A Small Piece of Heaven

A Small Piece of Heaven – Part 16

After a rather quiet breakfast with his master (Milliardo had left the night before) Wufei had headed for the garden to practice his daily exercises. Only a few minutes into his routine he noticed that Treize was watching him. The boy frowned and tried to ignore the man but he couldn’t shake the uncomfortable feeling. He wasn’t sure why the ex-colonel’s presence bothered him. Milliardo had watched him many times before and this shouldn’t be any different. Finally he decided to finish his training early.
“I hope I wasn’t disturbing you?” Treize asked politely.
“Of course not,” the boy lied. “I’m just not in the right mood today.”
“This was very impressive. How long have you been practicing martial arts?” the ginger-blond man inquired as he and Wufei strolled back to the mansion together.
“Since I was 5 or 6 years old.”
“I take it you have also been trained in the use of weapons?”
The boy nodded silently.
“Would you care giving me a little demonstration of your fencing skills? I would love to have a sword-fight with you.”
“Are you sure?” the black-haired youth asked surprised.
“Absolutely. Why don’t you get some rest and we will meet in the fencing room at 10 a.m. ”

***
Wufei had never before set foot into the fencing room. He let his gaze wander over walls decorated with crests, shields and weapons of all kinds. The ex-colonel was already waiting.
“Shall we?” He offered the boy one of the rapiers he was holding.
Wufei hesitated.
“Is something wrong?”
“I have never used one of these before, but I supposed it will do.”
“If that’s the case, why don’t you go and choose any sword you want.” The ginger-blond man gestured toward a wall of display cases. “Letting you fight with an unfamiliar weapon wouldn’t be fair now, would it?”
Maybe it shouldn’t have surprised Wufei that the ex-colonel could offer him a selection of almost every fencing weapon imaginable, from medieval broad swords to Japanese ninja swords. After a moment of consideration, the boy picked a slightly curved katana from one of the cases.
Treize watched as Wufei took a few practice swings, apparently satisfied with the way the weapon felt in his hand.
Let’s hope I’m right about the boy. Otherwise this could just be an unusual way of committing suicide.
Pushing the disturbing thought from his mind, the ginger-blond man raised his rapier.
“En Garde!”
Wufei’s movements were fluid and quick and his fierceness made up for what he lacked in strength and finesse.
“You are holding back,” he growled a few minutes into the fight. “There is no need for that. I’m very well capable of holding my own against you.”
“So I’m noticed,” Treize laughed. “You are an excellent fighter. I’m impressed.”
The boy snorted. “What did you expect? Now let me see what you really can do.”
“As you wish.”
Wufei had to jump back quickly as the ex-colonel suddenly thrust forward.
“Is that better?” he smirked.
Arrogant Bastard!
The Chinese lad let out a growl as he answered with an attack of his own.
From that point on Treize had no more time for smug remarks because he was too busy defending himself. Expecting yet another assault from the left, he reacted accordingly. To his surprise however Wufei changed his tactic and attacked his now unprotected right side before the ex-colonel was able to counter. He backed off swiftly but not fast enough, taking a sharp breath as the katana cut through the fabric of his shirt and into his right upper arm. Reflectively he covered the wound with his other hand.
Wufei paused and lowered his weapon. His eyes went wide and he let out a gasp as blood started to seep through Treize’s fingers.
“I’m sorry…I didn’t expect these to be anything but training weapons.”
“My fault I suppose. I should have told you that I don’t believe in training weapons.” Treize grinned wryly. “Anybody who is careless enough to let his guard down like I did deserves to get hurt.”
“I’ll go call a doctor?” the boy offered.
The ginger-blond man shook his head. “That won’t be necessary. It’s really not that bad. I have survived worst. But I’m afraid we will have to finish our match another time,” He joked. “I would however appreciate if you would be so kind to get me a towel so that I won’t bleed all over the carpets.”
***

Wufei seemed to be unable to take his mind of what had happened during his sword fight with Treize. He hadn’t seen the man since they had left the fencing room together, and the boy wouldn’t help but wonder how serious the injury was.
Why do I even care? It was not my fault if he underestimated me. It was a fair fight. I should not be feeling guilty, so why am I?
Realizing that the feeling of guilt wasn’t just going to go away, the Chinese youth finally decided to pay his master a visit and see how he was going. He knocked at the door to the study.
“Yes?!”
Treize was sitting in a high-backed chair by the window, reading. He gave the boy a friendly smile as he put his book down on a small table at his side.
“Ah, Wufei. Please come in.”
“I just wanted to see you you were doing,” the youth explained as he stepped into the room. “How is your arm?”
The ex-colonel made a dismissive gesture. “It is nothing really. Just a flesh-wound hardly worth mentioning.”
He was wearing a white shirt and Wufei could see a bulk beneath the fabric where a bandage had been wrapped around the wound.
“I’m relieved to hear that.”
As the boy looked around his eyes caught the book Treize had been reading.
Chinese poetry? Is he trying to impress me tha that?
“I happen to like Li-Bai. It’s a translation of course.” the ginger-blond man spoke, as he noticed the boy’s look. “I don’t suppose you have read any of his work…”
“What makes you think that?” Wufei’s eyes narrowed. “Because I’m a warrior I can’t enjoy poetry? To your information I was a scholar before I became a soldier. I only traded my books for a sword after your people occupied my home colony.”
One of Treize’s eyebrows rose in a mixture of surprise and slight amusement. “You are quite a feisty little dragon aren’t you? Do you always become defensive that easily or is it just I who brings out the best in you? Let me assure you that I didn’t mean to offend you. Please, forgive me if I did.”
Just then Evans interrupted them to let the ex-colonel know that his tea had been served. Treize thanked the butler and dismissed him before he turned his attention back to Wufei.
“Would you care to join me for tea? Maybe we can talk some more about literature and what else you like.”
“If you wish,” the boy agreed. He followed his master downstairs into the sitting room.
“Tell me a little more about yourself, little Dragon.” Treize asked, as he filled two cups with hot tea.
The Chinese lad frowned. “Why are you calling me that?”
“Little Dragon?” The ginger-blond man handed one of the cups off to Wufei, then settled down in his chair. “You are a descendant of the Long clan, are you not? Long, as far as I know means dragon, so it seems like a fitting name for you. – Does the name bother you?”
Wufei shrugged. “I don’t really care.”
“Then I shall continue using it.” The ex-colonel smirked. “So, are there any other poets you like aside from Li-Bai?”
The boy took a few careful sips from his tea before he answered.
“I never said I liked him. I read some of his poems, but I favor the work of Du Fu and Wang Wei.”
“I do admit I am surprised. I would have never pictured you as a scholar.” Treize confessed.
“Things aren’t always what they seem?”
“How true. Maybe you will find that I too am not the person you might think I am,” the ex-colonel spoke softly. When Wufei looked up he found the man’s piercing, radiant blue eyes trained on him.

***
After sitting all morning behind his desk working through a pile of bills and files, Treize asked Wufei to join him for a ride.
“I don’t know. Do you think that’s a good idea?” The young slave asked evasively. “What about your injury? Shouldn’t you be taking it easy.”
“Thank you for your concern,” the ex-colonel replied with a slight smirk. ”But if I remember right it wasn’t my behind that was injured, so riding should not proof to be a problem.”
At the stable Treize had two horses prepared for them. While Wufei watched them being saddled his master used the time for a little “surprise inspection” to make sure that Martin’s absence didn’t affect the care of the horses. Obviously he was satisfied with his findings.
“I’ake ake Alexander, you can ride Napoleon,” the ginger-blond man told the boy once the two steeds were ready.
Wufei frowned slightly, as he swung himself into the saddle.
“Are all your stallions named after ancient warlords and conquers?”
Treize laughed. “Actually they were named at the stud-farm where I bought them, but the names fit their personalities well. Oh yes, be careful with Napoleon, he is a little soft around the mouth. Just try to keep his reins loose. ”
Wufei nodded in acknowledgement. “Where are we heading?” he asked as the two riders left the stables behind them.
“I thought I’ll show you some parts of the estate that I think you have not seen yet.” The ex-colonel explained. “I noticed you seem to enjoy sitting down by the lake. – Did you know there is another, larger lake up north?”
The boy shook his head. No, he didn’t know that. He and Milliardo usually kept close to the stables when they went riding.
“It is such a peaceful place. When I was a child I would ride up to that lake when I wanted to be alone or when I was trying to hide after I had gotten myself into trouble.” Treize confessed laughing.
The thought of a chibi Treize hiding from his parents made the young slave smirk.
“You should do that more often.”
“Do what more often?” Wufei gave the man puzzled look.
“Smile. You look lovely when you are smiling.”
Feeling a blush creep into his cheeks the boy quickly averted his head. Treize seemed to get some kind of perverted pleasure out of making him feel uncomfortable. A hobby, the man seemed to be sharing with Milliardo.
For a while they rode just quietly side by side, until a sudden noise spooked Napoleon. The mount jumped sideways, which startled Wufei. The boy instinctively tightened the reins, forgotten Treize’s warning about the stallion’s sensitive mouth. Napoleon reared up on his hind legs, throwing his rider out of the saddle. Wufei hit the ground with an ugly thumb. For a moment his left foot was entangled in the stirrup, but somehow me managed to free himself before the stallion took off.
Treize dismounted quickly, tethering the horse to the nearest tree before he run to the boy.
“Wufei, are you okay?”
The black-haired slave moaned as he tried to sit up.
“My head hurts,” he groaned. “I must have hit it on the ground.” Touching carefully a spot on the back of his skull he could feel a swelling the size of a golf ball.
“Can you stand up?” the ginger-blond man wanted to know.
Wufei nodded, accepting his master’s outstretched hand to pull himself up, but as soon as he put any weight on his left foot he felt a stabbing pain in his ankle. The boy hissed in agony.
“What’s wrong?” the ex-colonel asked concerned.
“My foot…”
“Let me take a look.” Treize helped the young slave to sit down again. Wufei’s ankle was swollen. He pressed his teeth into his lower lip to keep elf elf from crying out as the ex-colonerefurefully removed his shoe.
“Looks like it might be broken, or at the least fractured. We better get you home.”
Wufei didn’t even protest when he was picked up from the ground, at least not until he realized that his master was carrying him to his horse.
“What are you doing? I‘m not ever getting onto one of these things again.”
“You don’t have much of a choice, Wufei,” Treize replied calmly. “It’s about 2 miles back to the mansion you you are in no condition to walk.”
“What about you?”
“He is strong enough to carry both of us.”
The ex-colonel lifted the slave onto the mount, then climbed into the saddle behind him. He put one arm protectively around the boy as he spurred the stallion on. “Relax, Wufei. I’m not going to let you fall off again.” Somehow Wufei knew that he could trust the man’s word.
“What about Napoleon?”
“Don’t worry about him. He knows where his oats are being served and when he gets hungry he will find his way home.”
The boy closed his eyes and tried to ignore the pain in his head and leg, and a slight feeling of nausea in his stomach. He allowed himself to be pulled against Treize’s body and rested his head against the man’s chest.
“That’s it. Make yourself comfortable,” the ex-colonel spoke softly and in a slightly humorous tone he added. “Just promise me to give me a little warning in case you are going to get sick.”
Wufei managed a wry smile “I’ll try my best,” he promised.
Treize kept talking to the young slave to keep him awake until they reached the mansion.

***

In spite of Wufei’s protests, Treize insisted on carrying the boy into the house. “As long as we don’t know if your ankle is broken or not I’ll not let you stand up on your own,” he told the young slave as he set him down on the couch in the living room. “Stay here, I’m going to get changed and then I’ll take you to the doctor.”
“I do not need a doctor,” the boy objected.
“You need x-rays thatthat ankle and I also want your head checked out. This bruise looks rather ugly. “ Directed at his butler the ex-colonel continued. ”Don’t let him get up while I’m gone.”
“What happened?” the gray-haired man asked concerned.
“He was thrown off Napoleon.”
“Your Excellency let the boy ride Napoleon?” Evans was shocked. “He isn’t ready for that kind of horse yet “
Treize stopped in his tracks. “What are you talking about?”
“Milliardo is still teng hng him to ride. I thought you knew?”
“Apparently I’m the last one to know what’s going on in this house.” There was a slightly irritated tone in the ex-colonels voice. “But never mind that now. Call Owen and have him pick us up ASAP.”
***
TBC


Author\'s note: I don\'t remember if I mention this before but there is a companion site to this fic. call \"A Little Piece of SIMS Heaven\", Basically I had some fun with the this fic and the game the SIMS. Check it out if you want a visual tour through Treize\'s estate or a a peek into his photo album http://www.gundam-wing-universe.net/sims/sims_main.php