"Kurogane-sama, I'm not as certain about this fellow as you are. I wish you'd reconsider meeting him face to face," Soma fretted as she walked alongside Kurogane.

"Certain? You don't understand, do you? I'm meeting with him because I have no freaking clue what to even think of him," Kurogane retorted.

"But, Kurogane-sama, what if this is an assassination attempt or something?" Soma insisted.

"Feh. Let him try," Kurogane shot her a cocky grin.

"Kurogane-sama, I have fought alongside you since we were both young, back when your father was still with us. I care about you as a friend, Kurogane-sama, so please don't put yourself in danger," Soma begged.

"I'll be fine. Now shut up and go find a monster to kill or something," Kurogane grumbled as he opened the doors to the main hall, the very place he was to be receiving his guest.

Speaking of the guest, he was seated in the center of the floor cross-legged with the dumbest grin in the world on his face. His blond hair was a wispy mess and his skin was terribly pale. As his sky blue eyes opened, the stranger laughingly questioned, "Kuro-sama, I presume?"

Kurogane was taken aback by this complete lack of dignity. A complete stranger calling him by a nickname!? Even Soma never addressed him as anything less than Kurogane-sama!

"The name is Kurogane," he glared at the blond.

"I know," the blond smiled again, "and my name is Fai."

"Is that so? Tell me, you come from the north, right?" Kurogane cocked an eyebrow.

"Was it the skin the hair or the eyes that gave me away?" Fai asked, sounding slightly indignant.

"Why are you here in Suwa?" Kurogane demanded, already frustrated with him.

"Have you never had foreigners come for a visit before?" Fai blinked.

"What concerns me is that you aren't just a foreigner - you're a foreigner with a lot of magical power," Kurogane narrowed his eyes on Fai.

"Is that so? I'm not here to cause any harm, I swear."

"Then why are you here?"

"I dunno... just... drifting..." Fai put his arms behind his head and stretched back a little.

"What point is there in drifting? It's just an aimless waste of time," Kurogane grumbled.

"I suppose it is. I have nothing better to do though," Fai mused.

"What about living your life?" Kurogane suggested.

"Who says I have a life to live?" Fai let the artificial smile slip for just a second.

"Do you want one?" Kurogane asked, not entirely sure himself as to where he was taking the conversation.

"What?" Fai blinked in surprise.

"Do you want a life to live?" Kurogane demanded.

Fai was caught off guard by this line of questioning to say the least. His eyes widened and he stammered, "I--I don't know. I suppose."

"What would you say to staying here then?" Kurogane was surprised to hear himself ask.

"Stay here?" Fai cocked an eyebrow slightly.

"There hasn't been a magician in the palace here in Suwa for about ten to twelve years," Kurogane explained. "Suwa really needs a palace magician; we can't keep relying on physical strength alone."

"Okay then, Kuro-sama, I'll stay," Fai smiled, laughing lightly.

"That's still no excuse to not call me by my proper name! I'm Kurogane!" he snapped.

"Hm... nope, I like Kuro-sama better," Fai smirked.

Kurogane groaned, dragging his rough hand slowly down his face. He got up and headed for the door, "Wait here. I'll get someone to show you to your new room." He stepped out, leaving Fai alone again.

Soma was waiting outside the door when Kurogane came out. She looked up at him, smiling sheepishly. "I hope you'll forgive me, Kurogane-sama. I couldn't bring myself to leave."

"Good. You can take him to his room then," Kurogane shrugged, walking past her.

"His room?" Soma blinked.

"Yeah, he's the new palace magician. Hey, give him one of the nicer rooms, got it?" Kurogane walked off.

"Huh!? Hey, Kurogane-sama!" Soma called after him but he just kept walking. She sighed in defeat, "That man..."

"Is he always that way?" Fai popped his head out of the door.

"You have no idea," Soma shook her head. "Come on. I'll take you to your room."

"What's your name?" Fai asked as they walked along.

"I'm Soma."

"That's a pretty name for a pretty woman," Fai commented. "My name is Fai."

"Well, Fai-san, I guess this is a good room to put you in," Soma said as they reached the door to one of the spare bedrooms. She opened the door and encouraged him to look inside. "Is this room to your liking?"

"Sure," Fai smiled. "It's just fine."

"That's good," Soma smiled back. "My room is at the end of the hall if you need me. Chances are I'll be in there if I'm available at all."

"What do you do here, Soma-san?" Fai questioned.

"I'm a warrior. I grew up fighting alongside Kurogane-sama," Soma explained.

"That's so cute," Fai stretched out on the bed. "Wow, I'm tired..."

"I'll let you sleep then," Soma stepped out of the room and shut the door.

Fai laid there, head hanging over the edge of the bed, staring off into space. "I've... found a new home... Sister..."