Dead Roses

All right, the fourth chapter is now written (by popular demand, right popular…)

Warnings: Read the previous chapters

Disclaimer: I do not own it.

Onward ho!

-

Yuan flew back to the tower of salvation in silence, save the occasional bird that seemed to get disorientated at seeing a flying humanoid. Upon arrival he pulled his wings back in and moved to the transporter that sent him up to Derris-Kharlan.

He walked towards his lord’s castle, hoping to whatever gods were listening that Yggdrasill was in a meeting or busy with some other event.

He travelled up to where the castle transporter was, flashing his identification at the angel guarding the transporter.

He arrived in the great hall with a thousand halls leading to all the rooms of the various angels, including his own and Kratos’s, though there’s was an entire section compared to single rooms the other angels received.

He was about to move start towards his own room when he heard his name being called. He turned to an angel flying towards him. “Hello?” He asked.

The angel nodded his head, as was to be expected for someone of his status, and began his message. “Lord Yuan, Lord Yggdrasill wishes for your attendance at his throne.”

“Did he say why?” Yuan asked, any anxiety he felt carefully controlled and hidden.

“No, simply that your attendance was needed.” The angel replied. Yuan was sure that this angel, along with all the others, had a name; one that was lost to the sands of time. It was another grievance Yuan had with Yggdrasill, another reason that he and his lord got into arguments.

Another reason the unspeakable had happened.

Yuan shuddered mentally, keeping in mind that the soulless servant was still present. He gave the angel a nod of his recognition, moving towards the throne room. He walked past the large dragon guard, through the great doors, using the transporter, and finally walked to the great throne.

He bowed on his knee upon his entrance. Yggdrasill eyed him before a small smile found its way across his face. “Yuan…my dearest companion.” He said at length, seeming almost amused with Yuan’s presence.

“Good day my lord…” Yuan said, once again guarding his voice.

Yggdrasill laughed, though at this time there was no mirth in his eyes. “Yuan, you may call me Mithos.”

“… Mithos then.” Yuan would not walk into this trap again; he would not put himself through this again…

Yggdrasill smiled, the mirth did reach his eyes this time, however it was not happiness or amusement of any joy, but a deep disturbed joy, such as one you would see in a blood crazed psychopath about to taste his prey.

It made Yuan shudder physically, much to Yggdrasill’s enjoyment. Yuan remained silent, waiting for Yggdrasill to speak.

Yggdrasill however did not say word, merely floated down towards Yuan, floating above his bowed form.

Yuan looked up at him, trying to still the terror in his body and mask it so that Yggdrasill would not see it in his eyes.

Yggdrasill leaned down and grabbed Yuan’s chin tilting it so he could see his eyes.

Yuan tried to withhold the on coming shudders. His entire being screamed, all voices saying one thing over and over, “Run, run now and don’t ever return!!”

Yggdrasill smile turned malicious. “Yuan, you seem upset? Is there something wrong?”

Yuan looked away. “Nothing my lord...”

“This wouldn’t have anything to do with our game would it?” Yggdrasill asked in an almost innocent tone.

Yuan shuddered again. “No... my lord.” he didn’t want to get involved in this again! He hadn’t done anything to anger Yggdrasill, not a word, or even a breath of rebellion! Why was he doing this!? Why?! He pulled away without thinking, quickly moving away. His eyes were filled with terror as the events which transpired just scarce a week ago flashed through his mind.

Yggdrasill was not pleased, he advanced on Yuan again, quickly gaining ground, he grabbed him and pulled him to his feet. “That was a very foolish action Yuan.” He growled at him.

Yuan screamed, now frantically trying to escape. He was dragged back to the throne and thrown onto it.

Yggdrasill wasted no time in straddling him. He held Yuan’s arms above his head, sneering. “I will not tolerate another out burst like that.”

Yuan shuddered. “Stop! Stop Mithos!”

“What if I don’t want to?” Yggdrasill said, smiling with an absolutely malicious smile. He was completely in control and he knew it. “Big brother, you’re always so mean to me...”

Yuan’s eyes widened and he renewed his struggles, starting to scream again; though already knowing that no one would hear his pleas.

Yggdrasill’s eyes narrowed, with his one freed hand he viciously slapped Yuan across the face.

Stars danced across Yuan’s eyes and everything slid out of focus. He stopped screaming, mind going into a complete daze. “Kratos... please save me...” He begged.

Yggdrasill laughed out loud. “Kratos? Kratos!! Do you think that inferior being will do anything to help you?!” He leaned down to Yuan’s ear. “No Yuan, no one will save you. You don’t deserve it.”

Yuan let out a soft sob. He knew all of this was true, but he still prayed that against the odds Kratos would come and save him.

Kratos whom he had cast out.

“Please...” His mind begged, “Please forgive me Kratos...”

Yggdrasill eyed Yuan hungrily. He once again had something he could play with. He ripped at Yuan’s clothing, not even bothering to try to unfasten them.

Yuan’s body shuddered wildly, not even trying to suppress his fear. He cried out when Yggdrasill finished ripping off his clothing, undoing his own fastens to the lower part of his one piece suit.

Yggdrasill positioned himself at Yuan’s entrance and thrust in without a moments preparation.

Yuan screamed out at the intense pain as he felt his insides tear. “Oh Gods!!!” He shouted as his entire world blurred and began to spin. He cried and Yggdrasill’s thrusts became wilder and quicker.

He felt a hand on him, and instinctively he tried to move away. His agony stopped him in his tracks, as even the slightest twist gave Yggdrasill more of him to tear.

Yggdrasill moaned loudly, now trying to set a rhythm, and get Yuan off . He could feel, after a few careful strokes, Yuan’s penis started to warm in his hand. He smiled to himself, timing the strokes with his thrusts. He tried different angles, to find the one that had set him off before.

Yuan wailed in agony. Why?! Why was this happening all over again?! Had he done such a terrible job with life that whatever gods existed decided to punish him?

He felt himself harden in Yggdrasill's hand, especially when he managed to find his prostate. “No!” He shouted, or at least tried to. He had screamed his throat raw before, so now all he could go was groan.

Tears freely leaked down his face. He closed his eyes and let his mind loose, fearing if he remained trying to keep a coherent thought he would drive himself mad.

Yggdrasill thrusts once again picked up a wilder pace as he could feel his climax approaching. “Oh... Yuan, so fucking tight!!” He shouted as he came. He stroked Yuan at a quicker pace, moving up and down the others arousal till he felt Yuan’s body jerk and come hard.

He smiled in post bliss, and pulled out of Yuan, slipping away to do up his clothing.

“Now wasn’t that fun.” He asked, though not expecting much of a response, he turned to Yuan. “We should definately try these activities more often.”

Yuan gave no response, simply stared blankly ahead.

Yggdrasill tilted his head, moving over to him, and lightly tapping his face. “Yuan?” He asked quietly.

Still no response. “Yuan...?” Yuan remained still, and for an awful moment Yggdrasill thought he might have killed him. He dismissed this however when his keen ears picked up Yuan’s shallow breathing.

“Yuan, I insist you get off my throne immediately.” Yggdrasill said, voice as cold as ice. Still no effect. “Yuan?” He asked, starting to sound irritated. Nothing.

Yuan just stared, as though he was one of the many angels that floated about Derris-Kharlan.

“Yuan?” Yggdrasill asked, his voice dipping into concern.

“Ki... m...” He heard the slight utter from him.

“Yuan?” He asked again.

“Kil...l m....e” Yuan said again, a little louder.

Yggdrasill stood in shock, finally understanding what he said, and trying to comprehend it. “Yuan.... What are you saying...?” He asked, shaking slightly. Why was Yuan...?

“Kill... me...” Yuan begged again. “Kill me...”

“Stop it Yuan... Stop saying that!” Yggdrasill said, his voice starting to shaking.

“Kill me. Kill me. Kill me. Kill me. Kill me. Kill me...” Yuan continued, like a mantra.

“Stop it!!!” Yggdrasill screamed, his form shrinking to that of his childhood. “STOP IT!!!” He screamed, but Yuan never wavered, simply continued on as though Yggdrasill wasn’t even there. Yggdrasill turned and ran from the room, screaming like a hysteric child.

-

Kratos returned to Derris-Kharlan to find the place in an odd sort of silence. When he entered the Welgaia, he was surprised to find not one angel floating about. Puzzled, he went to the teleporter up to Vinheim where he found it just as quiet.

Another large puzzle presented itself when he found that Yggdrasill’s throne room door was wide open and unguarded.

He cautiously approached the doors and, upon careful inspection, entered. He moved to the transporter to Yggdrasill’s throne.

Stepping off the transporter he glanced towards the throne, and did a double take. He rubbed his eyes harshly only to find when he looked back that the object did not disappear.

He held his stomach, nearly throwing up.

Draped across the throne was Yuan, nearly naked and bleeding profusely. His eyes stared blankly ahead, seeming dead.

“Yuan?” He called out, but got no reply. He rushed to his fallen comrade, to make sure he was still alive. Seeing that his chest was moving, and hearing him breathe, he took in a breath he didn’t know he was holding.

His relief was short lived as he realised Yuan was speaking.

“Yuan?” He asked, but Yuan just stared. Kratos moved his head a little closer to his friends mouth so he could make out what he was saying.

It took him only a few moments to understand the chant Yuan kept murmuring again and again. He moved back from his friend, eyes wide with horror. “Yuan!”

“Kill me... Kill me... Kill me...“ Yuan spoke just above a whisper.

Kratos repressed his urge to run, knowing that if Yuan did not get help soon he would get his wish.

He carefully lifted the other man up in his arms, who winced and moaned once, before simply falling unconscious. “This is the second time I’ve found you injured, now I know at least a part of what’s going on...” He muttered as he carried the injured half-elf to the medical facilities, where he tended to him himself, as there were no angels even there.

-

A few hours later Yuan awoke to the sound of a heart monitor. “W-” He tried, but pain made him stop. He blearily glanced around the room, for any signs of life.

His eyes rested on Kratos, and a sense of deja-vu came over him. “Kratos?” He tried to ask, but only got out the first syllable.

Kratos seemed to notice however and raised his head. “Yuan?” He asked softly.

Yuan nodded.

“Do you know where you are?” Kratos asked.

Yuan nodded again.

“You’ve lost your voice then?” Kratos stated more than said. “It doesn’t surprise me, you would start screaming from time to time.”

Yuan gave him a puzzled look.

“You... do you remember what happened to you?” Kratos asked.

Yuan thought about it but completely drew a blank. The last thing he remembered before wakening here; was flying to the tower of salvation. He shook his head no.

Kratos sighed, it was probably better that Yuan didn’t remember.

However it was no less disturbing. Yuan wouldn’t have forgotten something like that unless his mind had simply shut down during the event.

Yuan stared at Kratos, hoping he could fill in the gap of when he was flying, to when he entered the medical section of Vinheim. He mouthed out Kratos’s name.

Kratos shook his head. “I’m sorry Yuan. I wish I could answer you but I am unsure of what happened to you myself.” He lied. He had figured out almost all what he needed to know about what had happened from what he had seen recently, also there was Yuan’s and Yggdrasill’s odd behaviour.

This presented a problem though. Even though Kratos knew what was happening now, there was little he could do about it.

He sighed to himself. He wanted to help Yuan, but he couldn’t do anything without fear of upsetting their delicate relations to each other.

He started when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Looking down, he met Yuan’s worried eyes.

“Kratos...?” Yuan mouthed.

Kratos smiled “Don’t worry, I was just thinking about the insufferable chosen and the trial it’s been to train him.” Kratos lied again.

Yuan smiled sympathetically. “Poor Kratos.” He mouthed.

Kratos just huffed. “You try taking care of that prissy peacock, then tell me how you feel about him.”

Yuan just smiled, mirth reaching his eyes. Though he couldn’t utter a word Kratos knew exactly what he was saying.

Kratos smiled gently, and pulled some of Yuan’s hair out of his eyes.
Yuan glared at him, pulling away, and Kratos’s smile grew wider. He knew Yuan hated it when he treated him like a child, even when it was only slightly.

Yuan huffed, eyes narrowing further. Kratos shrugged, in somewhat of an apology.

“You should lay down, if you were unconscious for this long it means that your body is still recovering.” Kratos suggested

Yuan glared at him again, though this time it was more of a pout. He lay back down and turned away from Kratos.

Kratos sighed and shook his head. “I’ll come check on you later.” He said as he left the room. He had to find out something to help Yuan’s current situation. He headed for Yggdrasill’s room.

-

He expected an angry, if not slightly psychopathic, Yggdrasill to deal with when he entered the room; so it came quite a surprise when he came into the room to see Yggdrasill, now in his childish form of Mithos, shivering in fetal position on the floor.

“Lord Yggdrasill?” He asked softly. He got no response. “My lord...?”

“Make him stop....” Mithos moaned.

“Make who stop?” Kratos asked tentatively.

Kratos did a double take when Mithos looked up at him, his eyes wide with tears. “Make Yuan stop...” He cried. “He... He won’t stop screaming....” Mithos broke down into tears and for a moment he was the thirteen year old boy he was back then. His body shook as sobs over took him.

Kratos stood there awkwardly. He wasn’t sure what he should, or even could do. Mithos, no, Yggdrasill had brought this upon himself when he had done those terrible acts to Yuan.

“I didn’t...” Mithos tried to speak through sobs, “I didn’t want to hurt him... I just wanted to remember, and for him to remember too...”

Kratos still didn’t move, eyes passive as they always were. He couldn’t do anything, not for Mithos.

He could only hope they didn’t kill each other.

“Kratos...” Mithos said, looking up at his former mentor.

Kratos stared down at him, still not moving to help his lord. “Yes?”

“Yuan... is he.... okay?” Mithos asked.

“He’ll live.” Kratos answered carefully.

“...That’s good then...” Mithos said, looking down.

“I have to return to him.” Kratos informed him. “He still needs medical attention.”

“...All right.” Mithos said, picking himself off the ground. “Please report his full status when you are done.”

Kratos bowed and left the room.

-

Later that week, Kratos, after being summoned came into Yggdrasill’s throne room. “You summoned me my lord?” he asked, after bowing briefly.

“I did.” Yggdrasill answered. “I would like to hear on Yuan’s status, then I have a very important mission for you.”

Kratos nodded, and gave his report on Yuan’s health. “Yuan’s injuries have healed steadily, and he has quickly gone through rehabilitation and recovered full use of his legs. He seems pained at times but does not seem to suffer too greatly. I have suggested he take rest but he has yet to listen to me, in four thousand years, I doubt he’ll start now.”

“Typical.” Yggdrasill said, waving his hand. “Though I am glad that he is better.” A smile graced his lips, though no mirth shown in his eyes. “I suppose that’ll do for now.” He said with a wave of his hand. “On to pressing matters. The chosen of Sylvarant has finally come of age to receive her oracle. I wish for you to aid her in her journey to the tower of salvation.”

“Already?” Kratos asked more to himself than his lord. “I will leave as soon as I am ready my lord.”

Yggdrasill nodded. “You are dismissed then.”

Kratos bowed again and left, heading directly to Yuan’s room where he found the angel working on some project or another. He growled under his breath, he had instructed Yuan to rest, but as he told his lord, the other angel simply would not comply. “Yuan...”

“Yes Kratos?” Yuan asked, not moving from where he worked, or even glancing at the other seraph.

“I told you to give your body a chance to heal.” Kratos said.

“And I told you it’s already healed.” Yuan said back, not missing a beat.

Kratos growled a little louder. “Yuan...”

Yuan gave no reply, simply continued to work.

Kratos mentally threw his hands up. “Yuan, would you please turn around?” He asked.

Yuan sighed, as if even that little exert of energy was a great waste of his time. “Yes Kratos?” He asked, sounding utterly bored.

“I have to leave to aid the new chosen on her journey.” Kratos answered.

“Oh.” Yuan said, voice dripping with distaste. “You came here to tell me that?”

“Not completely...” Kratos said, sighing to himself. How would he be able to get this out without utterly destroying Yuan’s regained strength.

“Then what? Want to wish me good-bye?” Yuan said sarcastically.

“No...” This was beginning to grate on Kratos’s nerves. Yuan seemed to be absolutely irritated with Kratos’s presence. “I...” Kratos couldn’t think of what to say. “I wanted...” He sighed mentally, this wasn’t working.

“What, the great Kratos out of words?” Yuan chided. “How fascinating.”

Kratos narrowed his eyes, moving quickly to Yuan and slamming his hands on either side of his chair. “Listen to me closely Yuan, because I’ll only give you this warning once.” He said, a dead calm.

Yuan tried to move further into his seat away from what he was sure the humans called the angel of death.

“You are in danger here, I’m not certain if you have completely forgotten why or not. You should leave as soon as you can. Tell Yggdrasill that you’re going to do a report on Sylvarant’s status, or something to that effect. I don’t care what, but leave because I will not be back in a very long time and I will not be able to protect you.” Kratos glared at Yuan, daring him to say anything other wise.

Yuan numbly nodded, still trying to still move away.

Kratos sighed, letting go of Yuan’s chair and standing upright. “I have to go now. You can heed my warning or not, this is no longer of my concern.” He said, and without another word left the room, heading off to Sylvarant.

Yuan, after he calmed his heart, got up and stood, wondering what that was all about and whether he should take it seriously. Kratos seemed dead set on telling him this.

Yuan glanced back at the work he was doing and decided perhaps this once he should listen to Kratos and leave. He gathered the things he’d need and paged one of the messenger angels, giving him the message that he was leaving and would not be expected back for a long while.

He quickly made his way though Welgaia to the transporter and teleported his way down to Sylvarant.