Decerto ch 43

[saengiephile]

Title: Decerto
Chapter: 43/50
Pairing: HyungJun/KyuJong, HyunJoong/JungMin, YoungSaeng/YunHo
Rating: R overall
Warning: AU, violence, angst
Summary: The job of a fighter is to do one thing: win. As preparation for the annual Decerto Tournament goes underway, two longstanding rival houses purchase their newest fighters, each with their own motives for crowning their fighter as Champion. But only one fighter can ultimately win...and for the other, it means death.
A/N: Crossover with Super Junior, DBSK



The rest of the matches passed smoothly.  The fights were brutal, but surprisingly, there were no deaths.  The fighters didn't even seem to care about the crowd anymore, knocking their opponent unconscious but carefully not dead.  HyunJoong, SungMin and DongHae won their matches, moving on to the next round along with JungMin.

YeSung and RyeoWook didn't return.  Giving a long sigh, JungMin steered YoungSaeng along with them towards the kitchens.  "Come on, let's get something to eat."

"I'm scared to see what they feed you down here," YoungSaeng murmured quietly. "At least though, KyuJong isn't here to deal with all of this."

HyunJoong on JungMin's other side smirked at that. "He'd be panicking, torn between wanting to win for master and joining in."

"Poor rabbit," JungMin shook his head.  "At least he's topside now, you know if something does happen, our masters are going to need some protection.  They weren't that bad."  He glanced at YoungSaeng.  "Not your master, he can go to hell."

"That we can agree on," YoungSaeng nodded, though he did slump a little. "YunHo's too stubborn to get out when things get bad, I don't know if I'll be able to protect him if things do get bad."

"We'll figure something out, right now it's still just talk right?" HyunJoong said, eyeing some of the guards as they entered the cafeteria area.

"Yeah," JungMin nodded, though his eyes narrowed at a corner of the room.  "Though I'm not sure how much longer it's going to be just talk."

KyuHyun was sitting in a corner of the room with DongHae, the monkey in the same house as DongHae, and SungMin.  If the snake's eyes were any indication, he was in a very, very bad mood.  "What's he doing down here?"

YoungSaeng thought of what YunHo had told him not long ago, and he frowned slightly. "YunHo told me that RyeoWook had said that the one organizing the uprising was a snake with blue and purple scales," he said quietly to the two.

"Blue and purple..." HyunJoong's eyes went to KyuHyun, lips pursed slightly at the scales framing the snakes face. "So it's him? But he was the commissioner's slave, why would he be doing that?"

JungMin eyed the four in the corner.  "No clue.  Well, we know DongHae's one of the instigators, so two guesses what they're talking about over there."  He glanced at the other two.  "Should we go see?"

"Let's go," HyunJoong shrugged, strolling towards them with his hands in his pocket. "Hey, what are we talking about over here?" he said, coming up behind DongHae and SungMin.

"He doesn't beat around the bush, does he?" YoungSaeng mused to JungMin with a smirk.

"My kind of guy," JungMin grinned widely, going to join the tiger.

KyuHyun's eyes flicked towards them, then at YoungSaeng.  "Ah, I was wondering where he sent you.  Before you ask, yes, Zhou Mi was removed from his position.  The ass who took his place was stomping around like a five year old at no one dying today, very nicely done."

"I think we all agreed that Zhou Mi being taken out wasn't the best choice," HyunJoong said, crossing his arms. "And frankly we all would like to stay alive."

"What's happening with you then? And where is Zhou Mi," YoungSaeng asked. "They didn't have him killed did they? He is human after all, they don't usually kill humans.. I don't think."

"No, he's not killed, thankfully," KyuHyun put his chin in one hand.  "He's been removed from premises...as far as they know."

"Which means he really isn't?" the monkey beside him asked, and yelped as he was hit over the head.

"Please connect the dots for yourself.  I'm still here because they need a referee, and they don't have a replacement.  And because Zhou Mi asked me to stay here."

"Why?"  JungMin frowned.  "Wouldn't he want his slave with him?"

"Yeah, but if I wasn't here, who would continue to give you lot information and ideas?" KyuHyun smirked, eyes dark.

"So Zhou Mi really does know..." YoungSaeng said, eyes widening as he took a seat next to one of the dogs. "Why is he trying to do this?"

"Because he knows as well as we do that this dying business is wrong," KyuHyun snorted.  "Maybe the tournament would thrive, but not as it is now, with people getting killed.  Just because he's human doesn't mean he doesn't realize it.  And because he knows something's gonna happen sooner or later, I'm down here to make sure not only does it happen sooner, but is somewhat controlled so not too many people get hurt."

"Is he working with the protesters outside then?" YoungSaeng asked, respecting this Zhou Mi all over again. "Is that why there's so many of them?"

"The better question is, what do we do now?" HyunJoong asked quietly.

"That's what we're trying to figure out," KyuHyun sighed softly.  "It was easier when he was commissioner, but now that new guy's there, we're going to have to be very, very careful.  But we can set down some ground rules for if this explodes over our heads."

"Try to hurt as few people as possible," SungMin said.

"Until they start firing back," DongHae put in.

"Are we waiting for some kind of signal or something? I don't understand, is this or isn't this going to happen," YoungSaeng said with frown.

"It is happening," KyuHyun huffed.  "It's just going to take a little longer than planned to organize everything now that Mi's been ousted."  He counted quietly to himself, eyes unfocused, before focusing on them again.

"The last match.  We'll have reached the maximum amount of protestors outside, all the news crews will be here, and the majority of the fighters will be out of the infirmary."

"That would be enough time to make sure those that shouldn't be here, get out," YoungSaeng said, looking up at HyunJoong. HyungJoon and KyuJong needed to get away before this went down (YunHo too, but that wasn't happening).

"Alright, that sounds like it would work," HyunJoong nodded, thinking it over. "The goal isn't to slaughter people, we have to make that clear to everyone down here or this will be over before it started."

"Oh believe me, that's what we've been doing," DongHae grinned, canine teeth visible as he looked between SungMin and the monkey beside him.  "What do you think we've been doing this whole month kitten, sitting on our tails doing nothing?"

"Okay, while you three make sure the message gets out down here, I'm going to see how things are going outside," KyuHyun hopped down from his perch on a table.  He looked at YoungSaeng, blue slitted eyes inquisitive.  "What about you?  Where do you stand in this?"

YoungSaeng eyed the other snake, sighing a little. "I just want to be with YunHo, and no longer have to deal with my master. If revolting is the means to that end, then so be it."

KyuHyun grinned.  "One thing's for sure, Korea's about to get a rude awakening."  He turned and strolled towards the exit, leaving them.

"So should we be spreading the word that if anyone sees Master Jung during, they should trample him?" SungMin asked.

"No, they might get the wrong Jung," JungMin gave a long-suffering sigh, pouting at HyunJoong.  "Can we eat now?"

"Right... tell everyone to leave Master Jung to me," YoungSaeng said, glancing at the two dogs before following after HyunJoong and JungMin. His eyes went to the doorway though, hoping and praying the RyeoWook or YeSung would show soon to take him from here and back to YunHo where he belonged.

***************************

YunHo had asked RyeoWook and YeSung to inform him when HyungJoon returned from the day trip, retiring to his room shortly after the last match.  He hadn't seen his father around, which was just as well, because he might forget all about niceties and punch him in the face.  YunHo didn't have an impulsive anger, but he'd reached the last straw where his father was concerned.

Stepping out into the hallway, he headed down towards the Kim master's room.  He wasn't entirely sure what HyungJoon would be able to do to help him, but he needed another opinion.  His room wasn't safe for YoungSaeng, and the fighter's wing wasn't a long-term solution; his father would be able to get in there too if he had a mind to search it.

Stopping outside the door, he knocked lightly and waited.

A moment later, a smiling HyungJoon opened the door. Having spent the entire out with KyuJong, he had no idea about the drama that had begun at the arena. "Oh, hello YunHo," he said cheerily, though his expression fell slightly when he saw the look on YunHo's face. "What's up?"

YunHo gave a tense smile.  "I'm sorry for interrupting your evening...I need to ask your advice on something, and also tell you what's been going on while you were away.  You picked the perfect day to take a day off.  How's KyuJong?"

"He's okay," HyungJoon said, glancing over his shoulder before leaning into him. "Don't mention anything about the fight, okay? He doesn't remember," he whispered lowly. "Yeah, come on in, what's been going on? What'd I miss?"

Eyes knit slightly in concern when he heard KyuJong had memory loss, YunHo supposed it was for the best, stepping into the room.  KyuJong was sitting on the bed, and smiled at YunHo when he came in, though something was suddenly making the rabbit jittery if the way he shuffled to the other end of the bed was any indication.

YunHo waited until the door was closed behind him before turning to HyungJoon.  "Zhou Mi was removed from his position as games commissioner," he said quietly.

"What?" HyungJoon was sure he had misheard YunHo, staring at him with wide eyes and gaping mouth. "What do you mean removed? Why? What in the world did I miss?"

"My father," YunHo's eyes turned steely.  "He blackmailed the shareholders into turning against Zhou Mi and had him removed, all so Zhou Mi wouldn't be able to stop him from taking the house back from me."

HyungJoon sat down hard on the bed, trying to make sense of what he was hearing. "What... what... what are we going to do? Where's YoungSaeng.. oh god, he didn't take YoungSaeng did he?"

"No, RyeoWook warned me in time and I had YoungSaeng sent down to the fighter's wing so JungMin could keep an eye on him," YunHo shook his head.  KyuJong, watching with wide, worried eyes, had never seen YunHo look this pissed off, or this out of hope.  "But I can't keep him down there forever.  Father could find him at any time.  Nor can I bring him back to my room, it isn't safe for him with me anymore."  He leaned back against the wall.  "I don't know what to do HyungJoon.  I'm out of answers."

Sighing heavily, HyungJoon scratched at his head as he tried to think of a way to help. He would have offered for YoungSaeng to stay with them, but there was no way to know how KyuJong would react around a snake, even a snake he knew. "I... I don't know YunHo, there's only so much I can do... oh!" he looked up, expression brightening. "KiBum's room... he's gone but the room was rented out for the rest of the tournament. Hide him there."

YunHo looked up at him again, eyes wide as he considered this.  "That...that would work, he would never think to look in one of your rooms, let alone your little brother's room."  His father had no idea about what had been going on with KiBum, as far as he'd be aware, the little brother would still be in that room.  Slumping a little against the wall in relief, YunHo ran his hand over his face.  "I would never be able to thank you enough HyungJoon...at least it would give me time to figure out what to do next."

"What happens after the tournament?" KyuJong asked softly.

"I don't know.  If my dragon doesn't win, I won't have any leverage to take the house away from him.  Even then, even if he does win, my father won't give up.  He probably has blackmailed several people in high places against me."  YunHo looked down.  "At the very least, it would give me time to send YoungSaeng away somewhere safe."

"YoungSaeng will be safe there, and you know that we will do anything to keep him away from your father," HyungJoon said. "He doesn't have power over me and will not be able to demand anything from me. I'll keep him safe YunHo, after everything you've done for us, it's the least I can do."

"Thank you," YunHo smiled tightly at HyungJoon.  "I've always valued your friendship HyungJoon, I wish we could talk about less serious subjects once in a while."  He drew in a breath and straightened away from the wall.  "Do you have the key for the room?  I'll have to send RyeoWook and YeSung down to get YoungSaeng."

"I do, the front desk gave it to me after KiBum left," HyungJoon said, getting to his feet and opening up the desk drawer, pulling out the key. "I've always valued your friendship as well YunHo, even if I envied you for most of my life."

"Strange," YunHo chuckled, shaking his head a little as he smiled at HyungJoon.  "I always felt I would give up all the money I had to be in your place."

Handing the key to the older man, HyungJoon shared in the laugh. "Yeah well... grass is always greener right? Good luck YunHo... I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Right," YunHo nodded, the key held tightly in one hand.  "Only, may I suggest we meet in your box this time?  Mine has become rather unpleasant."

"Of course, I'll see you there," HyungJoon nodded, extending his hand to the older man. "No matter what, you can count on my help for anything. No one wants that man back in the arena, and no one wants to see you fall. We'll get this sorted."

That seemed to raise the other man's spirits, eyes crinkling slightly as YunHo reached out and clasped HyungJoon's hand in return.  "Thank you.  Enjoy the rest of your night."  Turning, YunHo left the room, going to find RyeoWook and YeSung.

"He just can't catch a break, can he," KyuJong murmured, eyes wide and worried.

"No, doesn't seem like he can," HyungJoon shook his head. Returning to the bed, he sat down next to the rabbit, arm going around his waist. "If for any reason Master Jung comes near us, you are more than welcome to walk away, or run as fast as you can, understand?"

"I wouldn't leave you alone to deal with him," KyuJong wrapped both arms around HyungJoon, burying his face in the younger man's shoulder.

"I can take care of myself, he's just a big bully," HyungJoon said, kissing the side of KyuJong's head. "And it was such a nice day too," he sighed, rocking KyuJong lightly back and forth.

"It was," the rabbit smiled softly, eyes closing.  "Thank you for taking me there."  The rabbit's spirits had been lifted tremendously at the gardens HyungJoon took him to, and had needed to be all but dragged away from several tropical plants that didn't grow here.  He'd spent nearly half an hour with his nose in one flower in particular, completely in love with the scent and the vibrant colors.

"You're very welcome," HyungJoon smiled, running his hand up and down KyuJong's back lightly. "I thought you were going to grow roots right there and never leave... but I'm sure you've got some good ideas for the garden at home hm?"

"Mhm!"  KyuJong chuckled, burying his nose in HyungJoon's neck.  "And if I'm going to grow roots somewhere, I'd rather do it back home, the city is so far away from you."

"It is," HyungJoon agreed, kissing KyuJong's cheek again and again. He turned a little more serious though, pulling back to look into the rabbit's eyes. "Are you going to come with me to the matches tomorrow? Or would you rather stay here."

KyuJong looked up at the younger man, biting on his lower lip.  "I...don't want to be here alone," he said quietly.  "I'll go with you."  If he was here alone, he'd probably just sleep, but where as he'd been fine during the day, nightmares snuck up on him at night.  He'd gone into shock in the middle of the night, crying and shaking, and when HyungJoon had woken him up he hadn't a clue where he was, poofing into rabbit form and hiding under the bed.  It took a good ten minutes for HyungJoon to coax him back out.

"Are you sure? Kyu... I don't want you to get upset," HyungJoon said quietly, running a hand through his hair. KyuJong had always been a little timid, but since the fight it had become a paralyzing fear, and HyungJoon was very worried about his rabbit.

"Worst...worst case I can hide in your shirt, right?" KyuJong met the younger man's eyes, his own wide.  He felt horrible for being relieved YoungSaeng wouldn't be with them, but even the hint of snake smell on YunHo had made him start hyperventilating.

"Of course, I'm sure YunHo wouldn't mind," HyungJoon nodded, kissing his forehead. "We'll get through this okay? Just a few more days and then we can go home and you can play in your garden all day and night."

"Okay," KyuJong nodded, hugging HyungJoon closer.  "I just want to be with you," he murmured, closing his eyes.

"Well I'm right here," HyungJoon whispered, leaning the rabbit against him and holding him tightly. "And I'm not going anywhere without you."

The rabbit smiled happily at that, tilting his head up to look into HyungJoon's large brown eyes.  He never wanted to be away from HyungJoon, not for even a second.  Leaning up, KyuJong kissed the younger man softly, cupping his face with one hand.

Returning the kiss gently, HyungJoon pulled away after a moment, just looking down at KyuJong with a silly smile. "Maybe we should get ready for bed, it's another long day tomorrow."

"Mhm," KyuJong nodded, smiling back up at him.  He leaned in and kissed HyungJoon again before shifting away so he could get out of his clothes, placing them aside until he was only in his boxers.

HyungJoon undressed as well, not caring where his clothes ended up right then before crawling under the covers and waiting for KyuJong. When the rabbit joined him, he lightly put an arm around his waist and tucked KyuJong's head under his chin. "Good night Kyu... let's hope for no nightmares tonight."

"Yeah...good night," KyuJong nuzzled closer, tangling their legs together and burying his nose against HyungJoon's neck.  Breathing in deeply, he kissed the soft skin before settling down to sleep.

Unfortunately, it was a false hope.