I Remember

A/N - …I dunno. I keep playing around with scenarios that revolve around Fai. He's so damn mysterious! (roar!)

Disclaimer - Don't own.

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I remember the way they all drew back from me, fearful shadows flickering through their uncertain eyes like ghosts. I remember the cold of the wind as it whipped at my hair, mercifully hiding their eyes from me, hiding my eyes from them.

I remember a voice, strong and angry. For once, the anger was not directed at me.

I remember seven words said by that voice, "Stop this nonsense! He's not a freak."

I remember a boy, tall, proud, regal, his black hair whipping about his face as well. I remember him standing there, alone and imperial, facing a silence as cold as the wind. "Stop it," he'd said. "It's ridiculous. If he is a freak for what he is, then so are we all. Magic belongs to all of us. None of us can help who we are! Leave him alone!"

I remember the boy had a short fuse, and I remember feeling shame that I had been the cause of this outburst.

I remember a smile as he turned to me, a boyish grin of comradeship that contrasted with the others' fear as summer day contrasts with winter night. I remember a hand, stretched out unhesitatingly, to help me back to my feet. I took it. How could I not? I remember feeling, suddenly, gladly, that everything would be all right now. It was strange, almost irrational, but the boy's smile made me believe it. I remember smiling back, trying to express my gratitude to this boy who had taken my part in front of a group of kids with hate in their eyes.

"My name is Ashura," he said. "And I'm sorry that had to happen your first time here. What's your name?"

"Fai," I said, and I remember my voice sounded sheepish and small, an apologetic pin dropping into the disbelieving silence.

Ashura smiled again. "Fai-kun, huh? Come on, let's get out of here."

And that was it. No turning back. We were friends.

I remember that we were close - like brothers, almost. I would have done anything for him. It didn't matter that he was the Crown Prince of Celes, or that I had the power to crack the country in half. He was just Ashura, the only guy who even tried to befriend me or be there for me when I needed it; and I was just Fai, the guy who knew how to cheer his gloomy spates and make him laugh no matter what.

I remember the day he was crowned king. I remember being made his magician, how proud, how happy I was. How happy and sure of ourselves we both were. I remember how he lead us in the war against Sudon, as proud and regal as he'd been the day he'd taken my side against the other young wizards.

I remember all that.

But I still can't figure out where it all went wrong.