forgetting the aching of her wrists. She pondered the situation.

Takashi...was defiantly not a normal person. Caelet had constantly referred to him as “lord”. Caelet wore the royal emblem. Therefore, it was logical to assume that Takashi was...

Although, she was sure that was impossible. There was no stuck-up princely swagger in his movements, no commanding other people to do things. Then again, he had often talked about his parents being rich and having plenty of land and money. The question was precisely how rich they were.

She was trying hard to ignore the second question floating through her mind. The voice in her head was not so forgiving.

He left you.

He knew he would have to leave.

He led you on.

Reki noticed a slight twitch from Leo’s cell. She quickly blocked the voice from her mind. He couldn’t hear her thoughts. It was impossible. It was a coincidence.

You’re an assassin, you fool. You don’t believe in coincidences.

Leo was looking straight at her. She used every ounce of self control she had, and didn’t so much as blink. She was very glad when Leo looked away. She noticed that the lollipop was nearly gone now. She had forgotten to savour it.

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An hour passed, then two, until they heard footsteps again. Caelet proceeded down the stairs, and with a slightly less obnoxious manner, addressed them.

“Oh subjects of Multi, to determine the true nature of your plans, you have the honour of meeting the king and queen. Be polite. Bow. Say nothing unnecessary-” he gave Aries a pointed look “-and remember your lives are in their hands. Presenting her Royal Majesty Queen Elianna III and his Royal Highness King Melchior.”

The party watched, stunned, as two figures with flowing robes descended down the staircase.

“Holy shit.” Aries muttered under her breath. “You are joking.”

They looked up at the king and queen of Multi. Sakamaru was the first to get over the initial shock, and remembering his manners, bowed his head to the floor. The others quickly followed suit, excluding Leo (who managed to escape by being so silent that no one noticed him) and Reki, who tried her best with her hands tied to the bars, ending up in a sort of awkward half-bow.

The king and queen nodded at the respectful gestures, and sighed almost simultaneously.

“Citizens of Multi...your names, if you please.”

They gave their names, more subdued than they had ever been. Leo’s court response raised a few eyebrows, although nothing was said.

“Thank you. We’d like to hear your story, if you don’t mind.”

No one immediately pitched in, so Aries took a lead. She told the king and queen the same thing she had told Caelet. When she finished, the two regal leaders looked at each other. The queen spoke first.

“...I see. Deal with them appropriately, Caelet.”

Caelet’s feature formed into a mild, humorous confusion.

“Is that deal with them in a good way or a bad way, Milady?”

She scoffed.

“The bad way of course. No noble would associate with idiocy like this. Lie down with the dogs and wake up with fleas, and I sincerely doubt that even Takashi is that stupid.”

Aries’ features were twisted, holding back from contorting to anger. The others looked on in disbelief, unable to comprehend the queen’s words. Leo wasn’t even listening, staring uninterestedly at the nobility. Caelet shrugged.

“If you say so, your majesty.”

The king murmured something quietly to Caelet, before proceeding up the stairs. The queen followed, without a backwards glance to the prisoners.

“Well!” Caelet cried cheerily. “That didn’t go well at all, did it? I know how lord Takashi is, and that he’d associate with riff-raff like you any day!”

“Che!” Aries stared at Caelet with unadulterated loathing. “You don’t know squat about Takashi.”

“Hmmm? Despite having known him for thirty times as long as you and more? Don’t bother answering that,” he said as Aries opened her mouth, “I need to go and prepare for your most unfortunate fate.”

He swept up the stairs, silent as ever, and Aries yelled abuse after him. She didn’t get a reply.

“That bloody little bastard! I’m going to burn him when I get out of this cell!”

“Uh huh?” Reki was smirking.

“Yes! What’s with that face?”

“You defended Taki’s honour, Ari-chan!”

“Bollocks. I just wanted to piss him off.”

“Didn’t go very well...” Wolfee pitched in, a half-worried smile on his face.

“Shut up Wolfee. Anyway, how long d’you reckon before we can get out of here and give him a kick in the jingles?”

“Uh...You know when his majesty whispered something to Caelet...”

Aries nodded.

“Well...my oh-so-amazing super hearing picked it up.”

Aries nodded again.

“And uh...we’re getting the chop in five hours.”

They looked at him blankly.

“We’re getting executed.”

Reki screamed, in a very un-ladylike fashion. Aries threw herself at the bars and clamped a hand over Reki’s mouth.

“Shut up! I don’t want to spend my last five hours listening to that royally screwed up ninja!”

“But Aries!” Reki whined. Aries produced another lollipop from her little black bag, placing it in Reki’s mouth. Reki bit into it like it was a lifeline.

“Anyway, it’ll take more than a few walls and guards to kill you Reki.”

“But even if we do all escape...We wont have Takashi with us, which is why we’re here anyway, plus the entire royal guard will be after us!”

“Good riddance to bad rubbish, and we’re quite good at hiding, unless we’ve lost our touch. We aren’t dead by any means.”

“No, just confined...”

“Meh. We could leave Multi. There are many other continents.”

“I don’t want to leave Multi for good! I don’t want to be an outcast!”

The others empathised.

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Takashi lay on the floor in the palace kitchens, behind one of the many units. The kitchen were directly above the dungeons, and from this particular space, he could just about hear what was being said. The glamour on his hair had been removed the second he had stepped into the palace, and his bright white hair was now spread across the floor. He heard the kitchen door open, and held his breath. He knew it’d be Caelet looking for him, but he didn’t want to be found. Princes weren’t supposed to cry.