Battle of the Heart

Yao's Part

   Inside the Russian palace Ivan sat with the queen ignoring her constant nagging. He found absolutely no interest in the woman's matter any longer, he was only in it for the territory.

"How has none of your assassin's been able to take them out?" She hollered. "We must have sent over 50 men!"

   Ivan yawned smiled when a nice looking young man with shoulder length brown hair arrived with a tray of tea.

"Sire I have brought you some tea." The man said with a trembling smile. 

"Ah, sweet Toris always on time." He said watching the boy pour him some tea. "I am bored with you, please leave." He said to the queen.

"You wha-"

"Now please." The king smiled.

   The queens face grew red and she stood up leaving the room. Toris watched her go then looked down at Ivan with big emerald eyes that shuttered from the pressure the large man gave off.

"I should go myself, did you need anything else sir?" He asked.

"Yes Tori, why don't you join me for tea." 

"Well I-"

"I don't like repeating myself Toris." Ivan smiled.

    The man quickly sat down and poured himself a cup looking down at it nervously. He tried to take a sip to calm himself but still shivered in his seat.

"It's nice to sit down with friends, da?'

"Oh, yes, of course." Toris smiled.

   Suddenly the moment was cute short to a knock on the door. Ivan looked at it with an annoyed smile and called for the person to come in. The door opened and a male with long black hair in fancy royal red garments came in.

"Uh, Yao. What brings you here?"

"I was wondering if I could have a word with you your highness?" He asked.

"Is it important?" Ivan asked.

"I suppose it could wait." Yao said readying to leave.

"Come in then, Tori, you are excused."

"Ah, yes, thank you." He stuttered standing up and quickly leaving past Yao.

   Yao then walked in, his head held high without fear of the powerful man. He sat across from him and awaited the man to look at him.

"Well?" The kings grin widened.

"My younger brother, Leon, has sent me a letter. He wishes to see me and talk about family matters, of course I wanted to ask you first." He explained.

"Ah Leon, the youngest son who ran away from home?" 

"Yes."

"Hmmm, I suppose it would be fun to meet your families only dishonour." 

   Yao bit his lip at the comment and sighed. "Yes, I suppose it would."

"Well then bring him over." 

"Thank you." 

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   Leon stood with Emil and Berwald at a small carriage. They had gotten the ok from Yao and were now about to head to Russia for their mission. Mikkel, Lukas, and Tino hugged their family and wished them luck before they all squeezed into the small carriage. The trip was longer than they had thought but the plan was finally becoming a reality. The carriage parked at the rear, Leon got out from the front while Berwald and Emil stayed in the rear waiting for a good time to move. The back door opened and Yao poked his head out bringing out a large smile when he saw his younger brother.

"Leon." He called. "Where are your friends?"

   Emil looked at Berwald surprised, they didn't know that Yao would know they were coming. They snuck around the side of the carriage and faced the long haired chinaman.

"You didn't tell them." Yao glared at Leon.

"I like the element of surprise."

"Of course, well get in here quickly we only have 5 minutes."

   Leon. Berwald, and Emil followed him inside and watched as Yao closed the door. "Alright, the queens room is on the furthest part of the third floor on the west of the castle. Head down this corridor and hide in the 3rd room you see. When you make it there wait 5 minutes the daily guard will then be out of this hall and have to go all the way around again. We will keep Ivan busy as long as we can." Yao instructed.

   The group didn't question, Emil and Berwald were just about to split up when Leon grabbed the smaller male's wrist. Emil looked up at him confused and was surprised when the expressionless males face flashed into worry.

"Don't get caught." He smiled.

"Same for you." Emil smirked.

   Then the two raced down the hall. Leon watched them go until they were out of sight, he turned to look up at his brother who bared a light grin.

"What?" 

"Nothing, come on we are running out of time."

"You're right I can barely wait to see the great ruler Ivan."

"Yeah just keep that sarcasm to a minimum around him."

   They walked to a staircase and walked up to the top only to see the exact man they had been talking about awaited them with a chilling smile.

"Ah, there you are." 

"Yes, sorry we took so long." Yao apologized. "This is Leon."

"Ah, and how is the bastard child today?"

   Yao opened his mouth aggressively ready to defend his younger brother but Leon did not look fazed, he simply answered.

"I am well, thank you for asking."

   Leon knew that Ivan wasn't saying this to be a ass, it was how he was raised. A bastard child was a disgrace in some cultures to a royal family and his own family proved this when they exiled him. To others Ivan was a cold figure, one to fear and stay clear of. But Leon could see through that he was only this way through childhood trauma plus years of shaping and molding from his country.

"Shall we then?" Ivan went on.