Toki ni ai wa…
Part 01
SKIP [Sakura Kaiba & Ice Puppet]
The young apprentice magician sighed to himself quietly, brushing some hair from his eyes with his staff - obviously a practiced move of his. He set his staff back down, looking behind him suspiciously. He had this strange feeling that someone else was out in the forest with him. Someone that had power, he could tell. It unnerved him quiet a bit.
With a soft expel of his breath, the little magician shook his head and began to make his way back to the small town he was currently assigned to, for his master was away at the time.
Leaning against a tree near the edge of a forest was a younger boy, a staff held in his arms. He almost seemed to me asleep, aside from the fact that his eyes were wide open, and watching everything.
Noa, the other magician, heard a small noise. It caused him to jump a bit, spinning around in a stance that one would only take when in danger. Seeing nothing, he narrowed his eyes, but began his walk yet again.
The boy began to twirl his staff around, almost playfully. He jumped when he dropped it, and it shot off a beam of light, hitting a tree, instantly catching it on fire.
Noa blinked and looked up at the sudden light, and heard another snap. He moved to hold his staff out, chanting a small spell that almost every amatuer magician would know to stop an unruly element. The fire slowly died down, and he sighed with relief, before heading off to see if he could discover it's cause.
The younger boy quickly stood up, picking up his staff. He almost dropped it again, but managed to hold it steady as Noa came out.
"Did you see what caused the fire?" The boy spoke softly - their tongue being one of the Runes, similar to Latin.
"Um... no?" The other replied, blushing at his mess up.
The other tilted his head a bit, looking up at the now burnt and blackened tree.
"Um..." the younger quickly looked around, before pointing to an animal. "He did it!"
The more skilled magician glanced over, and stared at the animal quietly. "An otak? How could an otak possibly have started a fire?"
"I don't know! Ask him!"
The creature appeared to be no larger than a rat, with a long tail and small, beaded eyes. "....I would rather not waste my time."
"Yeah well..." he almost dropped the staff again, but quickly caught it. "I didn't start the fire! No way! I never started any fire!" He dropped the staff again and another light burst, hitting the ground near Noa's food and catching it on fire. "Um... oops?"
The other magician sighed softly and stepped away, expelling that one merely with his foot and approaching the other slowly with a small and intrigued smirk. "You're not too good with magick, are you?"
"Am I that obvious?"
The other raised an eyebrow. "What do they call you, boy?" He asked quietly.
He opened his mouth to answer, before closing it. "What do they call you?" He replied, almost childishly.
"I will not tell you of my name without yours first,"
There was a pause. "Oh..." Looking down, he picked up the fallen staff. "I'm Ryuuji..."
"Might that be your true name?" Noa asked, glancing down at him.
"Well, yeah..."
The older magician snickered. "Naughty boy, have they not taught you?"
The younger blushed, realizing his mistake. He smacked himself on the forehead. "God, I'm an idiot..."
Noa smiled. "You're lucky I don't plan on using it to my advantage, Ryuuji," He said softly, running his fingers up the hilt of his staff, which made the sapphire orb at the top glow with a bright blue light.
The younger boy looked at the ground, nervously moving the staff back and forth between his hands.
The older chuckled dryly. "Who's your master, neh?"
"I'm not going to tell you!"
"Tsk tsk tsk, Ryuuji," The other magician shook his head in mock-shame. "I'm afraid I'll have to use your name..."
"I can't tell you!" He cried, glaring at the older magician. "I swore on my life to never tell anyone!"
The other looked him in the eyes, sapphire eyes of his own glinting. "Hm?"
"And you can call me Otogi."
"Yes, but there would be absolutely no fun in that, now, would there?" The boy said, leaning on his staff with his hands perched atop the orb of power.
"And what I do I call you, sir?" The younger responded, almost in a hiss.
"Don't get snippy, boy." The other commented. "I'm called Noa,"
"Well, Noa, its been fun chatting, but I must now take my leave." Spinning around, the younger almost dropped his staff, but carefully grabbed it, and started walking.
Noa snickered at him. "Where are you going?" He asked, tone playful.
The younger boy didn't respond. He continued walking, his long hair moving around him, almost like magic. It never seemed to touch his body.
The other set his staff down, chanting a small enchantment to go along with his little spell of power. The orb began to glow once more, light enveloping the both of them this time. "Ryuuji." He spoke quietly, smirking.
The younger boy froze in his spot, instantly.
The magician stopped his staff, heading over to the frozen young man and running his fingertips over his face. The move made only the places he touched, become those that could move.
The younger tried his best to glare.
"So," He began. "Wanna tell me yet?"
"No."
"Pity," Noa began, shrugging. "I suppose I'll have to keep you like this, then. You could hurt someone with your unintentional misuse of magick."
"Fine, keep me like this." He stuck out his tongue. "I'm not telling you, no matter what you do."
"Mm..." The boy sighed softly, moving so his lips were half an inch away from the other boy's. He took a breath, and he could feel Ryuuji's breathing on his own lips. "Is that so?"
The younger boy quieted, staring at Noa, eyes wide.
Noa moved his gaze, staring into Ryuuji's eyes. "Hmm?"
"I... I..."
The other magician placed a hand on the boy's cheek. "Go on,"
"I won't tell you!"
"Heh," He smirked and pulled away. "Why not?"
"I cant... I promised I wouldn't tell anyone..."
"It shouldn't be that big of a deal," Noa shrugged, before freeing the boy from his frozen stance.
Not expecting this, the younger fell to the ground.
Noa held a hand out for him to take.
Looking up, the younger boy pouted, before getting up on his own. He picked up his staff.
"Tell me where you're headed,"
He pointed to a nearby town.
"My town?" Noa blinked. "Interesting,"
"Your town?" Ryuuji asked, tilting his head.
The other nodded. "Yes,"
"Ah... well... bye." He started to walk again, dragging the end of his staff along the ground.
Noa chased after him, grabbing the boy's staff. "What are you doing, treating her like that?"
The younger looked at him. "What? What are you talking about?"
"One does not drag their staff in such a horrid manner,"
"Oh..." he blushed, looking down. "Sorry..." there was a pause. "This is my first time being alone..."
Noa blinked, tilting his head. "It is?"
"Yeah..."
The older magician smiled softly.
"Can I have it back?" The younger asked, holding out his hand. "Please?"
"May I walk with you?"
"If you want to..."
He smiled softly and headed up to next the other, handing him his staff.
The younger took it quietly, and began to walk.
The other walked beside him, ignoring how odd it may look for two magicians to be side by side, as it wasn't too common. He glanced over at the other, smiling softly once more.
Ryuuji stared at the ground, feeling rather stupid for all of his mistakes.
"Something upsets you," The elder commented.
"Yeah, well... Its nothing important."
Noa furrowed his eyebrows quietly. "Please tell me,"
"I just... feel stupid for all the mistakes I've made..."
Noa suppressed an 'awww'. "Don't feel stupid. We were all like that once in our time,"
"Have you ever told anyone your real name?"
"No."
"Have you ever dragged your staff on the ground?"
"Yes."
"Seriously?"
"I set an otak on fire once as well. It squeaked a bit and ran into a nice forest, lighting the entire forest aflame." He smiled, and seemed distant, as if remembering. "I did not know then what I know now. I could not stop the flames."
"Oh wow..." The younger boy frowned lightly.
"I had to re-earn my respect," He said softly.
"I've had to do that many times..."
Noa smiled. "Not too fun, eh?"
"Not at all," Ryuuji replied, smiling slightly.
The other magician glanced away, clearing his throat.
The younger boy looked up as they came upon the dirt road.
"Joyous! Home!" He cried sarcastically, bouncing out and into the middle of the little road.
The younger boy stayed along the side of the road, quietly.
Noa made to hover just above the ground, right in front of him this time. "Why so solemn?"
Looking down the road, he motioned to a few people that were walking up.
Noa looked up. "Yeah? So?"
"I don't like people..."
"Why?"
"They tend to not like me, much..."
"Why is that?"
"They think I'm a girl..."
Noa giggled. "Oh,"
Ryuuji blushed, and glared. "Its not funny!"
"Oh, but it's cute," The other exclaimed, continuing to hover just out of Ryuuji's reach.
"Its not cute!" He muttered, still glaring. "They treat me really bad! And I don't look like a girl!"
"Why would they treat you badly?"
"They act like I'm some sort of prostitute or something..."
Noa stopped hovering, feet touching the ground. "Odd,"
The younger boy pouted, and jumped as the people walked by them.
He placed a hand on his cheek once more. "I knew you were male,"
The younger slowly looked over to him, locking eyes. He nervously licked his lips, but said nothing.
The older magician smiled lightly. "Come on in to my house, neh?"
"I... I don't think I should..."
He furrowed his eyebrows. "Why not?"
"I don't know, I just..." he looked down. "I suppose I could..."
"Well, I wouldn't want to get you in trouble,"
"My master wouldn't mind..."
Noa nodded quietly, before reaching for his hand.
Ryuuji slowly took Noa's hand in his own.
"Come on," He said with a little smile, pulling Ryuuji along with him as they headed towards a small building, and went inside.
The younger boy looked around quietly, somewhat in awe of the house.
He closed the door behind himself quietly. "Take a seat," He said, motioning to a small cluster of chairs.
The other did so, laying his staff across his lap, gripping it tightly.
"You seem really tense," The older muttered as he went to make some tea for the two of them.
"I don't normally go in people's houses without my master," the younger told him.
"Ah," The blue haired boy nodded in understand. "Don't worry yourself, I'm not going to hurt you,"
"Yeah...I kind of figured that, since if you wanted to, you would have done it a while ago."
He poured a small glass of tea for them both, and sat opposite the table of Ryuuji after handing him a cup.
"Thank you," the younger said, taking a small sip.
Noa nodded in welcome and sipped his as well.
The younger boy licked his lips again, eyes on the table.
"You lick your lips a lot," Noa said softly in observation.
The younger boy looked up, blushing lightly. "I really should go," he stated. "I need to get a place at the inn before it fills up..."
"You could stay with me, if you'd like. I'm sure it'd be much quieter than an inn."
"I... I don't want to be a burden..."
"Oh, you won't." Noa smiled. "I promise,"
"Alright, if you really think so, I could stay here." The younger boy smiled warmly. "Thank you..."
"It's nothing," The other smiled.
The younger boy took another sip of tea, his other hand moving lightly over his staff.
"You okay?" The younger asked, frowning at him,
"Yes," He said softly.
"Mmkay..."
"So... how old are you?"
"16..."
"Mm," Noa nodded quietly.
"What about you?"
"I'm 18,"
"Aa..." he took another sip of his tea, still running his hand up and down the staff.
The older swallowed and looked away again.
The younger boy didn't seem to notice, his eyes still on the table as he licked his lips again.
He took a deep breath and looked back at the boy.
The younger looked up, blinking lightly.
Noa smiled at him softly. "You're going to chap your lips up if you keep doing that,"
"Sorry," the younger said, blushing. "Its a habbit..."
Noa chuckled a bit. "Ah,"
This only caused the younger to do it again.
Noa sighed defeatedly. "It will start to hurt,"
"I can't help it!" The younger admitted, blushing even more. He looked down, his fingers moving over the staff from pure boredom.
He nodded with a small smile. "It's getting late,"
"Yeah..."
"You tired?"
"Kind of..."
The older smiled slightly as he stood up.
The younger did the same, watching him.
He went to put his empty teacup away.
Ryuuji followed quietly, trying to not lick his lips.
Placing the cup in a bin to clean later, the magician moved himself out of the kitchen, trying not to run into Ryuuji.
Copying his movement, the younger followed him out of the kitchen, saff tightly in hand.
Noa sighed quietly and yawned, rubbing at his eyes.
The younger watched him, not quite sure what to do.
"So," He began.
"So," Ryuuji repeated.
"You're still in training?"
"Yes..."
Noa smiled softly.
Ryuuji smiled back, tilting his head to the side somewhat.
"I'm sure you'll make a wonderful wizard," The boy said softly.
That made the younger boy giggle softly, covering his mouth with a free hand.
The older laughed lightly and looked away.
Shaking his head, Ryuuji held his staff behind his back and rocked back and forth on his heals.
Noa laughed once more. "You're very cute," He told him.
The younger blushed at that, looking down. "Thank you..."
"No need to thank me,"
"I want to..."
Noa smiled softly. "Wanna get to bed?"
"Ne?!" Ryuuji dropped his staff at this, and, thankfully, it did not catch on fire, although it made a very nice little plant grow on Noa's wall.
The magician laughed. "It should be bedtime, it's getting late,"
"H-hai," Ryuuji replied, picking up the staff.
"Did I frighten you?"
"No, I just... wasn't expecting that..."
Noa chuckled and reached for his hand.
The younger blushed, before taking Noa's hand quietly.
"Come, come," The boy muttered, leading them to a small hallway in-between two separate rooms.
The younger followed, licking his lips again, careful to hold his staff off the ground.
"Stop that," He chuckled once more, not even looking back. He let go of the boy's hand, pointing to the room across from him.
Ryuuji looked into the room, as if it was a large dragon that wanted to eat him. "G-good night..."
"If you need anything, feel free to wake me," He smiled, before heading into his own room.
The younger boy watched him, before turning to the room. He slowly walked in, using his staff as a light.
The magician stripped himself into a thin layer of cloak, by the lamp light on his bedside table. He set his staff upon his altar, and went to lay in his bed quietly. He grabbed for a book and began to read in the small lamp light.
Ryuuji sat down on the bed, wrapping his arms around himself. He stared around the room, somewhat panicked.
After about an hour of reading Noa placed the book back down, snuffing the lamp with his fingers and settling into his bed.
~*~
Ryuuji stood outside the door. He raised his hand to knock, but froze. He didn't want to feel childish by being afraid of being alone. Sighing, he put his hand down, but gasped lightly when his knuckles hit the door, knocking for him.
The older magician awoke and rolled over in his bed, rubbing at his eyes. Lighting his lamp back up, he made he way to the door. "Ryuuji?" He asked softly, small and warm smile still on his face.
Ryuuji looked down, backing against the wall, blushing.
He opened his door to pass by and step up to him. "Yes?"
"I'm sorry," the younger whispered, gripping his staff as he looked to the side, head still down. "I... I don't like to sleep alone..."
The older smiled softly, placing a hand on Ryuuji's cheek. "Don't be sorry, it's fine. Would you like to sleep in my bed with me?"
Green eyes looked up, hopefully. "Could I...?"
The other's tone was soft and inviting. "Of course,"
The younger boy moved to hug him tightly. "Thank you..."
He blinked, looking down and blushing. "Let's go get some sleep,"
The younger nodded, pulling away as he too blushed. He followed Noa into the room, placing his staff next to Noa's.
The other held Ryuuji's hand, guiding him to the bed quietly.
Ryuuji climbed in after Noa, curling up in the blankets, but leaving enough for the older magician. "Thank you again..." he whispered, closing his eyes. He fell asleep not long after.
The older smiled softly at the sleeping boy, placing a very careful kiss on his forehead, then going to bed himself.
~*~
Green eyes slowly opened the next morning.
The older magician was still fast asleep, catching up from his lacking over the past few days from his small journey.
The younger boy slowly sat up, blinking. He remembered where he was, and looked at Noa. Smiling, he quietly got out of the bed.
Noa felt the boy's presence disappear and he winced a bit, waking himself slowly.
Picking up his staff, the younger boy quietly left the room.
He sat up carefully, rubbing at his eyes. Briefly he looked around for Ryuuji, then made to stand. :I didn't just dream of him, did I..?:
The front door opened, and closed, almost too quiet to hear.
"Ryuuji?" The older magician called.
No one answered.
His expression fell as did his shoulders, and he furrowed his eyebrows. :Maybe... maybe I did..?:
Outside a horse started to freak out, causing a few people to scream.
Noa blinked at that and made to dress himself, grabbing for his staff and heading out the door.
There stood Ryuuji, quietly calming the animal down. The owner looked at him as if the black haired boy was insane, but the animal quickly quieted down.
The older magician smiled and ran over to him, chuckling. "Ryuuji?"
The young boy gasped, and turned to him. "Noa..."