Along the Great Divide

Chapter 21--Preparations


Rhoma stood in the kitchen, holding a spatula and a bowl in his hand. Ludwig stood over him, staring at him. "Why do I have to help?"Rhoma whined, frowning as Ludwig pointed to the bowl for him to get stirring again.

"You're a guest in my home and you're family. If you want to stay here and visit, you're going to do part of the work."Ludwig scolded, going back to his frying pan. "Besides, it your punishment as well."

"Punishment! What did I do?"Rhoma whined some more, Ludwig raising a credulous eyebrow at him.

Rhoma, when he came to visit, had bragged quite a bit at Ludwig's cooking and Mamoru's gifts as well. So, in turn, all the nine lords were now in Nosferata expecting a hot meal from the infamous chef. Though, Rhoma was getting his brunt of punishment for the work load. Rhoma bit his lower lip to his elder brother, turning around and stirring the contents of the bowl.

"I said I was sorry…"He mumbled, leaning against the counter.

The door to the kitchen opened, Chester coming in with a pant. "I *pant* finished serving their tea, Chef…"He breathed, sitting on the floor with a sigh. "It's never this busy…"

"You can thank Rhoma for that…Now back to your feet, make sure their tea is always filled."Ludwig said, scooting him out again before going to plate another tray of food. Rhoma watched the halfling child nod and head back into the war zone called the dining area with his head held high.

"Still don't know why I have to help…"Rhoma mumbled to himself, stirring more vigorously. Ludwig gave him a tap, removing the bowl form his hand and replacing it with the tray.

"If you're not happy in here, you can help Chester."Ludwig said, pointing to the door and booting him out of the kitchen. Rhoma squeaked, the tray rattling a little as he headed out to the dining area.

It would be a very, very long week…and Mamoru was busy playing dress-up at the temple with Yuri, making him try on different colored things called 'Kimonos' for their wedding. In all honestly…he would have just liked to see him in the same white robes, if not similar, to the ones Theron wore on his own wedding.

Mamoru stood agitatedly, fidgeting a little before the air was sucked out of him as Yuri tugged a big, wide cloth belt around his waist. It nearly drained the life from him. "Ung, a-are you s-sure this is what I am supposed to wear?"He gasped, doubling over a little.

"Of course! These are traditional clothing…Oh, I have had these for many many years…I'm so happy that they have stayed intact all this time!"Yuri said as he wrapped a cord around the wide belt.

"I was hoping that I could just wear the same ones Pappi wore…they were beautiful…"He said with a sigh, his ribs screaming at him with just that breath.

"They were traditional magery formal robes…Theron wove the fabric himself. It took awhile…but we were all star-struck when we saw him. Hezekiah was quite proud…I remember it very clearly."Yuri said as he moved Mamoru's long white hair away from his shoulders so now he stood in a white kimono with a jacket that trailed back behind him. Looking at himself in the mirror, he smiled just slightly.

"It's…beautiful. However…"Mamoru started, looking to the elder Albinjian. "I don't think it's what I'm looking for…Can I try something else?"

"Of course…"Yuri sighed. "Why don't you try mixing things together with what we have? I'm sure that you'll come up with something."

"That's what I was thinking…It's beautiful but there's something missing…and it seems like it would be very hard to get out of later."Mamoru blushed, during darker than the white color of the cloth.

"Of course…I'll leave you to think about it. After all, I have Ludwig's clothes as well to think about."Yuri chuckled.

"Ooooh no. No, Yuri…Rhoma's going to do that with him. My younger brother has good tastes in mind."Mamoru huffed, cringing a little and wobbling a little to sit down on the stool he had been standing on while Yuri was dressed him. Exhaling slowly he reached around him and tugged out the tight bow in the back so it began to unravel.

Yuri sighed, slipping out of the room and giving the mage some space. He blamed it all on nervousness and worry really. All the lords had gathered, Rhoma was in town and their wedding was not even a week away. It had been both Ludwig and Mamoru's decision the date…but time had flown by so quickly, it had been five months since they arrived in Nosferata.


Mamoru sat contemplating, standing with just a pair of undergarments on while he picked up the clothes off of the floor, looking through them. Frei passed by the room, raising a cherry eyebrow and entering. "Would you value a second opinion?"He asked, Mamoru looking up with surprise.

Frei helped Mamoru get as close as he could to traditional robes with what Yuri had brought. Frei stood behind him, combing out his hair as Mamoru stared in the mirror with a satisfied look. "This looks much better…Ludwig doesn't care what you wear, so long as it's white…"He sighed, coming some of Mamoru's fair hair.

"I know he would appreciate this more… I love my fathers…and I would hope to reflect their happiness as well."Mamoru smiled, moving a little hair from his face.

A knock on the door disturbed their awe. A mage, an oracle by profession, stood there feeling along the door for he was born blind. "Master Frei…I have some unfortunate news."He said lowly, Frei putting the comb down to walk over. He held the mage's hand briefly, closing his eyes before they snapped open again.

"Alert the messengers to get every available man ready in the next week."Frei said, the mage nodding and feeling his way out of the room.

"Frei? Frei what's wrong?" Mamoru gasped, stepping down from his stool.

"Get dressed and go home. Tell Ludwig to close up shop and come to the temple immediately. I will explain to the mages what's going on. Yuri!"Frei said, urging him back to his pile of clothing. The pale Lord came running in, blinking.

"Frei-love what's wrong?"Yuri blinked.

"Get Rhoma out of here. Take him back to Grayharte in the next three days…and use the swiftest route."Frei said, turning him back around and shoving him out the door.

"R-right…"Yuri said as he tumbled through the door, rushing off. Yuri hiked up his robes like a ladies' skirt, running out of the temple and heading to the restaurant as fast as his feet could carry him. At the restaurant, Ludwig was standing with a messenger, listening with a worried look to his brow. Looking to Chester, he said something lowly to him, the boy going wide-eyed and nodding.

"I'll do my best chef! Leave the restaurant to me, I'll close up."Chester said with a brave little salute, going to take up the dishes from different table.

"Thank you Chester."Ludwig said, looking up to see Yuri. "Yuri? What are you doing here…I thought you were at the temple with Mamoru?"

"There's been a change of plans. I need to get Rhoma ready in the next few days to evacuate him from here…It's not safe and he's not ready to fight yet."Yuri said, looking to see Rhoma peeking from the kitchen. "Rhoma…"

"What's this about a fight?"Rhoma said lowly. "What's going to happen?"

The room went silent, the Lords having a hum amongst themselves. Arua rose to his feet, having aged a little worse for wear. Since Ludwig last saw him, he had flawless skin and body. Now he sported a series of scars around his temple, a long one extending from the nostril down to his chin.

"Nosferata is going to be in considerable amount of danger soon…We have all come to terms with this…Frei and the oracles have predicted it. You are not ready for a fight like this, Rhoma."Arua said, looking at him sternly.

Rhoma shrank slightly but stiffened his upper lip. "Who says that I am not? I have earned my father's strength and surpassed it long ago…You all tell me that I am still weak but I can do some things right can't I?"Rhoma said lowly. "I'm not leaving. Not unless this entire country comes with me."

The Lords were silent. Ludwig watched his younger brother fume, standing there with such tight shoulders. Reaching out, he ran his hand along the shoulder of Rhoma's robes, smiling. "He's got a week to prove himself doesn't he?"He asked aloud, the Lords looking at him.

"That…Of course not!"Another Lord stood, slamming his hands down onto the table. It was Gerald from the Grayharte region. "He's still a boy…a lad like himself needs more work before he can go on the battle field."

"Yet, you let Theron go out fighting all the time…and he had yet to control all of his powers…did he not?"Ludwig said, staring at them all one by one. "And he is the 9th…I'm sure his orders are above even your own, Lord Grayharte."

Again, silence. There was a hum again, Ludwig looking to Rhoma who stared at him in surprise. His mouth opened to say something but nothing came out. Not a whisper, nor a shout.

"If he can prove to us that he can handle a fight between mages and vampires…and hold his own, we will allow him to stay. If he can't…he'll come back quietly to Grayharte then to the Lord's keep in Suna to resume his training there."Arua concluded, sitting back down.

Rhoma gave a bit of a swallow. "Well…how about you get me a vampire and a mage to spar with? I can think of two right away."He said with a smirk.

"No."Ludwig said bluntly.

"What?"Rhoma said in surprise.

"You need a situation in which you aren't fighting family and fighting people you haven't met."Ludwig shook his head with a sigh. "I have two you can try."

In just a few short hours, Rhoma stood facing a mage and a vampire Ludwig hadn't introduced him to. The mage was meek, hiding slightly behind the vampire who seemed to tower over him a little in presence. Sword drawn, he looked to the Lord mage with no fear.

"I…don't think I could fight a Lord…"The mage said lowly, the vampire turning around with a smile.

"You'll do fine…"He said, reaching around to pet the mage's inky black hair. "Now go get ready…"

"I don't know what my elder brother was thinking with you two but I hope you'll hurry up with the lovey-dovey stuff."Rhoma said, the two looking at him with a smile. The mage separated himself from the vampire, heading off to one side of the field.

"Don't worry your High Lordship, we'll start soon."The mage spoke softly, taking his stance. His partner withdrew his sword from it's sheath, the blade freshly sharpened to a point. Rhoma took his own stance, putting his hands out to his sides, palms open wide.

Mamoru and Ludwig stood off to the side to observe. "Do you think he'll be alright?"Ludwig asked, looking down to Mamoru who was studying Rhoma's posture and looking around the field.

"He's studied under the other 8 Lords…I wouldn't be surprised if he had some sort of trick up his sleeve."Mamoru mused though his fists were clenched tightly in his robe sleeves. Ludwig reached under one of them and taking the mage's hand. Of course they were both worried. That was their little brother facing a vampire and another mage.

A clang brought them from each other to the field. The clang came from the sound of Grato's sword connecting with stone that Rhoma had summoned from the earth while a hard thud rocked the Lord's body when the mage at the swordsman's side hit him with a large gust of wind. Rhoma tumbled a little, getting up quickly and promptly shucking off his outer layers of robes. He lifted off of the ground slowly, flying straightforward before getting a hard shove and a swipe from his immediate left while he rolled and summoned a barrier of stone again.

"Dammit…"Rhoma hissed, holding his side. It was a small cut but it stung.

"You need to watch all angles."Grato warned him. "I'm just one, there are dozens that are just as fast."

A thundering rattle along the ground made Rhoma jump and head up into the sky again. "And there will be mages too!"Heno called from the ground. "I hope you don't mind your Lordship if I'm a little rough with you!"

"No, just peachy…keep going!"Rhoma called before he rolled when a large boulder, summoned from the earth again, went barreling his way while he also ducked when Grato headed into the air and swiped at him. Heading back to the ground, he looked around to see what he could use. It was just an open field with earth to use but he had only one real strong gift.

Water. There was still bits of snow everywhere and even more so the closer you got to the mountain. Rhoma narrowed his eyes, trying to focus while also defending against the attacks from Heno and Grato. He was being pushed back, getting cut or pummeled anytime he let his guard down for a second. They definitely weren't going easy on him.

"Ah!"Heno cried out when he got a big spray of flames from Rhoma's hand, beating his arm and leg to put out the flames.

"Heno! Okay you brat…"Grato said, disappearing with a blur with the sword being dropped from where he stood. Rhoma blinked, looking around before receiving a hard hit on his back, sending him forward to the ground. Grato stood behind him, seething.

"Grato, calm down! It's just a little burn!"Heno called, flying over and standing on Rhoma's back, the Lord mage squirming beneath him as he tried to regain his wind again.

"Ugh! Get off!"Rhoma growled, looking over his shoulder.

"I'm not done with you yet."Heno said with quite a charming, yet venomous smile that gave even Grato's undead body a shiver.

On the other side of the field, Ludwig and Mamoru were staring, on edge while Frei stood watch over them. Though they knew Rhoma wouldn't be in any immediate danger, there was that uncomfortable feeling that they needed to make it stop. Frei held onto the back of Mamoru's robes and Ludwig's shirt tightly while the two dug their heels into the dirt.

They watched as Heno got off of Rhoma's back and reached down. Rhoma was lifted up by a large tower of compacted soil, the mage squirming on top of it. Heno's hand reached up in the air, his hand clenching and turning, the compacted soil wrapping around Rhoma and tightening painfully.

"Heno will really hurt him! Rhoma's still a kid!"Mamoru said, lurching forward and then being pulled back again.

"He can handle himself."Frei said calmly.

"It doesn't look like it!"Mamoru said as he looked back to the older mage, upset.

"He's been playing with them."Frei explained, finally just letting Mamoru's robes go and Ludwig's shirt at the same time.

"That is not playing! That is getting his ass whooped!"Ludwig, pointing to the tower Rhoma was doubled over on, screaming as he was squeezed.

"Pay closer attention then…See that glimmer?"Frei said, indicating to the two in front of him to the field. Out around the field, there was a faint glimmer around the field, creating a wide circle around the three. Mamoru's eyes narrowed, his lips turned down on the frown.

"He's been…playing with them?"Mamoru breathed, his eyebrows furrowing as he focused on the glimmer. It was spreading wider, coming a little closer to the small group on the side.

Rhoma looked over their way, panting and struggling for air as Heno squeezed tighter. A confident smirk slid across his lips and Heno stopped right away as he caught it. Looking around, his eyes went wide.

"Grato get down!"Heno called, the vampire whirring around to see a big gush of water come barreling towards him, knocking him off of his feet and plummeting back to the ground again. Heno whipped back around, seeing another one come toward him, knocking him off of his feet, the tower of earth crumbling with the lack of concentration, leaving Rhoma able to pull free and get back to his feet.

"You don't think I would actually stand there and take it did you?"Rhoma said with a smile, the vampire and mage staring at him with disbelief.

"Bu-but how! You weren't near any water and even mani…you sly little worm. You were heating the air this entire time weren't you?"Heno said as he got to his feet.

"You would be correct."Rhoma smiled, raising his hand up and an orb of water forming into his palm. "I needed enough to use, of course."

Grato had gotten up again, rubbing his chest. He charged forward, having sat still for far too long only to get smacked back again when Rhoma whipped his hand out, the orb reforming into a thick tendril and smacking him back to the ground and promptly giving Heno another one before the mage could get up again.

"And now it's time for a little payBACK--eek!"Rhoma yelped when he was hit hard from his side, sending him sprawling into the mud from the water he had summoned. Mamoru stood over him, Ludwig right behind him. "What the hell?! What are you doing?!"

"Throwing a bit of a curve your way."Mamoru said raising his hand and shifting the earth to drag Rhoma away from them, shooting him off of the ground and plummeting back down again.

Ludwig turned the hilt of his sword in his hand, taking a stance. "Actually, Frei made us but I think you get the idea…"He said, sighing and tilting his head. "I could be back in my kitchen you know…"

"Wiggy you might want to duck."Mamoru warned as he rolled off to the side, Rhoma coming flying at him and tackling Ludwig to the ground though it was merely out of playful sport.

"Oh goodie we can play!"Rhoma laughed as he sat on Ludwig's hips, getting a growl from Mamoru behind him as he assisted Heno back to his feet again. Ludwig sighed, his eyebrows furrowing heavily. This is why he preferred Rhoma stay in Grayharte: He was always testing Mamoru's patience and always too friendly for a brother. Rhoma blinked, ducking.

Ludwig watched something part Rhoma's hair and send it flying over his head. Mamoru stood behind him, fuming. Rhoma and Ludwig could feel the heat radiating off of him, the younger mage swallowing quite hard. "Maaamoo…Calm down now."Ludwig yelped squirming and trying to push Rhoma off of him but he was leaning a little heavily on him and he definitely didn't want to hurt him.

"Rhooommmaaaa….GET. OFF."Mamoru seethed, Rhoma hopping to his feet just as another rush flew over head, Ludwig swallowing as he saw his bangs rise up. Whatever his mage fiance was doing, it could do some damage to himself as well.

The vampire was quick to get off of his feet, getting behind Mamoru and looking to see if Grato was alright. The older soldier was being assisted by his mage companion, grumbling and rubbing a spot on his chest with a hiss. Ludwig looked to Rhoma who stood with a frown, the water starting to bubble and churn around his feet as he got prepared to defend himself. Mamoru's shoulders were shaking, staring at their younger brother.

"Rhoma, I warned you. If you even touch Ludwig again I was going to give you a paddling of a life time…"Mamoru growled, Ludwig putting a hand on his shoulder before it was promptly shrugged off. "Stay away from Ludwig…"He warned again.

"Temper Temper big brother…"Rhoma teased. "I thought Pappi and Papa taught you better. They both said you two were a little impatient."

Ludwig raised an eyebrow, stepping around Mamoru and running forward. Rhoma's eyes widened in surprise, making him back up before dulling off to the side when Ludwig swiped at him, then attacked again. Rhoma scrambled to get back to his feet, raising a wall of mud and giving himself some time to get back to his feet. Ludwig stood there, waiting for the mud wall to fall down.

"Now isn't the time for you to be acting like a child."Ludwig said as he turned the blade in his hand again. "Mamoru is right…You should very well much keep away from me…I was one of those people who we are going to fight…One of Malacai's dark army…"

Rhoma gave a hard swallow. "I know…but…I can't hurt you. You aren't one of them any more are you?"He asked, taking a hard stance. "And you're my older brother…I'm not going to keep away just because something that's been fixed has happened."

The older halfing disappeared a moment, standing behind the Lord mage. "No. I'm not fixed. I still remember everything that I did to those people they made me hunt."He said as he brought his fist back and sent it to the back of Rhoma's head briefly, sending the Lord sprawling to the ground in surprise and holding the spot where he was struck. "Do you think I am going to take it easy on you because you're my brother?"He said calmly.

Mamoru never saw Ludwig this way but Rhoma did need to know….even if it was scary and cruel. It was a side of Ludwig that no one really saw but knew it existed. There would be times when he was around Grato or any other vampires that he would tense up sharply, his hands clenching. When Mamoru went up behind him unexpectedly, it was like Ludwig's soul jumped out of his body and was replaced by something feral and dark. It quelled as they spent more time around people but there would forever be those mental scars and little twitches.

As Ludwig stood over Rhoma, the blade in his hand, he could see that dark change in him again. It wasn't until Frei stepped forward, that he seemed to calm some under his influence. "That's enough…He gets it. I think we've found his sparring partner for a while…mages are something he's used to but it'll take a vampire to get him to listen. He'll need the experience…"Frei said as he looked down at the Lord mage in training who was cursing up a storm.

Ludwig had hit him pretty hard. Helping him back to his feet, Rhoma sourly pushed help away and trudged back to the temple with Heno and Frei right behind him. Grato and Mamoru stayed behind with Ludwig.

"Wiggy…Are you going to be okay?"Mamo said softly, petting Ludwig's arm as Grato pulled the sword from his hand.

Ludwig jumped a little, looking over to Mamoru and cracking a wry smile. "Perfectly fine…I…I think I'm going to go lie down for a little while at home…Will you make sure Rhoma is okay and settled?"he said, managing a broader, goofier smile for him.

The pale mage frowned but nodded in understanding. He needed space. "I will. Go take a nap and I'll be back before dinner…"He said as he kissed Ludwig's cheek, walking past the two vampires to the temple. Ludwig stayed behind, Grato patting his shoulder.

"You did the right thing…somehow…"Grato said as he watched Mamoru carefully as he headed back to the temple. Ludwig looked over to him and then back to his mage.

"I nearly could have killed him or worse…left him paralyzed or amnesic…I would never want to do that to a person…ever…"Ludwig said as he started walking, his eyes cast low to the ground.

"Be glad that you didn't but you showed some self control. Compared to other times we had been training…"Grato said with a bit of a smirk, giving Ludwig a bit of a smack to the back of his head. Ludwig managed to crack a modest smile as they stood at the border of town. "Just remember your Highness…You aren't alone…You've got a bride ready to leap to your rescue at any time and friends who care."

"I don't think Mamoru would appreciate being called a 'bride.'"Ludwig said a tad nervously. He'd gotten a good smack on one occasion since proposing to the mage and since then avoided the 'b' word at all costs.

"He'll get used to it. He is one."Grato said dryly, giving Ludwig a shove forward. "Go take your nap old man. You'll need it."

Ludwig gave a bit of a stumble, narrowing his eyes at his teacher and then turning to head into town. Of course, it was quiet. Those who couldn't walk in the light were hiding in their homes behind thick, black curtains. A few humans went about doing some work or Vampires who were blood-bonded to a mage doing some prowling in the day while others were busy.

Back home, it was empty. No Chester, no guests…Mamoru gone to check on Rhoma…Heading back upstairs, he didn't bother getting changed and flopped down on the bed.


At the temple, Rhoma sat leaned against a pillar, Heno gently parting his hair to check the back of Rhoma's head. It was bleeding a little, a slight dent there but he could talk, wiggle this toes and other things so Ludwig didn't do horrible damage. He slowly healed him, Rhoma grumbling in disdain.

"Can't believe he pulled such a cheap shot…"Rhoma grumbled, hissing when Heno brushed a sensitive spot with his fingers on accident.

"You have to understand Lordship…Sir Ludwig has seen what those people can do and you need to learn…We all do."Heno said as he shied away a bit before continuing his healing.

"Please, just call me Rhoma…Lordship is far too formal and I am a mage like yourself."Rhoma said as he adjusted a little to look over his shoulder. Heno smiled, nodding and continuing, raising his head when Mamoru came and joined them on the floor.

"How's your head?"Mamoru said, peeking at Heno's work.

"Throbbing…I may end up going to lie down as well."Rhoma groaned.

"I'm afraid you can't do that, Lor--Rhoma…You might have a some bruising and we need to make sure you'll be alright. After a couple of hours, you'll be able to lie down."Heno forewarned as he finished up the last of the healing and sat back some to take in his handiwork.

"Goddess dammit…"Rhoma swore, moving to lean back against the pillar, crossing his legs.

Mamoru shook his head at him. "Watch your tongue."He chastised, giving a flick on his ear, making the youngest mage cringe a little, rubbing the spot. "I'm still angry with you. Don't think you aren't going to get away with what you pulled today…Poor Wiggy…He never really takes naps…He must feel horrible…"

"Horrible for smacking me in the back of the head? I would very well hope so!"Rhoma said before receiving a swift smack from Frei who had come to join them with his pipe freshly lit.

"And you needed it. It'll be a good reality check for you, Rhoma Hezei von Grayharte."Frei said as he gave Rhoma a swift kick in the thigh as well. Rhoma topped over, rubbing his leg and almost cowered under Frei's height, making his way behind Mamoru who raised a curious and amused eyebrow.

"Hezei?"Mamoru chuckled.

"Pappi thought it nice to give me a middle name that resembled Papa's name as a middle name…So It was like I was Papa's child too."Rhoma mumbled, his face reddening. "I don't like to use it…but FREI uses it like it's gold."

"Because it gets a point…and as punishment for your follies today you are going to run the course and be tested on your use of the other elements."Frei said, fuming and puffing on his pipe a little more heavily. "Honestly, you can use more than fire, water and earth…What is the point of teaching you these things if you don't use them?"

Rhoma and the others fell quiet, the 9th Lord staring down at the pristinely cleaned floors. Getting up, he wobbled a little and walked away from the group, heading towards the back of the temple where there were some more private rooms. Heno hesitated to follow after him, getting up a little unsteadily then going after him. Mamoru sat staring, looking up to Frei.

"He needs to learn to harden himself against anything and everything…he's still young. Your father wanted to wait until he was in his later years to start the harder training but we don't have the time to wait for that. Not now."Frei explained, looking down to Mamoru. "He's not like you and Ludwig…you two weren't raised in the life of luxury he was."

"That doesn't mean to treat him cruelly…I'm sure Pappi had good reasons to let him train later on…From what I remember, everyone in our little family has had equally troubling lives….though…Hezekiah never liked to talk about his…Even a life behind a palace wall can be hard. I don't know how many times Ludwig ran down to the temple and spent nights with me when we were young."Mamoru said as he rose to his feet. "And I won't see my younger brother be mistreated and abused for the sake of his birth title."

"Then you can join him in running the course tomorrow."Frei said as he turned to walk away, gliding towards his sanctuary of an office. "Unless you think you can't keep up with your own fathers' legacy…"

"I'll do much more than that…by the time Malacai shows up, there will be a reckoning."Mamoru said as he stomped past Frei to the private rooms, finding Rhoma curled up in a ball with a pillow in his arms, his face buried into it.

"Rhoma…Please, you mustn't lie down."Heno warned, shaking him gently. Rhoma wasn't moving. Mamoru closed the curtain to the room, moving to go sit on one of the kneeling cushions beside Rhoma's head. Moving a hand down, he brushed a little hair away from the side of Rhoma's face that the hair band of metal didn't keep back.

"Rhoma…you need to sit up."Mamoru said softly. Rhoma shook his head and held onto the pillow tighter. Mamoru touched the back of his hand to Rhoma's cheek, which was cold from the nippy air outside, his younger brother peeking up at him with flushed cheeks.

"Your hand is really cold…"Rhoma said, his eyes watery. Mamoru smiled, Rhoma moving up and moving up onto Mamoru's lap, his face buried into the mage's pale-colored robes. He received little kisses, the Albinjian mage holding him preciously.

"Don't worry about what Frei says Rhoma…I know you can do well and you will. I know it's been tough. You know you can talk to me or Ludwig when you need an open ear…"Mamoru said soflty, stroking Rhoma's hair.

"I…will."Rhoma said, with a sniff, rubbing his eyes.

"For now though, Rho…I want you to listen to Heno and try to sit up straight okay? He'll let you know when you can lie down and you can come back to our home when you're feeling a little better."Mamoru said, kissing Rhoma's temple.

"Can't I go back now?"Rhoma pouted.

"Ludwig needs a little space right now…It's nothing you did, I promise you…it's just his worry right now and his nerves. By the time you come home, he'll be back on his feet."Mamoru said, patting Rhoma's back. The Lord Mage managed to crack a smile, sliding off the warm lap and sitting down.

"Alright…"Rhoma said as he settled back down.

"I'll go get you some ice for your head. Just settle down here and I'll give Ludwig the news that you're alright."Mamoru said, patting Rhoma's knee and rising to his feet.


Later in the evening, Mamoru returned home to find Ludwig having prepared him a small meal though the vampire lover being nowhere in sight. He ate, drank the little bit of sweetened milk he had been given and retreated upstairs. Ludwig wasn't in bed and a splash in the bathtub made him peek into the bathroom.

"How are you feeling?"He said softly, Ludwig's eyes darting up to meet his and then falling back into the bubbly water.

"Better…"Ludwig said dryly, leaning his head back. "How's…"

"He's just fine. That kid has a thick skull and Heno took care of him quickly enough."Mamoru said as he started to peel away his layers. However, he was stopped when Ludwig's eyes felt like they were going to tear a hole into him. Peeking up, the vampire was staring at him intensely. "What?"

"Slower…"Ludwig said, moving so his arms were folded on the side of the tub, watching him.

"You want a show with your bath?"Mamoru chuckled, his thumbs fingering the hem of his loose pants and sash. Reaching one hand back, he pulled his hair aside to give Ludwig a better view of his back. Slowly, he started to push his pants down, sliding it over his rear end.

Ludwig licked his lips a little, watching as more skin was exposed, perfect and unmarred to his eyes. Mamoru slinked over to the bath, Ludwig's arms, warm from the bath. Closing his eyes, he let his fingers running through the vampire's damp hair.

"You…are stunning."Ludwig whispered softly, his steam-warm lips pressing against the skin just under Mamoru's navel. The mage sighed contently, pulling a little at Ludwig's hair.

"Am not…I'm dirty…"Mamoru pouted playfully, gently giving Ludwig's hair a pull so he would move and let him slide into the tub with him. The vampire chuckled, obligingly moving and letting Mamoru settle on the opposite side of the tub while he reached for a cloth.

Mamoru gave a bit of a yelp when Ludwig grabbed his leg and pulled it from the water, making him sink some. Ludwig chuckled deeply, the mage reddening some. "Well…if you're dirty…I'll clean you from head to toe…"He teased, running the washcloth over Mamoru's foot, making him twitch cutely as he tried not to smile.

"W-Wiggy, tha--haha, really tickles."Mamoru said, squirming a bit as Ludwig took his time washing the one foot, slowly moving upwards.

"I know…and I just wanted to make you smile…"Ludwig said, Mamoru blushing and sinking lower into the tub.