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Misc => Archives => RPG Archive => Topic started by: Ruby Chan on July 09 2005, 07:55 am
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Ok! New to the RPG scene here, so very sorry for any silly mistakes! This was a collaboration between Sakaki and myself, and we wondered whether anyone would be interested in joining? It focuses on the gang as they arrive in Seresu (Fai's world) for the first time...
We need...
Fai taken by Sakaki
Kurogane - taken by Ruby Chan
Syaoran - taken by Okamirei
Sakura - taken by Zeldi
Mokona - taken by Syaokura
Ashura - taken by Pikari
Chii - taken by Fai!
And....Loki! - Taken by Koudanshi!
Name: Loki
Age: Unknown
Loki was Ashura-ou's loyal bodyguard, who vanished mysteriously after the Seresu incident that resulted in Ashura being locked away. Now, as the gang return, he'll do anything to get revenge on the person who sealed away his master, and would give his life to keep Ashura and the feather away from the Tsubasa gang.
Anyone interested? When people join, I'll start it off, with an introductory post! PM me to get a character!
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OOC; The story begins...let's go for it guys!
On a cold snowy hill, a bright light filled the sky, and a small white creature suddenly appeared out of nowhere. Around him, a small vortex swirled, before finally depositing a group of four people. As they lay there dazed, the first to recover was the black swordsman, Kurogane.
Getting up, he looked around him, and growled under his breath. Great. Another hostile looking world.
"So where are we this time? And what the hell's wrong with you?" He grunted, pointing a finger at the trembling wizard.
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Syaoran shivered from the cold, wrapping his cloak more tightly around him and Sakura.. Looking at the others, he was surprised by Fai. Seeing Fai trembling was not a normal sight. "Fai-san...are you all right?"
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OOC: Damn, you beat me to it Okamirei!
As the gang landed on another dimension, the white, rabbit-eared Mokona fell right on top of Kurogane's head. "Weee~~" He jumped in excitement as he hopped to the ground, glancing at the new place. He turned to Kurogane, Fai, Syaoran, and Sakura. It was then when he noticed that Fai was trembling.
He hopped over to Fai's shoulder, looking at the magician with worried eyes. "Fai-san! Fai-san!" He yelped, patting Fai's forehead.
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Kurogane smirked, glad that Syaoran had noticed something wrong with the wizard too.
"Just what's wrong with you? You're acting weirder than usual! And get off my head, manjuu bun!" He snapped, talking first to Fai, and then to Mokona.
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Mokona stuck his tongue at Kurogane. "Mokona is not a meat bun! Mokona is Mokona!" He chirped before getting off Kurogane's head and back to Fai's shoulder. "Are you ok, Fai-san?" He asked, giving the wizard a puppy-eyed look.
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no......
Fai hadn't yet opened his eyes to this new world but he didn't have to.
His body reacted before his mind.
this world...my world..the scent of Ashura...
His heart paused for a moment then resumed..pounding at an unnatural speed, as his blood ran cold and the world around him came crashing down.
NO...................
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"Oi! Mage!" Kurogane turned to Syaoran, feeling strangely concerned about the white wizard.
"What's up with him, kid? He's acting more screwed up than usual!" He murmured, biting his lip and tightening his grip on his sword.
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"Fai-san?"
Syaoran knelt down beside Fai, worried.
"This isn't.....Is this....your country?"
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Ignoring their words, the mage's eyes stayed tightly closed as he crouched in the snow, trembling.
"Back! We must go back!" Came an almost inaudible whisper.
Then gathering his strength and voice he cried out, "Mokona, take us back, NOW!"
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"Meekyoo!" Mokona cried out as his eyes widened in his "mekyoo" mode. He turned to Fai and shook his head. "Nuh, uh! Mokona has sensed a strong power here! The feather!" He hopped on Syaoran's shoulder and pulled on his collar sleeve. "This way! This way!" He insisted, pointing to the left, closer to the center of Fai's country.
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Noticing the way, Fai was shrinking back from the floating castle that Mokona was pointing to, Kuorgane decided to step in. The last thing they needed was for the idiot mage to have a breakdown. Not that I care or anything...
"How about we camp beneath those trees for the night...recover our strength?" He suggested, pointing at the small cluster of foliage nearby. From the corner of his eye, he noticed the relieved look that Fai was wearing.
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Mokona looked around for the trees that Kurogane was talking about as he rested on Syaoran's shoulder. "Oooh. Those apples look tasty!" He said in an excited tone as he tried to reach for them. As he jumped to one of the apples and grabbed on to it as best as his little paws could, the apple fell off the tree and Mokona landed on Syaoran's hands.
"You caught Mokona!" Mokona was about to eat the apple whole when he saw the look of distraught on Fai's face. He jumped off Syaoran's hands and ran towards Fai, giving him the apple.
"Poor Fai-san," he murmured sadly. "Mokona doesn't want you be sad. Mokona wants you to be happy! So here!" He placed the apple on Fai's hands, hoping that would cheer his friend up.
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Fai Flowright... so he's finally come back to repent...
From his perch atop a tree quite some distance from the companions, Loki surveyed their entrance, his eyes focusing on the tall white mage especially. Then, hefting his scythe, which sparkled momentarily in the bright sun, Loki adjusted his white cat-mask and leaped away, vanishing from sight.
As much as I want to cut him... right now... I need to be patient and let him come. Memories will weigh down on him in this world, and when he finally appears before me he'll be so weak he'll perhaps look on death as a release... which I will be happy to grant him.
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Kurogane stiffened, looking towards another group of trees in the distance. I could have sworn I saw somebody...
Dismissing it, he turned back to the group. But his hand stayed on his sword.
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Fai nodded slowly to their words, only half hearing them.
His mind was flooded with memories.. Ashura .....
He stood, letting the snow fall from his clothes.. snow so gentle but filled with only pain and blood
"I'll do as you want, if it's the only way. But.. he's here..and if he wakes ..." Fai murmed, nodding at Kurogane, letting his blonde hair hide the eyes that were unable to meet the ninja's stare.
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"....who's here?" asked Syaoran, closely observing Fai.
Suddenly, he stiffened, feeling the presence of another individual. Looking around and seeing no one, he relaxed a little.
Getting up, he turned to Kurogane "I guess...we'll stay here tonight?"
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Far from the traveller's camp, deep in the floating castle, deep beneath the pool of water, a king slept, unaware of the new arrivals in his kingdom, and restrained by the magic that sealed him. But it wouldn't be long before he awakened... coming events would make sure of that.
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Head lowered, Fai peered through the long bangs that covered his eyes, at the small clearing of trees that Kurogane had suggested to them.
The wizard's eyes that were usually bright blue were now heavily clouded from the shock of arriving in a world he thought he would never have to set foot in again.
my world..Ashura's world..
Throughout the last many months since he had left, he had almost made himself forget this world was real.
Could it be only a nightmare?
Fai was familiar with the small clearing, too familiar, and although he wanted to protest and move to a different area, he knew that he wouldn't be comfortable anywhere in this world. He knew every inch of this world and knew they were safe nowhere, so he began to walk to where they would make their camp, slowly.. numbly, as if leading them to their doom.
If he wakes and hurts them..I'm responsible.
I'm to blame.
Only me..
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Kurogane shifted in his sleep, a sense that something was wrong bringing him from his slumber. After a lot of trouble involving the manjuu bun and a sleeping princess, they'd finally managed to make camp, and had settled down with Fai offering to take first watch. But something wasn't right.
Sitting up, Kurogane's eyes narrowed as he realised that the wizard wasn't there, and he looked around for any sign that the wizard was just hiding to play a trick on him. That idea was dashed as he noticed a trail of footprints in the snow, leading away from the camp. He didn't need to look closely to realise that it was Fai.
Glancing back to the others, Kurogane hesistated. Should he tell them where he was going?
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Fai's world was beyond friged but the mage felt nothing as he silently made his way away from the camp and away from perhaps the only true friends he had ever known.
Never had he felt such emptiness.
such utter hollowness
I am alone..because of you..
Because I loved you..
As if in a dream, the mage began to climb the frozen slab of rock that led up to the flattened top of the cliff above.
He climbed silently..
alone..always alone
Memories invading his thoughts.
Memories of the past and what he had been forced, tricked, into.
"You are to blame! Look at your hands, Fai. Have they not had a part in this?
Look into your own soul and tell me we aren't the same!"
He could still hear the laughter that followed.
and it still tore at his soul
Fai's hands, torn and bleeding from the cliff's jagged surface, finally grasped the top of the rock where the land leveled out.
The mage pulled himself up and walked the remaining distance to the edge, then looked over into the cold, deep nothingness that spread out below him.
You won't use me to hurt them..
I won't lead you to them.......Ashura
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Back at camp, Kurogane was still undecisive. Something told him that he needed to go after Fai immediately, or the wizard would do something stupid. But if the kid woke up and found both Kurogane and Fai gone...
Luckily for him, the choice was taken out of his hands when he heard a sleepy voice mumur his name.
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Syaoran turned over to his side. He couldn't sleep .Something is wrong...this country isn't like the others. And the way Fai-san is scting...
Hearing a soft rustle, he looked up and saw Kurogane standing, looking down at what seems to be footprints. He got up and grabbed 'Hien'. "Kurogane-san.."
He stopped. What about the princess? I can't leave her alone..
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Whirling sharply at the sound of movement, Kurogane breathed in relief as he realised that the kid was awake. Now he could just tell the kid and go.
"Kid, I'm going after Fai. If this really is this world, he's sure to have got himself into some dumb mess by now."
Seeing that Syaoran was getting ready to protest, he held up a callused hand to hold up any further arguments.
"Stay here. Someone needs to look after the princess and the manjuu bun." He stated.
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Syaoran nodded. "Be careful"
He watched Kurogane slip away, following the footprints in the snow.
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The blonde mage stood, his clothes torn and billowing around him,
his body cold as stone,
aching...
letting his eyes drift down to stare into the hypnotic depths of the abyss that awaited him.
neverending...
He had always wondered if it would come to this.
Because of you....what I let you take from me...my soul..
Why now, after all this time..when I had almost began to forget..
Fai clutched at the clothing near his chest,
Where my heart should be..
and knew his death was their only hope of getting out of this world alive.
I am responsible if they are taken..
The mage could feel nothing, as silent tears fell from his eyes only to freeze to ice as they dropped into nothingness.
Then suddenly, from far away.......as if from a dream or another world
......he heard Kurogane call his name.....
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Kuorgane cursed, pulling his black cloak tighter round his trembling body. How did the wizard manage to live here? It's freezing!
Seeing that the footsteps were fast becoming covered by the new fallen snow, Kuorgane increased his pace, muttering under his breath. Why am I so worried about him? He's just an annoyance...right?
Looking up as the footsteps began to falter, his eyes widened as he saw a tuft of very distinctive blonde hair blowing in the wind. Narrowing his eyes, against the falling flakes, Kurogane prayed that the snow would let up, so that he could see better.
To his surprise, it did. But what he saw shocked him to the bone.
Fai, the wizard who had never stopped smiling until today, the most optimistic of the group...Fai was standing on the edge of what looked to be a very sharp drop, rocking back and forth in the wind. If he even moved forward a fraction, Kurogane had no doubt that he'd fall.
"Fai! Fai! You crazy mage, look at me when I'm calling you!" He bellowed. Fai slowly turned his head to face the ninja, and Kurogane sucked in a breath sharply.
The wizard's beautiful blue eyes were empty, void of all emotion except regret and pain. Tears were frozen to his long eyelashes, and as Kurogane watched, the wind blew strongly, causing the mage's blonde hair to whip wildly around his face. Fai.. curse you Fai, what are you planning?
Taking a slow, careful step forward, Kurogane called out softly.
"Fai? Are you...alright?"
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Fai turned slowly to the sound of his name being called.
Confused at the sight of the tall dark figure standing in the moonilight, Fai flintched and his eyes widened in fear.
Ashura.....? Am I even too late in my own death?
He blinked several times and realised it was not Ashura, but Kurogane.
Kurogane..... I am incapable of saving you, even in my own world......
"You must go back to the others," He said softly to the ninja. "Convince Syaoran that this feather doesn't matter, that it's too dangerous here. You must leave me to do what I have to........before it's too late. Without me you may still have a chance of getting out of this world alive, but if he wakes and comes for me, all those I am close to will suffer."
For the first time since they had entered this cold world, Fai looked across and met Kurogane's eyes.
If there is nothing left of my heart, why do I feel such pain..........
"I can't witness what he will do. I won't be responsible for it. I won't lead him to the one..........to the one I love, Kurogane."
You Kurogane........
And with those words, Fai turned and looked toward the darkness below him and with his golden hair shining in the moonlight, Fai leaned forward to let the wind take him.
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Kurogane's frown got larger and larger as Fai continued to talk. What the hell's he on about? And the one he loves? What's that mean?
As Fai began to tip forward, Kurogane suddenly realised what the wizard was planning to do, and he jerked in both shock and panic. No...he can't...he wouldn't...not him...no! I won't let him!
"FAI!" He bellowed, leaping forward as the wizard finally slipped off the cliff edge.
"Faiiii!"
Later, Kurogane would feel that the moment stretched out forever, moving in slow motion. Like a dream, he saw Fai tip into the abyss, still smiling that damned smile, although it was now bittersweet, and was accompanied by crystalline tears that fell from beneath closed eyelids to be blown back in the wind.
He saw himself reaching out to Fai, felt the smooth fabric of the hooded cloak that Fai wore in his grasp.
Watched as he lost his grip. Cried out as Fai plummeted away from him.
And screamed in denial as he heard Fai whisper something that sounded very much like...I love you.
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As he tipped over the edge, wind swirling the snow around his frozen body, Fai suddenly began to remember.....
My friends....they were my friends....
The last many months flashing before his eyes.
If only for a while........
Pain and regret seized the mage's heart as he began to fall.
A love I'll now never know....
This is my sacrifice.....
And the pain in his heart was worse than he'd ever thought it could be.
Goodbye, Ashura........I won't let you win....
Goodbye, Kurogane...........
"I love you......gomen ne," he whispered as he closed his eyes and his fate rushed towards him.
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Watching the wizard fall into the darkness, Kurogane roared in denial. Without a second thought, he dived from the cliff, streamlining his body in order to catch Fai up. I won't let you end it like this...you deserve better, Fai.
His right hand reaching out for the wall, Kurogane suddenly flew into action. Grabbing a piece of rock that was jutting out from the cliffside, his other hand closed around the falling mage's arm, halting his descent. The wizard looked up in shock as he felt himself jerk to a stop, and Kurogane gave him a weary smile.
Without saying a word, he flipped Fai onto his back piggyback style, and began to climb back up to the top, just praying that the Seresuan wouldn't let go of him and try again. He sighed in relief as Fai merely tightened his grip around his saviour's neck.
Don't you get it, Fai? I couldn't have let you fall...because I love you.
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The icy wind cut through Fai like blades of steel, but not even that could equal the stab he felt pierce his heart at the sound of Kurogane's raging, desperate cry of his own name.
How long I've waited to hear my name from your lips....
At least I have that......no matter how much it pains my soul..
Then suddenly, as if by magic,
Or love.....
Fai felt himself jerk to a stop and then lifted upwards by strong hands.
"Kuro-mu........?" He asked in a tired whisper.
He felt the ninja's strong presence surround him and he gave in to it, wrapping his weary arms around Kurogane tightly and letting his mind go blank in exhaustion.
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Kurogane trudged through the freshly fallen snow, muttering about how he had to practically swim through snow drifts just because some idiotic wizard had a problem with fake smiles. Why didn't he just tell us what was wrong?
But he knew why. People like Fai didn't want to burden others with their misfortunes, so they remained silent. It was one of the things Kurogane hated about these sorts of people....he was always the one left behind to grieve.
Seeing the campfire up ahead, Kuorgane picked up the pace. Hopefully the kid and princess were alright, and would be able to help look after Fai.
I deserve a break after all...I did just throw myself off a cliff to save his scrawny butt.
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*yawn* "why do i fall asleep all the time?"
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Mokona looked up to see Sakura wide awake. "Sakura-chan!" He shouted in happiness as he hopped to Sakura's lap. "Yay! You're awake!"
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Through half-closed eyes, Fai could see the campfire in the distance.
Kurogane, who had been making a quick pace, suddenly came to an abrupt halt and before Fai could even glance at the ninja's face to see what was wrong, everything changed.
Just as suddenly as Kurgane's strong arms had pulled him from the endless abyss,
Fai felt himself thrown roughly to the frozen ground.
He lay in the snow gasping, trying to regain control of the breath that was knocked from his body. He chanced a glance up at the face of the dark ninja that loomed above him and upon seeing the look of rage on the other man's face, wondered briefly if Kurogane had pulled him from the jaws of death only to kill him with his own hands.
Fai's blue eyes widened and he sucked in his breath sharply at Kurogane's expression. He had seen the other man angry many times but he had never witnessed such a look of utter uncontrollable rage.
Even in his surprised exhaustion, Fai sensed more than rage going on in Kurogane's expression. Waves of hurt were coming from the man.
But why....? What could I have done to hurt you....Kurogane?
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As the wizard stared up at him through wide blue eyes, Kurogane trembled with rage, his hands clenched into fists. He could tell Fai was confused, and it was just making him angrier. Doesn't he understand? How can things go back to the way they were before? It's all changed...everything's changed....
Raising a hand as if to strike the other man, Kurogane suddenly growled, lowering it as he realised he could never hurt Fai like that. Instead, he settled for bellowing;
"Don't you dare look at me like that! How can you just stay silent, after what you did? How can you just look so innocent, as if nothing happened? Why did you do it, you stupid mage!"
Dropping to his knees, Kurogane slammed a fist down into the ground, bare centimetres away from the wizard's head. To his shock, he realised that he was crying, although he wasn't sure if they were from grief or rage.
"You idiot...I hate you! I hate people like you! You just don't give a d.a.m.n about anything! I HATE you, Fai!" He roared.
He saw the stab of hurt in Fai's eyes, but ignored it, just carrying on, caught up in his fury.
"You do nothing except hide behind that fake smile of yours, and you never let anyone see the true you...not until it's too late. You're just a hollow shell, Fai....and I don't understand how a hollow shell can make me feel this way...I hate you so much..."
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Fai edged back in confusion as the other man bellowed over him in a rage.
The mage wouldn't have recognized the expression on Kurogane's face had he not worn it so many times himself in the past.
It was blind hurt that Kurogane was trying to express, and this shocked Fai who had rarely seen any expression from the man besides anger or boredom.
How? He acts as if I've hurt him somehow? How have I hurt you, of all people, Kurogane?
Fai stared up at the ninja, fear turning slowly to disbelief, as he felt warm, salty tears sofly hit his face.
"Kurogane.........." He whispered, too afraid to say more, too afraid to look away from the ninja's eyes. As if this were their last chance. Their last chance to express something important, and if he broke away from the ninja's gaze he'd lose it forever.
Then suddenly and without warning, Fai's disbelief turned to utter shock, as he felt Kurogane pounce upon him.
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As the blonde wizard locked eyes with him, Kuorgane couldn't hold it any more. Allowing free reign to his emotions, he leapt at Fai, pinning him down into the snow. Before Fai could react, he was kissing him, lips moving in an act of what seemed to be pure desperation. It was rough, and without feeling...but somehow...it felt so right....
Beneath him, Fai made a startled squeak, but Kurogane had no worries about the mage rejecting the kiss....he'd said he loved him, hadn't he? Ignore all that...just enjoy the moment. A small voice whispered in the back of his mind. To his chagrin, it sounded exactly like Tomoyo-hime.
Finally, he moved back, releasing Fai's lips regretfully. The wizard just lay there, gazing up at him in shock. Kurogane smiled bitterly.
"You're just a hollow shell, Fai. And I don't know how you do it, but...you make me a shell too."
Before the wizard could reply, Kuorgane was off and running. With any luck, by the time Fai made it back to camp, he'd have been able to put the whole incident behind him, and go back to treating the mage like dirt.
I wish...
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Before Fai could even guess at what the ninja was planning, Kurogane's warm, full lips were upon his and kissing him with such desperation and need that Fai reacted to it without hesitation, matching the man's passion with his own.
If only we could stay this way...
If only it could be like this...always.
Fai began to lose himself in the ninja, forgetting everything, when suddenly Kurogane jumped away from him and hurried off towards camp.
Fai watched the snow swirl around him, dazed and unmoving, for several minutes, not wanting to lose the feeling of Kurogane against him.
Confusion hit him as he began to get up and brush the snow from his torn clothes.
He says he hates me...and yet?
As Fai began to walk, his fingers rose to touch his lips, still warm from Kurogane's desperate kiss only minutes ago, and following the ninja's solid footprints back to camp, Fai's confusion only grew.
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Syaoran gazed over the barren, cold place, his mind occupied on the other's safety. As he tended the crackling fire, his eyes met the sleeping princess and mokona.
If only you knew...if only you could know..what we were like in the past.
A sudden crunch in the snow broke his thoughts. Looking up, he saw Kurogane running back, Fai close behind. Breathing a sigh in relief, he ran up to them. "Are you both all right?"
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Fai nodded slowly at Syaoran as he walked back into their temporary camp.
By the way the young boy stared at him in wide eyed surprise, concern stamped across his face, Fai knew he must look quite a sight; blonde hair tangled and wild around his face, clothes torn, and hands wearing smalls cuts and bruises from the cliff's rocky surface.
Fai cast a cautious, sideways glance at the ninja, who was beginning to tend to the fire, the words Kurogane had raged at him echoed in his heart.
Why did you save me if you feel only hate for me?
How could you touch your lips to mine if I cause such hatred inside you?
With fingers still pressed to his lips, as if holding on to Kurogane's touch for as long as he possibly could,
as if that touch alone was enough to save him from this world and confusion...
the mage sat down near the fire and closed his weary eyes, praying he wouldn't have to be the one to give explanations of the night's events.
Fai didn't believe at this point, after everything that had happened and after all the words that had been said, he'd ever have the strength to speak again.
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Kurogane could practically feel the confused, wounded looks that Fai was giving him, and he frowned unhappily, shifting uneasily. Just exactly what was he meant to say?
"Fai, I love you so much, I'm so sorry....come over here, and let me hold you..."
Gaah! Even in his head the words sounded so corny, so un-Kuroganeish. Suddenly making up his mind what to do, Kurogane gave Fai a blank look...and promptly turned his head away from the mage to talk to the kid.
"So, Syaoran......did anything happen whilst we were gone?"
He could see the questioning look in the kid's eyes, and the way Sakura was wincing slightly, but he didn't really care if they could sense the tension and silence between the two adults.
I can't get too close to him...so the only option left is to push him away....
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Fai sat as close as he could get to the fire, trying to warm his still shaking body.
So cold here....in this world without warmth...
He opened his eyes and gazed deep into the flames of the fire, then looked up to silently stare at the back of the ninja tending the fire.
Why, if you hate me, are you so angry? And why in the snow did you......
Suddenly, as if sensing Fai's gaze upon him, Kurogane turned and gave Fai a look of total nothingness, then abruptly turned away.
Fai's eyes widened in pain, and he quickly clenched them shut as they began to fill with tears at the look Kurogane had given him, a look he'd seen many times before on another.
As if I no longer exist to you....
I am alone once again.....
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Syaoran shook his head. "Nothing's happened yet. Though..." he gazed at his surroundings, frowning. " I feel like if we've been watched. "
He observed Fai and Kurogane's sullen faces. " Did something happen?"
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A bit taken aback by the kid actually being bold enough to ask, Kurogane stuttered in a way that was very unlike him.
"N..no, kid. Everything's peachy here. Nothing happened at all. The mage just decided to go for a walk....I caught up, and made him realise how stupid it was."
Seeing Syaoran frown, Kurogane cursed under his breath as he replayed what he'd said and realised that it didn't make sense.
"Umm...since this is a world where he's in danger, I mean...just, I....aargh! Look, it's none of your business, kid, so just forget it."
That's better......Kurogane chanced a look at the wizard again, and winced as he saw the pained stare he was getting from Fai.
"Just forget it." He repeated, staring at Fai for emphasis, making sure that Fai knew he was talking to him. If anything, the wizard looked even more crushed, and Kurogane's mouth suddenly felt dry, feeling something that he guessed could have been his heart shattering.
I'm sorry, mage, but I can't let anyone get close to me...I'm a ninja....and from another world to you, as well. Push me out of your heart.....it will be better in the end.
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Just forget it............
Kurogane's words repeated over and over in his mind.
This hurt Fai more than anything. How he wished the ninja would yell, rage, even hate him.
Instead of this......
This emptiness.....
As if you no longer even see me.
As if I no longer exist......
Then Fai did the only thing he knew to do, he smiled a wide, fake smile at the ninja, trying to provoke at least his anger.
It was a weak attempt, and didn't match his hurting eyes, but he found himself doing it anyway.
It's all I have left to protect myself.........
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Syaoran watched them silently, then nodded. He knew there was something bothering them, but he knew it wasn't his intention to ask what. He went back to tend the fire; leaving Fai and Kurogane with their matters. He gazed up at the sky, watching the dark thunder clouds slowly loom across. The wind blew through his soft brown hair as he sat pensively.
-
Mokona quietly climbed on top of Syaoran's shoulder, enjoying the gentle wind through his fur and the wiggling of his rabbit-like ears. He yawned as he stretched his tiny arms.
"Mokona is very tired," he said in a tired tone as he yawned again.
-
Syaoran lit a small smile at the little magic creature upon his shoulder, giving it a small pat.
"Is it because of Sakura's feather?"
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"Maybe the manjuu bun is tired from riding around on people's shoulders, and never having to walk." Kurogane snorted, crossing his arms behind his head and lying back. Best thing for now..is to just let everything go back to normal....
The next thing he knew, there was a white blob bouncing up and down on his chest. But before Mokona could complain, Kurogane simply swatted it aside, and turned over with his back facing the group. He was fed up of this small talk....
And of this strained silence between me and Fai...normally by now he'd have called me half a dozen different nicknames, and I'd be chasing him round the camp. He reflected. Aaagh! What am I thinking? The whole point of this is to make Fai hate me!
Groaning under his breath, Kurogane closed his eyes and concentrated on going to sleep. Can't go wrong with that....
-
Mokona landed on the ground with his feet, sticking his tongue at Kurogane for pushing him aside. "You're so mean, Kuro-rin!" He pouted as he found a tiny raspberry and picked it up, then threw it at Kurogane. He laughed as the raspberry hit the ninja's head.
-
As the raspberry hit him, Kurogane simply sighed, and ignored it, blocking out the sound of Mokona's laughter. He wasn't in the mood for fun right now.
"Hurgh...." He groaned, flinging an arm over his head.
-
Fai lay down on his side, near the crackling fire. Pulling his torn and dirty coat around hiim, he listened to Kurogane yell at the little, white creature and heard it's high pitched response.
Almost as if everything were normal....
But..it's not.
I no longer exist to you..
Then why did you kiss me...only to hurt me?
Fai had no intentions of sleeping, knowing how dangerous his world could be, and considering the hurt that still raged inside him.
But the wizard's body, drained from exhaustion, had other ideas.
Fai slept.
And it was a haunted sleep, filled with waking Kings, lost love and pain.
-
For countless days upon months, Ashura's world had been darkness.
Trapped in his own consciousness, for an unbearable period of time he had known nothing but silence. Silence and the lonely void and darkness of his own black soul. Dark water rippled around his prison. Through slits of eyelids he could see it, and it boiled with anger. And betrayal.
Betrayed.
By those who should have been his most loyal servants. By those who should have owed him every debt of gratitude for the past. By him. Him whom he had once held completely - heart, body, and mind.
Betrayed.
He would not go unpunished.
In his slumber, Ashura could feel the stirrings of something in the silent, frigid world of Celes. A great power... He lusted for that power. It could only mean one thing. He had returned.
You cannot hide from me. You belong to me. You should never have returned,
Fai.
-
Fai woke with a start, and froze, eyes wide, as his heart beat in a fast unnatural rhythm. It was almost dawn in the Land of Celes, and as Fai pushed back the blonde bangs hanging over his eyes, he remembered the words that haunted his dreams.
In the dream, Ashura stood in his watery prison, staring into Fai's eyes.
I've found you, Fai...
You betrayed me, Fai...
 In my hands, I hold your soul..
 I demand you, RELEASE ME!
Fai began to shake as Kurogane's words also roared down upon him in the cold, pre-dawn darkness.
I hate people like you!
I hate you.....I HATE YOU, FAI.........
"No...." He whispered, crouching down in the snow and wrapping his arms over his head.  Noooooo.................
-
*sitting on the floor* "huh?" Mokona ? i was remembering something about my home land it´s very dizzy and i´m afraid of Ashura"
-
Syaoran trudged through the heavy snow, letting the blizzard's icy wind tear across his face. Sakura's feather is here...I know it. He had not told the others that he had gone; they seemed to be in no condition to help him. He could only do it himself.
Giving a set of racking coughs, he drew his cloak closer around him. The bitter wind howled in his ears; numbing his near frozen body. he fell onto the snow, panting for breath. He felt his grasp on his consciousness slowly slip away. No... I must keep going.
Laying flat on the snow, he could see a figure far away. ...Kurogane-san?
Before he could make out the figure, Syaoran closed his eyes...falling into darkness.
-
Ashura's eyes flew wide open. Pinned on his back, he could see meters of dark water swirling agitated above him. A small crack appeared in the glass above his eyes, enough to let just one tiny drop of cold water drip down onto his face.
His anger was burning, making his mental signal even stronger.
I demand of you... RELEASE ME NOW!
-
Fai crouched in the snow, arms covering his head, as the sun began to rise in the Land of Celes.....and a King suddenly began to wake.
Snow swirled around Fai, getting heavier by the minute.
The world was closing in on the Wizard of Celes....his world he'd fled many months before was angry with the rage of an imprisioned King, and Fai was the cause.....
The Betrayer.........
Suddenly the memory of that last day came crashing......swirling.....down, as if a gift from the snow.
How Ashura's eyes had looked the moment he had realised what Fai was to do.
"You wouldn't dare!" The King had whispered in disbelief, and then rage as Fai began to seal him away in his watery prison.....
  BETRAYER...........
Fai's eyes glazed over as a powerful vision flashed before them.
Ashura...floating in his watery prison...just as Fai had left him months before.
Only Fai could see something wasn't right, something was different.....
As the wizard looked closer, he saw droplets of clear water hitting the King, and then his eyes widened as he saw the crack above.
Fai gasped as the King's eyes flew open wide and stared into his.
   He's awake............and he sees me.....
   BETRAYER.............
  No...............
Fai's hands flew up to cover his ears, as Ashura's voice roared through his head...
I demand of you..............RELEASE ME NOW!
-
Kurogane cursed as he saw the limp bundle in the snow in front of him. That was the last time he ever fell asleep and left the others to do what they pleased - he'd woken to find that the kid was gone. Normally Syaoran would have been ok, but in a blizzard like this....he had just hoped that nothing had happened to him. But it looked like his hopes had gone unanswered.
"Hey, kid?" He muttered, tapping Syaoran's cheeks with an uncustomary gentlness. Finding no response, he sighed and picked him up, carrying the boy back to camp. This is the second time in one night that I've had to carry someone back....what am I, a transport service? He grumbled in his head.
Setting Syaoran down by the fire and wrapping a cloak around him, he motioned for the princess and Mokona to watch him - they couldn't really do anything other than that for the poor boy. He glanced around, shoulders relaxing slightly as he saw that Fai was crouched nearby - part of him had thought that the d.amn mage would have left again.
Frowning, Kurogane moved over to the other man, suddenly feeling that something wasn't right with the wizard.
"Fai?" He whispered. The blonde didn't respond, so Kurogane lightly seized his wrists, spinning Fai to face him.
"Fai?!" Hhe stared in shock at the sight before him. Fai was crying for the nth time that night, and yet....something about this just seemed wrong. There was hidden desperation there that just seemed to be growing stronger.
"Fai! What on earth's wrong now?" He demanded, gnawing at his lip in worry as the mage carried on whimpering. Then, as if only just realising that he was there, Fai gave a short cry and fell into his arms, sobbing. The last thing Kurogane heard before Fai fainted was something that sounded suspiciously like...
"Ashura..."
-
"Ashura....." Fai moaned, clutching tight to Kurogane, before falling into unconsiousness.
I own your soul, Fai, you'll never escape me....
Slowly, almost against his will, Fai once again came to.
Burying his pale face in Kurogane's chest, he spoke quietly, but stronger,
"He's awake......" Fai clutched Kurogane tighter, as if begging him not to pull away. "He's awake......and you can hate me....." Fai lifted his blonde head to stare into Kurogane's eyes, "You can hate me forever, Kurogane.........please just don't feel nothing......don't......forget me....in the end....."
Fai closed his blue eyes, laying his head once again against the ninja's chest.
He couldn't pretend anymore, couldn't deny.....even through the hurt and rejection,
I Hate You...........
I Hate You, Fai!....
he loved the man, and whether or not Ashura came for him in the next second, or whether Kurogane pushed him violently away, he was going to hold onto the feeling of Kurogane against him as long as he could...
Perhaps long enough to heal my soul..........
-
Kurogane stared down at the blonde man who was clinging onto him, and shut his eyes tightly, trying hard to ignore the feelings of tenderness he could feel welling up for Fai. No! He was a ninja, and ninja's didn't behave like this! No!
But the way that Fai was lying so trustfull against him, even after how Kurogane had treated him earlier...it wreaked havoc with his control. Before he could stop himself, he was gently pulling Fai up into a sitting position, and tilting the mage's head to look at him.
The sight of those accepting blue eyes, ones that promsied to love him no matter what he did next...they broke the last ounce of his control, and before he knew it, words that he had kept hidden were spilling out.
"I don't hate you, Fai. I never did."
And even as Fai looked up at him confusion, Kurogane was pulling him in for another kiss.
-
Kurogane began to move, and just for a moment, Fai thought the ninja meant to pull away.....
and he held tighter, refusing.......unable.... to let him.
Then seeing the look in Kurogane's eyes, Fai slowly let go, letting
the man look into his eyes and gently pull him to him.
I don't hate you, Fai. I never did.
Fai moaned softly, as once again the ninja's lips touched his, this time with a gentleness
that the wizard wouldn't have expected from the man.
He closed his eyes, pushing away his confusion, losing himself in Kurogane's touch, never wanting it to end.......never wanting to let go.........
-
The moment seemed endless to Kurogane. As the two melted together, it was a perfect moment when both of them knew how the other felt, and accepted those feelings easily. Lost in the moment, he manoeuvred them down until they were lying on the floor, still kissing as they lay in each other's arms.
Eventually breaking away, he tightened his grip on Fai and tucked the other's head under his chin, smiling as he felt the mage's breathing even out. Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to succumb to the peacefulness of sleep, praying that the first time he held Fai like this wouldn't be the last...after all, they were storming the castle the next moring.
And Fai had said that Ashura was awake.
-
Drip. Drip. Drip.
Drop by drop, water leaked through the tiny crack, falling like tears on his cold face. Cold, unfeeling tears. Each drop of ice pierced his skin, making Ashura's anger grow ever stronger.
I cannot... will not... be beaten like this. Release me!!!
Glass shattered all around him and the water rushed in, granting his request. Shards of glass, like deadly snow, danced all about him. Ashura rose... toward the light... toward the surface. His head broke the surface and he gasped, frigid air filling his lungs.
Moments later he stood beside the pool, dripping robes weighing down his body. He didn't feel the wetness, though. He could sense it. Fai was here... close.
You will not escape my grasp again.
-
It's...warm...
Syaoran coughed, opening his eyes halfway. Too weak to get up, he lay silently by the fire.
He turned his head. There, he saw Kurogane and Fai; close together..kissing...
No...that can't be right...Fai-san? Kurogane-san?
Another racking cough struck his chest. It must be...my mind playing games..
Syaoran closed his eyes, retuning into unconsciousness.
-
The blonde wizard lay nestled in Kurogane's strong embrace, no longer confused or questioning, but accepting the ninja's kisses eagerly.
Later, with his head resting against the other man's chest, he felt as safe as he possibly could in this world of darkness, ice and lies.
Fai closed his eyes and soon slept, Kurogane's arms holding him close against his body, breath rising and falling together, as if they were one.
But as Fai's mind drifted off into the dream world........he once again saw the King.
From far away, Fai heard the violent shattering of glass, his body flintching in his sleep as he held as tight as possible to Kurogane, slender fingers gripping handfulls of the ninja's clothing as if some force could suddenly tear him away........and he saw the dark haired King rise from the water.......
Betrayer...........
Ashura-ou was angry.....
And now he was also free........
-
Time Rushes By....Next Morning Has Arrived
Kurogane checked his sword one last time, feeling himself grow nervous despite his calm exterior. Fai had woken last night, crying out that Ashura had escaped. The ninja had soothed him back to sleep, but had lain awake all night, unable to sleep. He was too worried about Fai to let down his guard so.
Ashura hadn't attacked yet though, and Kurogane knew that the king would be waiting for them in the castle. Glancing up at Fai, who was gently shaking Syaoran and Sakura awake, he felt the sudden urge to pull the wizard close to him, although he managed to stop himself in time.
The kids were asleep...they won't know about us, and I want us to stay that way....don't I? Gaaah! What am I thinking? Like I want to be able to hold him in public whenever I feel like it! ......Oh d.amn....
Closing his eyes in denial of what he was about to do, Kurogane silently moved behind Fai and slipped his arms around the blonde's waist, pulling the mage back against his broad chest. Although he felt Fai squirming in what appeared to be pleased surprise, he was able to ignore it.
Now if only he could stop paying attention to the three pairs of eyes that were blinking up at him in disbelief....
-
Fai heard the ninja coming up behind him as he woke the others, but didn't expect what happened next. He froze momentarily in shock, as Kurogane's arms were suddenly, firmly around him and pulling him close.
He's gone crazy........my world has made Kurogane go crazy......
He laughed a little at his thoughts and silently decided not to question anything at this point. Coming to this world had started as a nightmare and then just as suddenly, fulfilled a secret wish that Fai had never dreamed could come true.....
He leaned back against the ninja's chest and closed his eyes, smiling at the pairs of eyes that stared at them in astonishment.
"Kuro-mu is feeling a bit lovey-dovey today, ne?" Fai laughed softly, gently, not wanting Kurogane to become angry or embarrassed and pull away.
-
Syaoran gazed speechless at the two men. Feeling himself turn red, he turned around, coughing.
So it wasn't my mind playing games...something DID happen
"So...we head towards the castle today."
-
Ashura had changed his robes to a set of dry ones, and now he walked the halls of the castle. The entire fortress seemed to be empty, like some great, echoing tomb. His own tomb.
A distant noise from one room attracted his attention. He found one of his guards - one of the ones who had survived, apparently - rummaging through a drawer, probably looting. With no monarchy to govern the land, most likely anarchy had become the law.
"You!" Ashura boomed.
The guard jumped, and when he turned to see who had addressed him, his eyes widened with fear and horror at seeing his king standing before him alive again. The man dropped to his knees immediately, pressing his face as close as he could to the ground. "Y- your Majesty!"
"How many of my guards remain?" the monarch demanded, scowling down at the display of grovelling.
"A- around fifteen or twenty, I believe, sir."
"Go find them," Ashura ordered. "Tell them to return to the castle. Tell them Ashura is King again."
The man ran to obey.
-
Kurogane growled under his breath as they strode carefully along the bridge to the castle. D.amn stupid world....they have snow. They have cliffs. They have a castle where you have to jump just to get onto the bridge. And they have a stupid king who makes my Fai scared.
Kurogane pulled up short. His Fai? Ok, now this was getting ridiculous. It was one thing to admit he cared, that he may love the mage...and quite another to be getting possessive. His eyes narrowed as he suddenly saw movement from one of the castle's upper windows, but before he could check again, a pair of slender arms had wound themselves around his waist.
One glance at the wizard told Kurogane that Fai wasn't just here to annoy him. Yes, the smile was there. Yes, the cheeky raised eyebrow was there. But so were the terrified blue eyes. Sighing softly to himself, Kurogane wrapped a muscular arm round his loved one's shoulder, and carried on walking.
-
As they walked across the ice covered bridge, towards the castle, Fai felt a terrified calm come over him.......as if in a dream......as if this weren't really happening.........as if he hadn't walked across this very bridge a thousand times before......
He walked towards the castle, holding onto Kurogane,
the one I love........
knowing full well what waited inside....what cruelty Ashura was capable of....what power.........for he'd experienced it firsthand many times.
The wizard felt helpless and wanted desperately to run.......anywhere.......away......
But he wouldn't leave Kurogane's side.
He would die defending him if he had to.......against Ashura.....
He would stand between them if he must.....
Perhaps Ashura would be satisfied just to take him.....
The closer they got, the more still Fai became. He felt as if his heart would suddenly stop, as if just the aura of Ashura's presence...power........could engulf him and he would just cease to exist......
And still he walked on......trying desperately to prepare himself for what lie ahead, Ashura's words ringing in his head..........
I Own You, Fai........
I Own Your Soul............
You Belong To Me............
-
As Kurogane forced the great iron-wrought doors open, he could have sworn that he heard voices echoing round the entrance hall, whispers from an otherwise dead past. And where were the guards? If Fai had just sealed the king, surely there should still have been some servants and guards still around?
He frowned, realising that something was most definitely off. Come to think of it, why hadn't they been stopped as they made their way here? Swearing, he drew Souhi and got into a fighting position, whipping his head round to roar at the others.
"It's got to be a trap! Be ready! If Ashura's awake, then he must be waiting for us to make the right move!"
-
Syaoran gripped Hien tightly; as a response to Kurogane's order. It's quiet..
Following Kurogane, he looked around the castle; eyes alert.
The palace was vast and empty, its wide halls leading into the grand room.
He gave a cough, glancing back to see if the princess was all right.
-
Fai watched as Kurogane and Syaoran reached for their weapons.
"It won't matter," he told them. "You can fight the guards, but in the end, weapons are nearly useless here...............against him."
Fai stepped away from Kurogane, and giving him a long, tender look, walked on ahead and through the heavy, iron doors.......to face the fate that awaited them.....to the King that awaited him.....
He was terrified and wanted to return to Kurogane, to his strong embrace, but he knew to walk in like that, revealing their relationship in front of the newly awakened King, would surely mean Kurogane's death...or worse....
If Ashura didn't know already.........
Fai walked ahead.......the halls of the castle freezing his heart with each step he took...........
-
Kurogane frowned as Fai began to walk on ahead. He's not...he is! He's actually going to face that creep alone! Sheathing his sword, he turned back to Syaoran and Sakura, his voice urgent.
"Stick together. Follow us only if you feel you'd be safer that way. Otherwise, start looking around the rest of the castle for the feather, alright?" Hhe barked, before hurrying after Fai.
Catching the wizard up, he grabbed at one of Fai's black gloved hands, feeling a dim sense of relief when Fai stopped to look at him.
"Oh no you don't mage. Where you go, I go. If you face Ashura, I face Ashura. Don't you get it? I thought with asll your flimsy ideas about 'love' and 'loyalty', you would. We're together Fai. And together we'll win or fall."
-
Fai stopped walking, as Kurogane spoke behind him.......grasping his hand in his.
A deep aching rose in the wizard's heart.
My heart is breaking........
"You don't know, Kurogane....you can't know what he's capable of," Fai whispered, looking up at the ninja with his sad, blue eyes. "If he knows........if he even suspects what we are..........." Fai lifted Kurogane's hand to his face and held it there.
"I don't want to see you hurt.......I can't see you hurt," Fai closed his eyes and held Kurogane's hand against is cheek. "He may let you go......if..."
The wizard's wide, blue eyes began to cloud over......considering his words carefully.
-
Kurogane growled, grabbing Fai and beginning to shake him as the mage's words trailed off.
"No! D.amn it, I won't let you go 'sacrificing' yourself just to save me or the others! You're just as important as anyone...maybe even more so, at least in my opinion! Don't give me that look! I can see it in your eyes! You're going to just hand yourself over to him, in exchange for our safe passage, right? Well I won't let you!"
Releasing his hold on Fai momentarily, Kurogane pulled the blonde into a tight embrace, withheld tears choking up his voice.
"I won't let you..."
-
"I won't let you..."
Kurogane's words tore at his heart..........hot tears ran down his face, as he breathed in the ninja's scent, and he abruptly wiped them away.
I have to be strong for you......Kurogane....
Perhaps to save you this time...........
"I can't see him hurt you, Kuro-mu.....I can't......I can't......" Fai repeated over and over, resting his blonde head against Kurogane's chest and holding onto the ninja tight.
Fai's body suddenly went stiff and his heart turned cold.......
From behind him came the echoing sound of footsteps............
I Own You, Fai...
I Own Your Soul...........
You Belong To Me..............
He clenched Kurogane tightly, then his slender hands went limp as he let go, forcing himself to lift his head and turn to the hall, where the sound of the heavy footsteps echoed.
Like worlds falling down upon my soul........
-
So... they had come to the castle. Like a magnet, drawn back to me over and over. You can't escape.
I Own You, Fai...
You don't know it, Fai, but the power I hold over you is stronger than any magic, than any seal you can conjure. Stronger than the distance of a hundred dimensions.
I Own Your Soul...........
The pillar fell away as Ashura turned the corner and there he was. The lithe, blond man stood facing him once again, those hollow blue orbs meeting his own narrowed eyes. Those eyes, the last thing he remembered seeing before being sealed shut in that damned water. He could see those eyes now pooled with fear. Fear of him. You always were pathetic, Fai. No backbone at all.
There was another man with him, dressed all in black. Ashura did not recognize this man. He despised this man's presence immediately, and the cold glare he sent him said exactly that.
Ashura's attention was on the trembling wizard, however. His heavy embroidered robes fell about him regally as he stepped forward. "I knew you would return... Fai." An exultant smile twisted his lips. "You can't stay away."
You Belong To Me.
-
Inside, Fai felt completely still, as if frozen inside a dream, but his body began to shake uncontrollably as the footsteps grew closer......every echo crashing through his heart until he felt he could no longer stand.
Instinctively, he stepped away from Kurogane and took one step forward, as if to protect the ninja from even the sight of the approaching King.
And then, He was there.
Ashura..........
The powerful King once again stood before him, long dark hair surrounding his broad, straight shoulders, dark eyes shining with pure hate at Kurogane, and then turning to rest on Fai with an amused rage.
As Fai looked into Ashura's dark eyes......as he had so many months before...he felt a shiver...a merging....as the past and present became one.
The years serving Ashura, bowing down to Ashura, and then betraying him in one quick, unexpected raise of his staff.
"I knew you would return... Fai."
"You can't stay away."
A soft moan escaped Fai, and he nearly dropped to his knees before the wakened King, out of years of forced practice.
Fai cast a quick, careful look to Kurogane, hoping the man hadn't noticed.
See........this is what he brings me to.....and you have no idea how deep my total submission runs........
This man had owned him....in mind and body....and was perhaps powerful enough to take him again.
I'll do anything to protect you from him.....Kurogane...
And unable to speak, he took a step toward the King......
-
The sight of the smaller man being drawn so helplessly toward him was nearly satisfying enough to supress his rage for the moment. Fai, Fai... when will you learn that you can't live without me? I made you what you are, Fai. The creation cannot turn against its master.
Thoughts of his dark, cold prison returned to him, and Ashura's anger boiled to the surface again. He lifted the staff in his hand - an intricately carved magical staff so similar to the one now obviously missing from the blonde wizard's hand - and hooked the tip of it under the blonde's chin, tilting it upwards so the blue eyes could not avoid his gaze.
"You betrayed me, Fai." The King's voice seethed with calm rage. "You betrayed your King." His eyes narrowed, sensing something else. "...And sold your markings."
The staff pressed dangerously against the wizard's throat. "Tell me why I shouldn't kill you now."
-
You betrayed me, Fai."
"You betrayed your King."
"...And sold your markings."
Fai's eyes opened wide with surprise.....my markings....how could he.....
but of course he would know......for Ashura was the one who gave him those marking himself.....that night......
As the deadly cold tip of Ashura's staff commanded Fai to look into his dark, rage filled eyes, the wizard found he could not answer the question demanded to him. For he could think of no reason why Ashura shouldn't kill him......why he should be allowed to live.......
And he felt he would gladly impale himself upon Ashura's deadly staff if only to escape this world.........if he didn't have another to protect.....
Another........
Kurogane...........
Fai silently willed the ninja not to speak, not to interfere, for one step toward him, or the smallest move to defend him......and Ashura would know..........
-
Kurogane watched in silent confusion as Fai stepped towards the king, not happy about it, but willing to see what the blonde wizard was planning. But as Ashura pressed his staff into Fai's throat and began to murmur about killing him, Kurogane couldn't help the feelings of protectiveness and rage that began to bubble up inside of him.
He snapped.
"Don't you dare hurt him! If you even put a scratch on him, I'll kill you, curse or no curse!" He roared angrily. His left arm reached out and yanked Fai back from the king and into his own arms, whilst his right drew Souhi from its scabbard and aimed it menacingly at Ashura.
I won't let you take away something so dear to me...I'll protect Fai...no matter the cost to me.
-
As Fai stood before the King, wide eyes locked onto Ashura's cold, cruel gaze, he was shocked to hear Kurogane's voice growl behind him,
"Don't you dare hurt him! If you even put a scratch on him, I'll kill you, curse or no curse!"
and then he was pulled roughly back, breaking the connection of Ashura's deadly staff against his neck, and into the arms of the ninja.
Fai was torn between the shocked realization that someone had, for the first time, interfered with Ashura's manipulation of him, and the cold terror of what he knew would surely come. The blonde's eyes turned slowly back to the King, afraid to witness the reaction on Ashura's face at his disobedience.
I Own You, Fai...
I Own Your Soul.........
-
Ashura's grip tightened around the staff, his growing anger urging him to kill the thin man in front of him, to show no mercy at all. This man who had taken all he had given and then betrayed him...
Suddenly Fai was pulled away from him, and the dark man had stepped in his place, spouting threatening words and wielding his sword. A scowl marred the King's deadly calm face at this interruption. Seeing this unwanted man's hand close protectively around his Fai's arm sent a shock of rage and jealousy through the dark King's body.
He turned the staff on Kurogane, who now held the tip of his sword at him threateningly. Ashura's eyes burned coldly into the ninja, flashing a for moment with blue-white magic that threatened to break loose.
"Take this man away!" he ordered the two guards that stood behind him, and the two men stepped toward the black ninja to obey.
-
Fai watched, unable to draw breath, as Ashura turned his cold gaze on Kurogane.
The King's eyes saw the protective grip the ninja held on the blonde mage, and Fai watched in fear, as his eyes went from anger to a jealous rage.
You betrayed me, Fai.....
I own you, Fai....
As Ashura's staff was turned towards Kurogane, Fai felt certain it was over.
All we could have had.......
Thought for certain Ashura would kill the ninja without hesitation, and instinctively.....uncontrollably, Fai cried out, "NO!" Moving forward to put himself between the two men.
I won't let him hurt you, Kurogane.......can't let him.........
Then Ashura had called for his guards, and Fai held a faint glimmer of hope in his aching heart, for Kurogane was strong, and perhaps away from Ashura, could overtake the guards and find Syaoran and Sakura, and leave this world.
And me.............
Fai however, knew what awaited him......
And as he watched the guards obey their King, and move to take Kurogane away, he felt a sorrow like no other, fully believing he would never set eyes on the ninja again.......fully believing any kind of happiness was forever lost to him. He bent over slightly with the pain of his soul ripping away..............and thinking of the future that was to come. He knew Ashura wouldn't just kill him.......would never grant him that type of release....for the King was far too cruel for something as simple such as that...................
You belong to me............
-
"What the...?" Kurogane cursed as more and more guards began to appear, far too many for even a ninja of his standard to fight off. Not willing to give up, he gave a roar of denial and struck out with his sword....only to feel an invisible force hold it steady. Glancing up at Ashura, he swore as he saw the look of dark satisfaction on the king's face.
Even as he was overwhelmed and dragged away, Kurogane fought back, struggling to get away. No...I have to protect him! I don't know what power Ashura has over him, but I promised that I'd protect him! No!
"Hold on, Fai! I'll come back for you! No prison can hold Kurogane for long, and when I get out, I'll kill that creep if he even lays one hand on you! And don't you even go hoping that I'll just get out of this world without you - either you come with me, or I stay!"
Seeing Ashura put a hand on Fai's shoulder possessively, Kurogane growled, and fought harder, even as he was dragged around the corner and out of sight. Frustration reaching explosion point, he was unable to stop from bellowing out, loud enough for the king to hear him.
"I mean it! You lay one finger on my boyfriend, and I will kill you!"
And if I die in the process....then so be it.
If I die before I can kill you....then I'll haunt you to your grave.
Nothing you do to me matters anymore. I've sworn to protect Fai with my life....and so I shall
-
As more guards appeared and moved to take Kurogane, Fai again cried out............"NO............no..........."
Hot tears of grief, rage and fear ran down his face as they grabbed Kurogane's arms, dragging him away. He still has a chance.......perhaps.....
But as Fai watched him disappear around the corner still yelling out to him, he felt such a desolate loneliness, utter emptiness and rage......rage at the man who could do this to him........and with Kurogane's words still echoing in his ears and heart, Fai turned and lunged at the King, wrapping his slender fingers around his neck.
I won't let you hurt him......
Feeling himself suddenly, painfully, flung down against the hard stone floor......Fai only felt relief as his world went black around him................
-
Kurogane-san, Fai-san! Syaoran watched silently behind a large statue. The king hasn't found him nor Sakura and Mokona yet, but he could tell the king knew he was there.
His eyes widened as he saw Kurogane get dragged away, shouting out his last words. I mean it! You lay one finger on my boyfriend, and I will kill you!
b-boyfriend?
He suppressed a cough, returning his gaze at the unnerving king. The king..
Watching the wizard hurl across the room, he cried out. "Fai-san!"
He stood, frozen, his brown eyes staring straight into the king's.
-
"I mean it! You lay one finger on my boyfriend, and I will kill you!"
If Ashura had had any doubt of the nature of their relationship, the dark-haired man had just confirmed everything. So... you not only betrayed me, Fai... you shamelessly sold away your heart. A heart that belongs to me. He felt his anger simmering into a slow, boiling rage, burning his mind. As the guards dragged away the struggling ninja, Ashura felt something he hadn't expected - Fai had thrown himself against him, grasping at his neck... rebelling against his control.
In a sudden movement, he swung his arm, striking the thin blonde hard across the face with the back of his hand, watching unflinchingly as the wizard hit the ground and then lay motionless.
Fai-san! Ashura met another pair of eyes, one that had been hiding behind the pillar all this time. Frightened but determined brown eyes stared back at him. He almost laughed at what he saw. Children? You come after me with children, Fai? He didn't want to deal with these nuisances right now - he had no interest in them. At the moment, there was one man his anger was focused on. He turned to the door. "Kill him," he bellowed at the guards who held Kurogane.
Then, regaining some control, he paused. "Wait." The guards hesitated, waiting for orders. He saw the glimmer of hope that rose in the brown-haired boy's eyes, and a satisfied expression came over the King's face. "He will be executed in the morning," Ashura spoke coldly. The guards moved to drag the ninja to the dungeons. Fai would watch his lover die painfully, and then he would learn the price of betrayal.
He ordered the guards to carry the limp form to his bedroom. Pausing at the door, as if suddenly remembering Syaoran's existance, Ashura looked down at him with disdain. "I would run away, boy, if you know what's good for you." And with a swish of his robes, Ashura disappeared down the halls.
-
A low moan escaped the wizard's pale lips as he slowly began to regain consciousness. He moved his head tentively, the pain flashing....then almost forgotten completely as Fai felt the distinctive pattern of the woven bedspread beneath his body.........beneath his fingertips.
Remembering.........
As he sensed Ashura's presence, everywhere.....invading him... he found himself unable to draw a breath, unable to stop his blue eyes from opening, forcing his mind to believe where he was.......forcing his soul to accept his fate...
Fai looked up from where he lay, now painfully conscious, and was greeted by the deadly, cold eyes of Ashura, who hovered dangerously over him like a snake ready to strike.
I own you, Fai.....
You belong to me........
The wizard tried to back up, away from the King, clumsily pushing himself into a sitting position, back pressing hard against the elaborately carved wooden headboard of the King's bed.
It was then that he noticed with a slow, creeping horror, that he now wore the clothing of the Kingdom.....the very robes that he had worn while serving under Ashura-ou so long ago, emblazoned with the crest of his land...... and as his past once again came to wind it's evil grip around his heart, Fai knew there would be no escape.............
-
Syaoran slipped silently down the hall, after the king. I can''t run..I have to help Kurogane-san and Fai-san!
He watched the limp form of Fai and the king enter a large room. He quickly hid behind the door, scarcely breathing. Leaning against the wall, the boy listening closely to the opposite side.
Hearing nothing but moans, a feeling of horror struck him. I've got to find Kurogane-san!
-
Down in the dungeons, Kurogane grunted in frustration as he threw his weight across the room once more...only to be stopped yet again by the strong chains that held him. Turning angrily, he tugged furiously at the chains that held him so close to the wall, but was forced to give up as he realised that all he was doing was tiring himself out.
And a ninja knew that exhausting yourself was no way to win a battle.
Fai.....Kurogane looked up at the stone ceiling, ignoring the spider that was steadily dropping down to visit it's new lodger. Where was Fai? What had Ashura done to him?
As he'd been dragged away, he'd heard a commotion behind him....from listening to the guards' gossip, he'd quickly realised that Fai had tried to attack Ashura. But he had bean beaten too.
I promised to protect you, Fai.....but all I did was end up captured. And they're going to kill me tomorrow, Fai....in front of you. Do you even know that? Do you know that Ashura is going to execute me in front of you to break down the little spirit that you've managed to recover?
Fai......I'm so sorry....I failed you.....
-
Syaoran lurked around the castle; unseen from the servants and guards.
Slipping into the dungeons; he found Kurogane bound up in chains inside a room. He looked around; there were no guards..only an old man snoring in a chair..
He peered through the door, trying to grab the enraged ninja's attention. "Kurogane-san! Kurogane-san!"
-
Kurogane raised his head at the sound of Syaoran's voice, staring up at the kid with despondent red eyes.
"Kid? Is that you?" He called hoarsely. At Syaoran's silent nod, Kurogane snorted and looked down, clenching his fists tightly.
"I failed him, kid. Ashura caught Fai because I failed him.......save yourself and the hime, Syaoran, or try and rescue Fai. Just leave me here to rot." He whispered brokenly.
He knew that as a ninja he wasn't meant to be like this...but inside something had broken when he heard the guards laughing about Ashura getting his old 'pet' back.
-
Fai......I'm so sorry....I failed you.....
Chii sudenlly heard a voice. She opened her eyes and looked around the dark damp cell. She then saw a figure talking to another person. People!! she thought. She tried to escape from her chains, but like so many other times she tried she couldn't. "Hello.is anybody there?" she called out. Hoping and waiting for a response.
-
I failed him, kid. Ashura caught Fai because I failed him.......save yourself and the hime, Syaoran, or try and rescue Fai. Just leave me here to rot
He shook his head quickly. "No, I want to help you.." he paused, then added quickly. "I'm sure..Fai-san would want you to save him."He looked at the bolted door, then at the snoring man. Keys..keys..
Sneaking up behind the man, he quickly grabbed the keys. "Kurogane-san!" He threw the keys into the ninja's room.
Suddenly, a coughing spell took hold of him. He crumpled onto the floor coughing. Not now...
He gasped, looking up. The man was awake, glaring down at him.
-
As the keys landed at his feet, Kurogane glared down at them. Did the kid really think he was going to use them? But then he heard Syaoran breaking into a fit of coughing, and saw the guard awaken, glaring down at the doubled up boy.
I can't let him die because of my pettiness...I won't be the cause of another comrade's pain!
Swearing, Kurogane grabbed the keys and used them to unlock his chains, before rushing over to unlock the door. Kicking it open, he gave a roar and ran out into the other room, giving a battle cry as he slammed a fist down onto the guard's neck, knocking him unconscious.
Dimly, he could hear someone crying out from the other cell, but dismissing it as his imagination, he ignored it and turned to Syaoran, his old fire back in his crimson eyes.
"You ok, kid?"
-
There was a creak of a door and and a jangle of keys. Somebody must have gotten the keys from the gaurd! Chii thought to herself. But I'm still stuck in this cell...waiting.. She decieded to try one more time, and this time she yelled REALLY loud,"HELLO?! IS ANYONE THERE?!" With that yell she used the last of her strength and fainted
-
Syaoran sat in shock as the ninja burst through his cell, K.O-ing the man.
He nodded at Kurogane's question; still staring at the unconscious man laying before him
A loud yell reached his ears.
HELLO?! IS ANYONE THERE?!
"Someone else is here!"
He looked around, seeing another cell. Looking through, his eyes widened. A girl with..cat ears?
-
Hearing the loud call, Kurogane followed Syaoran's eyes to another cell, his own crimson ones widening as he took in the....girl?....that was sitting there, wrapped up in chains.
She looked pleadingly, if a little dully, out at them, and Kurogane felt a tug of pity in his heart for the wretched creature. Unlocking the dorr to her cell, he strode in and removed her of her chains, before stepping back into the other room to claim Souhi back from the unconscious guard's form.
Turning around, he jumped as he realised exactly how close the girl was to him, and how intently she was watching him.
"Gaah! What are you trying to do to me? Give me a heart attack? You're just as bad as Fai...." He snapped wearily.
-
What a strange man..all dressed in balck.. Chii thought to herself. "I thank you for helping me get out of that cell." Chii said.
Did he just say something about Fai...? she wondered. "Is Fai back?!" she blurted out. "Please say it is so!! Where is Fai?!"
-
Please say it is so!! Where is Fai?!
Syaoran observed the girl with worried eyes. "Fai is in trouble."
-
"How do you know him anyway? What's he to you?" Kurogane demanded, eyeing the girl suspiciously. She looked strange...but then again, Fai had always liked strange things....could she have been......?
-
Fai is in trouble
It hit Chii like a huge rock..she sunk to the floor and didn't say anything. "Wha-What kind of trouble...? Is it something to do the newly awakened king?" I just hope that I'm wrong.. Chii thought as she bit her lip.
How do you know him anyway? What's he to you? he asked with a sharp tone to his voice. Chii looked into his eyes and answered, "Chii was made by Fai...Fai is my best friend-my only friend..Not what you think I am sir.." she said the last bit with a small smile on her face.
-
Syaoran nodded, looking at the girl's horror-struck face.
"He's in the king's room with the king..I..I could hear moaning from the inside"
-
Kurogane tensed, his grip on Souhi tightening.
"M..moaning/" He choked out, eyes widening. He stood still for a moment, before turning and running from the cell, heading up the staircase.
And his voice echoed down the stairwell back to the other two....
"I told you that you'd pay if you laid a finger on him! Do you hear me, Ashura?! You'll paaaay!"
-
"Hush!" Chii yelled.
"You MUST not let the king know that you are free! If you want to see Fai-san again, you have to take him when the king is alseep.."
-
Syaoran stood startled by Kurogane's enraged reaction.
Hearing groans, he looked down and saw the man slowly stirring.
"We have to hurry, someone might come"
-
But Kurogane was beyond listening. He knew that was Chii said made snese, but he could no longer care about the logic.
Fai....what's he doing to you, Fai? Has he hurt you? Fai...
Sprinting up the various staircases and through the winding corridors, Kurogane savagely knocked anyone who tried to stop him out fo his way, his whole world narrowed down to the ornate doors that led the way to Ashura's bedroom.
With a final roar of anger, he threw himself through the doors.....but despite all his training, all his preparations.....was unable to cope with the scene before him.
-
"NOO! You musn't!!!" Chii yelled as she grabbed the young boy and floated quickly after Kurogane. After following his echoing footsteps for a few moments she accidently bumbed into him. No... Chii thought to herself.
-
Syaoran ignored the girl, quickly followed after Kurogane, panting for breath.
At last, reaching their destination, he watched Kurogane burst through the door; yelling in rage.
I've never seen Kurogane-san this mad before..
-
Ah... he was waking up.
Ashura stepped toward the figure on the bed, watched as those eyelids finally lifted to reveal blue eyes gazing directly at him. Yes, look at me. Your master.
Your lover.
The small man backed away, like a frightened animal, but the King easily closed the distance, and Fai was trapped against the headboard. Ashura reached out a hand to trace the blonde's jawline, deceptively gentle. He grabbed Fai's hair at the back of his head, forcing his head backwards. The King brought his mouth down on the wizard's in a hard and unforgiving kiss, a mark of possession.
His lips hovered next to Fai's ear, whispering harshly. "You're mine, Fai. Mine and nobody else's. Don't ever forget that." He shoved the other man roughly away, watching him fall to the soft cushion of the bed.
He looked down coldly. "You just couldn't resist coming back to me, Fai. And now your boyfriend will die." He crept over Fai on the bed, looking over him like a prey to be devoured. Ashura reached down, ripping open the top of his robe. Fai was going to pay for all the nights he'd spent alone in that seal.
An angry roar and a crash interrupted their scene, and Ashura looked up, seething in pure rage to see the man he had just sent to the dungeon standing in his bedroom. His grip tightened around Fai's arm, so much that his nails dug holes in the skin. "You..." he hissed in deadly anger, cold eyes burning into Kurogane.
-
Caught......Fai shuddered at Ashura's gentle touch...knowing the violence that was to come...knowing what his fate and future now held...
so gently......
Pain shot through his head once again, as the dark-haired man slid his fingers through Fai's blonde hair then cruelly forced his head back and placed his lips upon the wizard's.
I Own You, Fai.........
not again......please never again.....
Fai struggled to push the King away, shoving hard against his chest, not wanting his touch, not wanting the feel of Kurogane's warm arms around him taken away by the violence that was soon to follow. But the King was strong......and had a rage that had had time to build.....and wouldn't be pushed away so easily.
He struggled........ but exhaustion was taking over, and he knew from experience his struggles were of little use........he tried to close his eyes as his mind began sinking into defeat........when from far away he heard running...closer....and then his eyes grew wide with shock as the ninja burst through the door to attack.
-
Kurogane stood there panting in rage, his crimson eyes staring at the scene in the bed in shock.
Ashura ripping Fai's robe.....
Fai's terrified expression.....
Ashura's dark smile....
Fai's look of defeat as he had no choice but to give in......
Tightening his grip on Souhi, Kurogane got into a fighting position, his eyes flashing in anger as he saw Fai wince at the tight grip Ashura had on his arm.
"Get you filthy hands off him." He growled, taking a challenging step forward.
-
Ashura jerked Fai up with him as he stood, keeping an iron grip on the wizard's arm as he held him close to his body. He met Kurogane's challenging stare as his other hand reached for the staff beside the bed.
"Foolish man," he hissed. "Would you dare attack me when I hold Fai's life in my hands?"
He sensed no magic from inside the dark man in front of him - he really was a fool to challenge him. With a darkly muttered incantation, Ashura's staff glowed to life, sending a raging black whirlwind, hurtling straight into the ninja's path.
-
"Kurogane-san!!" He watched horrified as the whirlwind raged across, straight toward Kurogane. No!
He jumped forward, blocking its path.
The whirlwind flung him across the room, sending him crashing into the limestone walls. He clenched his teeth in pain; feeling blood trickle down his head.
-
Kurogane gave an angry roar as Syaoran went flying past him, and his head whipped round to face Chii.
"Look after the kid. I'll get your master." He ordered, gripping Souhi tighter. Then, letting out a primal roar, he ran forward, sword aimed straight for Ashura's forehead, well away from Fai.
"D.amn you, Ashura! It's no wonder Fai sealed you away! Now for the last time...get your filthy hands off of him!" Fire burning in his crimson eyes, Kurogane brought Souhi slashing down, prepared to activate Tomoyo's curse if it just meant saving Fai.
-
Ashura cursed as his attack was intercepted. That interfering boy. Damn him! I should have killed him when I had the chance. With no time to lanch another offensive, the dark King raised the staff, preparing to generate a shield against the ninja's charge. He could never have been prepared for the strength of it as Kurogane's sword came crashing down, cracking his defenses enough to deal a significant blow. The King fell to his knees, gasping as blood ran down his face. His eyes, however, were still cold, angry and unsurrendering.
-
Fai looked up in shock from the bed where Ashura held him captive, for he had never seen Kurogane in such a rage. He tried to call out, to tell Kurogane to run....to save himself....but the look on the ninja's face stopped him....and suddenly Fai realized and fully understood that Kurogane would die fighting before he'd leave him there in Ashura's grasp...........
Anger once again welled up in the blonde wizard's heart at the cruel man who was forever hurting him.....haunting him....across time and space itself. The man who had once been his lover........who had owned him completely.......
No More.........
Fai watched, begin to shake with anger as Syaoran was hurled across the room, and Ashura turned once again towards Kurogane.........
I won't let you hurt him............
"No!" Fai cried out, and he struggled to free his arm from Ashura's grasp.......
Kurogane.......
But he had underestimated Kurogane's wrath and power, his blue eyes opening in surprise, as the ninja rushed forward, slashing his sword down upon the King.
Fai watched in utter disbelief, not able to move or even speak, as Ashura fell to his knees, blood running down his face..........but Fai knew he wasn't finished that easily, and he hurried to Kurogane, standing in front of him to block the gaze of the fallen King.
-
Kurogane wrapped his free arm around Fai, pulling the blonde back protectively against his chest, brandishing his sword at Ashura.
"There's more where that came from, Ashura." Kurogane growled, before leaning down to nuzzle at Fai's hair.
"Did he hurt you? Are you alright?" He whispered, breathing in the flowery scent of his beloved's hair. Then, he caught sight of a red spot nestled beneath Fai's hair, and he hissed in rage, before looking up to glare at Ashura again.
"You hurt him. I warned you what would happen if you even laid a finger on him." He growled, letting go of Fai to stand in front of him.
Fai....I will avenge your wounds....
-
Chii rushed over to where Syaoran had fallen and tried to clean the blood falling down. While watching helplessly at the raging battle.
-
"Did he hurt you? Are you alright?"
The wizard’s arm dripped blood where Ashura's cruel fingers had dug painfully...possessively..... in, as he had struggled to hold onto his blonde prisoner..........and his head still raged in pain from the blow against the castle floor, and Ashura's touch........but Fai was once again in the ninja's arms...an embrace he had firmly believed he would never feel again...and nothing else mattered....
Kurogane pushed him gently behind him, aiming his sword once again for the fallen King......Fai tried to pull him back, away, but the ninja would not be stopped. "Kurogane.......I can't live if he hurts you.....I..." but the wizard's words fell away, as he saw the look that remained on the ninja's face....the look that told Fai, he wouldn't rest until Ashura was finished, until he killed him.....
-
"Ashura, you and I have a score to settle. You've proved that you're fine when it comes to dealing with children and those weaker that yourself, but how are you when it comes to fighting people equal to you?" Kurogane challenged, glaring at the king in some satisfaction as he saw the wound he'd left on Ashura already.
He could hear Fai protesting behind him, but Kurogane was in no mood to back down now, and let the king get away with hurting his lover so. Moving forward another step, he smiled cockily at Ashura, purposefully putting as much scorn into his voice as possible.
"So, are you man enough to fight? Or are you a coward?"
This is it, Fai.....there's no turning back for me now. I've made my challenge....and now Ashura will suffer. He will DIE.
-
As Chii wiped the blood from his head, another coughing fit racked his body. Throat burning painfully from the fit, he uncovered his mouth..to his horror discovering blood upon his gloved hand. He leaned back against the wall, watching Kurogane blinded in fury.. steadily walking across to silence the king forever.
-
Ashura grasped his staff, pushing himself to his feet again. He glared back coldly at the ninja through the blood that dripped over his face. Fai had slipped from his grasp. He hid behind the black-clothed man, as if he could protect him....
The King seethed at the ninja's threat. How dare this scum patronize me. One lucky blow did not mean the victory would be his. Though he was sure of his victory, he did not like the idea of battling with this crude man, but his anger would not allow him to relinquish Fai so easily. The mere sight of his once-lover in the other man's arms made his blood run hot with fiery rage.
As he raised his staff in readiness, his mind called out to Fai, silently, hypnotically.
Will you die with this foolish brute of a man, Fai?
I have always cared for you, Fai. You know where you belong.
Come with me. You are Mine. You are Mine........Mine...
Mine.
-
Will you die with this foolish brute of a man, Fai?
The wizard's blue eyes suddenly grew wide, as Ashura's voice rang through his head............
I have always cared for you, Fai. You know where you belong.
Come with me. You are Mine. You are Mine........Mine...
The powerful voice of the man who had owned him........calling
No..............let me go....please..
"Let me go....." Fai whispered from behind the ninja. "Let me go...."
The wizard tried to stop his feet from moving.....from leading him to the dark King.... But the hypnotic pull of Ashura's power was too strong...the rage too great....as it invaded his mind..pulling him......
Mine.
No..............
Fai sensed himself, as if from far away, succumb to the dark sorcerer's spell......saw himself push slowly past Kurogane to stand in front of the King.......felt himself drop to his knees in front of the King...once more....
Kneeling in front of the King....Fai suddenly felt a release.....as something rose up inside him.....a forgotten power.....a love....and Ashura's spell began to fall away.......
Fai lifted his blonde head slowly........he looked up into Ashura's dark eyes......dark eyes filled with the cruelty he had suffered from for so long.......and silently signaling to the ninja with a slight gesture the King didn't see........Fai leaned his head down in front of the King distracting him......and whispered............. "Goodbye.....Ashura...."
-
At first as Fai walked slowly over to Ashura, Kurogane felt the dull ache of heartbreak, thinking that the blonde had chosen this man....this monster... over him. But when he saw the clouded look in Fai's eyes fade away, and the small gesture, he finally understood.
Gripping Souhi tightly, he began running, running towards Ashura and the kneeling Fai. Something deep inside him warned him that this would kill him just as surely as it would kill Ashura, but he ignored the voice and ran on, focused only on his goal.
Finally letting out a roar of a battlecry, Kurogane brought Souhi slashing down at Ashura for the second time that day, watching as the blade sunk deep within the Seresuan monarch. Then a bright light came exploding out of Ashura's wound, and he bellowed in agony as pain ripped through him, engulfing him whereever the light touched.
Staggering back, he slumped against the wall, shaking violently as the burning sensation spread through him, causing small wounds and cuts that he'd received from years ago to reopen, shedding crimson blood. But he ignored all this, and only had eyes for the still, unmoving form of Ashura.
Did I do it?
-
Meanwhile, Mokona sensed the feather nearby while the commotion was going on.
"Meekyoo!" He cried out as he rushed towards the feather's presense, only to knock a table over, crashing the crystal ball into tiny pieces. "The feather.... Mokona found it!" The white feather floated towards the rabbit-like creature, getting sucked inside his ruby gem on his forehead.
-
Chii watched the battle when suddenly a bright flash of light came out of nowhere. Chii couldn't see a thing. Is the king defeated?
It was impossible to tell right then and there. I hope that he is dead...No one wants to see more anymore fighting..
Right now, all anyone could do was wait.
-
Ashura reached out to Fai as he approached him, bowing in servitude. Just as it should be. You are bound to me. As his fingers stretched toward him, longing to reclaim their grasp on the blonde wizard, Ashura caught a flash of black from the corner of his eye. Too late he realized what was happening. Whispered words reached his ears. "Goodbye... Ashura..." Before he could strike out, Kurogane's sword was descending upon him. His magic shield shattered with a crackle of energy, caving under the sheer force and determination of the ninja's attack. In a last defense he released all the magic he could muster, sending a current through the metal blade filled with all the anger and retribution he had left. But he had already lost. A deep cry ripped from his throat as his wound exploded with light.
Ashura's eyes had turned wide with shock and defeat. Impaled on Kurogane's sword dripping with blood, he stared at Fai, disbelieving... pleading...
The King of Celes tipped forward, falling. With his last strength he reached for the wizard, as if one final attempt to take back his possession. His fingers closed around Fai's robe, but slipped... releasing their grasp forever as the King fell heavily to the ground, gasping his last breath: "Fai..."
-
Syaoran sat mesmerized by the bloody scene in front of him. Squinting through the light, he saw the king slowly slip away.. whispering his last word.
Fai..
He stared, scarcely breathing. Suddenly, voice reached his ears..words that he had been longing to hear.
The feather.... Mokona found it!
He gasped, his head turned swiftly toward the voice. "The feather!"
Getting up, he ran towards Mokona, ignoring the stabbing pains that ran through his body.
Kneeling next to Mokona, Syaoran reached out for the feather...grabbing it gently. Then looking over at Sakura, he shuffled slowly up to her..releasing the feather. He watched...the feather floated over...a soft glow surrounded Sakura as she rose in the air.
The feather melted inside her glowing body, bringing new memories into her mind.
Catching her as she fell back down, Syaoran crumpled to the floor. He smiled and closed his eyes...slipping into darkness.
I've finally retrieved...another feather.
-
Fai bent forward before Ashura.......and Kurogane's sword came crashing down upon the King, one last time....in a brilliant flash of light......
As Ashura looked once more into the wizard's eyes, Fai saw all the years of cruelty and control pass before him..........never again.....Ashura....
And watching the King's hand reach to grasp his robe, Fai stepped back......knowing it was over........as Ashura fell to the ground.....
"Fai..."
And then voices.....as Fai looked at the scene around him....eyes wide with all that had happened, body aching....but spirit growing stronger....
He saw Chii for the first time......and his eyes met hers, thankful that she was alive..the one he'd created out of loneliness....the only companion he'd had in this cold world. He heard Mokona's call and saw Syaoran running to follow.
Then he felt a cold fear touch his heart as he looked to the wall where Kurogane stood......shaking......
The bright light........
And realizing just what the light had been, Fai called out the ninja's name - and went to Kurogane quickly, unable to breathe....needing the ninja like never before.....
Needing his touch.......his love....needing to know he was alright......
-
As Ashura fell to the ground, Kurogane saighed in relief, looking up to see Fai coming towards him, a concerned look on his face. Smiling softly at his blonde beloved, Kurogane held out a hand to Fai, ignoring the red wound that was opening up on it. Trembling violently, he reached for Fai, a shaky grin on his face.
"I did it Fai.....he'll never be able to hurt you again....you're FREE." He whispered. Then, dizziness overcame him as the seal Tomoyo had placed on him began to glow, and he collapsed, unable to hold himself up any more. Tomoyo's curse has been activated.....I feel weaker already.....I can't cope with this blood loss now my strength has been decreased......
I always promised that I'd die to protect him......
-
"I did it Fai.....he'll never be able to hurt you again....you're FREE."
free.........
And then Fai watched in horror as the seal upon Kurogane's head began to glow red and the ninja sunk to the floor.....
"No.....Kurogane, you're hurt.....you're hurt....and nothing means anything anymore...." Fai rushed down to Kurogane, cradling the ninja's head in his lap, searching with his eyes, as wounds were opening up all over the man's body.
The wizard couldn't fanthom what was happening.....only that Ashura's spell had done damage, and something more....something else was happening that was weakening the ninja....and Fai couldn't stop it....
"Please.......open you eyes...Kuro-pi....please.....talk to me...don't close your eyes......" Tears began to fall from the wizard's wide eyes, seeing the usually strong man lay weak in his lap. "Please...don't leave me...." he whispered, leaning his face over Kurogane's......trying to get the man to look at him....tell him he was alright......wouldn't leave him......
-
Kurogane slowly opened his eyes, staring up into the frantic blue ones above him. He smiled as reassuringly as he could manage, given the burning pains still wracking his body and the agony of old wounds reopening.
"It's ok....Fai. I'll be alright.......Tomoyo's curse....wouldn't let me kill anyone......or I'd lose strength.....it's just weakened me....a bit. I'll be fine....don't worry about me."
He moved a large hand to grasp at Fai's, shakily bringing it to his lips. Pressing a kiss against it, he smiled at Fai again, although it was getting harder to keep his eyes open.
"Just....hold me for a moment?"
-
"Just....hold me for a moment?"
The ninja said he would be alright......but Fai saw otherwise...
Tears flowed from the wizard's eyes......pain racked through his slender body as he held Kurogane....held him as if his love was enough to heal him.....as if he could save the ninja with his soul......
"Kuro-mu......please.....please.....don't...leave....me...." Fai begged, holding onto the ninja, trying to protect Kurogane's body from itself....feeling his heart breaking.....I won't live without you...Kurogane...
And the ninja took his slender hand and kissed it..........
-
Kurogane frowned as he saw Fai's eyes filling with tears, and heard the wizards plea for him not to leave.
"Damn mage......stop shedding tears over me......and I'm not going anywhere....." Kurogane tried to grin broadly up at Fai, but to his annoyance, he could only summon up a weak smile that was even fainter than the last one.
"But I did it, Fai....I did it for you.....you don't have to be scared anymore, Fai, because he can't come after you anymore....."
Please, Fai, don't cry........I didn't want to make you cry again.
-
"Damn mage......stop shedding tears over me......and I'm not going anywhere....."
Fai could see the tender lie in the ninja's words.....could feel him slipping...
"Please, hold on, Kuro-mu......please.....I can't live without you....."
Please don't leave me.......
The wizard looked around desperately for Syaoran and the others.....looked for someone who could help the fallen ninja.....but there was only him....
And what use was he without his magic......
"I love you, Kurogane...." Fai whispered..........and with what was left of his heart, he begged the ninja.....and the gods of the infinite worlds....."Please don't leave me....."
And then the wizard went silent.....for to talk now would only hurt the ninja more than the wounds that tore through his body.........
-
Kurogane coughed harshly, and realised that the time for protective lies was over.....his time was rapidly running out. And from Fai's silence, he knew that the wizard knew it too.
"Fai...listen to me......I need you to pass some stuff on to the others...." He said urgently, staring pleadingly up at the other man. At Fai's slow nod, he took a deep, unsteady breath and continued.
"I want you to tell the kid....Syaoran....to continue training, and that everything will turn out alright because he's strong....give him Souhi as well. Tell Sakura that although her innocence is sometimes annoying, she was like a little sister to me........and tell the manjuu bun that he was the bane of my life......but I sometimes enjoyed our fights."
He gazed up at Fai, vaguely annoyed that the blonde seemed to be getting blurry. He wanted Fai to be the last thing he saw.....
"And Fai.....I don't know what to say to you, other than goodbye..." He choked out, tears filling his own crimson eyes. There had to be something more meaningful he could say....he was dying, damnit! If there was a time for throwing away ninja dignity, it was now!
-
"And Fai.....I don't know what to say to you, other than goodbye..."
Fai nodded through Kurogane's words........though hearing only the sound of his heart breaking.......
The wizard moved to lay alongside the ninja, trying to hold onto Kurogane as long as he could.....trying to keep him in this world with him..........
Fai tried to stay silent...tried to spare Kurogane his feelings....but they came out in tears.....in a tangible pain that engulfed him....til he could only choke out the words that he would repeat to the ninja over and over........
Don't leave me..............I can't let you leave me.......
-
Kurogane could feel his heart breaking as he heard Fai's mantra, and wished that he could stay here.....even if he was in constant agony for the rest of his life, it wouldn't matter, because Fai wouldn't be alone.
"Fai....I'm leaving Syaoran and the others to you....you're the responsible adult now. Just....don't give up on your silly side too, alright? It's a part of you that shouldn't ever die." Kurogane winced at his choice of words, but there was nothing for it now. They'd already slipped out.
"You've done so much for me Fai....you brought a side of me that I thought died long ago....and I'm so grateful that I got to be with you, even if it was for a short time. From the moment I met you, I knew that if I had to die before I got back to my old world, I wanted it to be protecting you......and I guess I managed it."
Kurogane's sight was growing darker now, and he had to focus hard to even make out the blurred shape of Fai. He could feel his grip on the blonde's hand loosening, and heard the pleas of Fai fade away into a distant noise.
His lips moved soundlessly for a moment, as he struggled to find the strength to say what he so badly wanted to tell Fai, and for a moment he was terrified that he'd left it too late. But then his lips moved, and the words came spilling out through them.
"I love you, Fai...."
And then his hand lost its grip on Fai's, and his eyes finally shut, no longer able to withstand the darkness coming to swallow him up. And his last thought before his ragged breathing died away was....
Fai.....
-
"I love you, Fai...."
Fai lay alongside Kurogane, his head against his chest......arms wrapped tightly around the man.......and suddenly the ninja wasn't breathing.......
"No...Kurogane......don't leave me.....please...please....you can't leave me......." Fai felt the weight of a thousand worlds land upon his heart...tearing his soul to shreds......He shook the ninja violently......trying to make him breathe....trying to bring him back....his sadness and rage tearing him apart..until he couldn't breathe himself, and only lay sobbing against Kurogane's still chest......
Then in his heart.....he once again felt a letting go.......as that long forgotten power began to rise within him....rise within the sadness that engulfed his soul............and with that power came the split second decision that the wizard had never thought he'd have to make again........
With tears flowing down his face, the wizard felt power begin to course through his body...power brought on by the sadness...rage...and....pure love......
With a bright light suddenly illuminating his body....Fai placed his hands onto Kurogane's wounds.......and his lips to the other man's..........and shared the powerful white light with the ninja.............commanding him to wake.......
-
Kurogane floated in a dark void, small bits of debris and rock spinning gently around him, although they never hit him. In the near distance, he could see a black hole, and he felt a force from it pulling him in.....but oddly enough, he felt calm....at peace. He felt free and untroubled for the first time in his life......at least he thought so. He couldn't really remember his life. But even that didn't trouble the floating man.
Drifting towards the hole, Kurogane blinked as a bright light suddenly shone, and he turned round to see a man standing there, his hands outstretched to him. The shining figure stepped towards him as Kurogane continued to allow himself to be gently pulled backwards, and he heard a light, yet powerful voice urging him to wake and take the other's hands......
But Kurogane didn't know who this person was, and instead moved further away from him, closer to the hole that was waiting to swallow him.
"Just let me be, stranger.....let me be...." He murmured faintly. The hole was calling him, and he would not fail to answer.
-
The brilliant white light surrounded the wizard....shining out from the very depths of his soul......illuminating the crystal tears falling from his eyes........
And still Kurogane drifted farther away........
Fai felt his grasp slipping......felt Kurogane moving away.....leaving him.....
"No.......I will not let you go......I cannot let you go..Kurogane.."
Please........please.....come back.......
The wizard began to tremble with the power that moved through his body......more power than he'd ever felt before....and he focused on his love....love he thought he'd never feel.......love he thought was forbidden to him........and he increased his power...until he became that bright light. Then reaching into the very depths of his energy and spirit..the very depths of his soul... he called out to the ninja........ "Don't leave me, Kurogane.........don't leave me....I love you......"
And then suddenly, the light was gone........as Fai's blue eyes closed, and he slid to the floor.
-
"No.......I will not let you go......I cannot let you go..Kurogane.."
Kurogane blinked as the figure called out to him. Kurogane? Yes, he HAD been Kurogane! Wait.....been? Of course - he was dead now. And so that figure was.....Fai!
The light was glowing brighter and brighter now, and Kurogane found himself moving towards it, reaching out his hands to try and grasp at the shining figure. But just as he reached forwards, the light dimmed, and began to disappear entirely.
"Don't leave me, Kurogane.........don't leave me....I love you......"
Kurogane launched himself forward and caught the stranger's....Fai's.....why's it so hard to keep remembering?..... hand, and gasped as he felt himself being magically jerked through some sort of portal.
Crimson eyes snapped open, and he shot into an upright sitting position, breath ragged as he took it all in. I was dead....I was dead and Fai brought me back....Fai! Looking down, Kurogane breathed in sharply as he saw Fai's limp form lying across his legs, and he scooped the blonde wizard up, shaking him slightly.
"Fai? Fai!"
Oh please no.....
-
As the wizard began to wake, fresh tears ran down his face.....tears of grief and failure.....
....I couldn't save him.....he's......gone.....
In too much pain to open his eyes.........Fai vowed never to see again.....he would lay on the hard stone floor, eyes shut tight, until his own life had ended and he was once again with.......Kurogane....
And then he felt hands upon him...strong, warm hands...pulling him...holding him........and thought it was a dream....until the voice of the ninja was calling to him.
"Fai? Fai!"
Still afraid to open his eyes....afraid it was only a dream...Fai grabbed ahold of the ninja and pressed his face into his chest...too afraid to speak ...or even look.....he could only hold tight as his body shook violently.......
-
As Fai grabbed him and buried his face in his chest, Kurogane held him close, stroking the wizard's blonde hair softly.
"It's ok, Fai....I'm here, it's gonna be fine. I'm not going anywhere....I promise." He whispered soothingly, beginnign to rock Fai back and forth gently as he spoke, hoping to stop the mage's trembling.
"You saved me Fai, and it's all going to be alright. I'll never leave you....not again. We're gonna be together forever." Kurogane continued, not caring at the moment how mushy he sounded. As someone who had just died and been brought back to life, he figured he deserved some sentimental time together with Fai.
Gently gripping Fai's chin, he lifted the wizard's face to look at him, his red eyes softening at the sight of his lover's emotional blue ones.
"What? I die, and all you can do is stare at me? I think I deserve a little something more." He said in a hushed voice. Then, he leaned forward and carefully captured Fai's lips, letting all his love flow through into the other man.
Not just 'the other' man....he's MY man now....
-
"You saved me Fai, and it's all going to be alright. I'll never leave you....not again. We're gonna be together forever."
As Kurogane gently lifted the wizard's chin to look into his eyes, and then placed his warm lips upon his....kissing him deeply, Fai's shaking began to still, and his heart, empty from his grief of believing the ninja was lost forever.....began to fill with the other man's love. Fai felt the ninja's love as pure and real as the bright light he had created from his soul to save the man....the one I love....
After several minutes, Fai lifted his blonde head to once more look into Kurogane's eyes...and as if he was just realizing for the first time....really understanding..... that they had won. Ashura was gone......and Kurogane was holding him....and Fai felt whole for the first time....felt real.
Fai suddenly flung himself forward onto the ninja - hugging the man with such force that Kurogane fell over onto the floor, with the wizard sitting on top of him. "You came back, Kuro-mu..." Fai smiled, his blue eyes still shining with tears of emotion.... "You didn't leave me.....and I love you.."
Then looking down, seeing Kurogane with a comically shocked look upon his face, Fai could contain himself no longer......bringing his lips back down to the ninja and kissing him hard..... with all the passion and power that was now returning to his body.
I saved you....
You came back......
And I love you....
-
Well, that's a wrap!
Yes, you heard me right, guys, Cracked Smiles is now officially over! But look out for it's sequel, Black And White Choices, which is coming soon!
Everyone who took part in this RPG is more than welcome to reprise their roles in the sequel - just PM me, and I'll make sure you keep your role.
Anyone whose character was unable to post much, such as Fai and Koudanshi, or died, like Pikari......if you would like to apply for another character in the sequel, just PM me once I've set up the new one, ok?
Next RP, we'll be looking for a Tomoyo, Souma, and some miscellaneous ninjas, including one who's working behind the scenes to betray Tomoyo.
I hope that everyone had fun posting here/reading this as much as I did!