Kurogane felt first one tear then another role down his cheek, he didn't care. He couldn't bring himself to care about anything except the body in his arms. He couldn't feel anything but grief. Looking down at Fai he let the ghost of a smile pass his lips as he remembered just how beautiful the mage was. He gently brushed the blonde's bangs aside before running his hand down Fai's cheek. He leaned forward until his lips were brushing Fai's.
"I'm sorry I couldn't protect you. I wish I could have told you how beautiful I thought you were or how much you meant to me. I wish I could have taken away some of your pain and helped you smile your real smile. I love you." He softy kissed him.
Why hadn't he listened when Fai had told him something didn't feel right about this place?
Why had he left the mage alone? What was even more confusing was that there wasn't a single wound on Fai.
"I hope your happy now. You look happy. The only time I've seen you look like this is at night when you'd sleep with me. Those were some of the few times you weren't haunted by your past. I'm sorry I pushed you away and yelled at you. I was just to shy to admit I liked having you that close and that I really did care about you."
It had taken all of Kurogane's will power to keep his voice from breaking. The kid and the princess weren't back yet and for that he was glad. Not just because it meant he had more time to pull himself together or because he had more time before having to deal with their grief, because it meant he had more time with Fai.
"I wish I knew what happened to you. I would do anything to have you back." He whispereed before kissing him again and wishing Fai was there to kiss back or shove him away. He just wanted Fai. The irony of the saying you never know what you have until it's gone struck him now and he laughed hollowly.
Kurogane snapped his head up. His ninja skills had sensed a presence but not a harmful one. No this one was sad and lonely and yet above that he sensed happiness. A voice whispered in his ear,
"Do you mean that? Do you love me? Would you really do ANYTHING?"
Kurogane took a shuddering breath.
"Fai?"
No answer.
"Yes I love you and yes I'd do anything. Do you forgive me?"
Fai's laughter rang in his ear and it was even more beautiful because it was real.
"Of course silly Kuro. Such a lonely puppy without me around."
The feeling of Fai's arms wrapping around him almost made him cry harder.
"Kiss me again."
He didn't hesitate. He clutched the mage's body closer and prayed he wasn't hallucinating. When he kissed him willed a bit of his own life and his own breath into Fai's body...
And it worked! Kurogane's eyes flew open and his heart almost stopped when he felt Fai gasp beneath him. After a few seconds he let his eyes flutter closed before kissing him with all his passion, opening himself up to Fai. Fai moaned and returned the favor showing how he truly felt and revealing all his secrets. Then they pulled away for air.
"What happened to you?" Fai cocked his head cutely to the side.
"I don't know," He smiled softly, a real smile before using his thumbs to wipe away thelast of Kurogane's tears "but I'm glad I'm back."
Kurogane smiled "Me too."
