A/N: It's been a long time since I've posted anything on fanfiction but this little one-shot came to me while I was working on a series and I just had to post it. I apologize to anyone who is waiting on my other stories. I will work on updating them soon. In the meantime I hope everyone enjoys the story! its a little different from my usual style and a new fandom so please kind with any criticism. No flames please.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything Magi related.

Love's Cruelty

She mentally growled, narrowly resisted the urge to ground her teeth in irritation and snap the man's pride that still occupied her mouth despite her frail attempts to withdraw. A gentle but firm hand keeping her exactly where she was as his hips swayed gently against her. Light fingers petting her as he purred and coaxed her with sweet words and names that made her eye twitch.

If he truly believed her to be a good little girl, tamed and declawed it would make it all the more fun when she knocked him from his throne. Her lips smirked, eyes glinting in a way that made his eyes roll and his hips still.

Finally able to withdraw she kissed his thigh in false tenderness before sinking her teeth in brutally. Just as quickly she withdrew, his bliss successfully broken. She was already dressed, this hadn't been about her, but she didn't immediately move for the door. She waited for his eyes to focus as she took him in for what she hoped was the last time. His lips opened reproachfully as he came back down, her eyes slitting in answer. She leaned forward, the graceful curve of her neck and gap of her shirt catching his attention briefly as her fingers threaded through some of his longer strands, allowing it to flow like water through her fingers, leaving tingles in its wake, fingers tightening on the ends before dropping it carelessly to meet the rest sprawled on his chest and bed as she drew back taking it all in one last time. This was the first man to taint her and the last she would ever give that power again.

She didn't say anything as she looked at him with an unreadable look through her shuttered eyes. The shadows masking much, her stance tall and proud as she looked down at his rumpled form she made a decision. Without a second glance or a moment more wasted she took five quick stride out of his room, the door, and his life. The latter he wouldn't know for some time. She wouldn't be gone in the morning or the next. She didn't have the means to fully cut ties, yet, but that was moment that she decided everything. She was done with Kou and all that came with it. She may have lost some of herself to them but she wasn't lost. She made a mistake and loved the wrong person. It happens, and it could be rectified.

Kouha wouldn't notice when months later he no longer caught glimpses of her around the palace. He wouldn't miss the inexperienced blow job or the maid who was always blunt with him and treated him the same as she would anyone else most of the time. He wouldn't miss the girl who despised titles and thought only cowards hid behind them. His childhood friend.
It would be a year before he'd recall how they used to play when she was new and they were young. Not yet fully aware of his or her stations in the castle and what that actually meant for them. It would be much longer before he began to question his conquest of her. He wouldn't realize she was gone until he complained that she had been slacking on her duties and an attendant off handedly mentioned she'd quit years ago. It would take him even longer to realize the ache he felt at the news was the ache of loss.

It would be five years before their eyes would meet again across trenches and bloody fields. Him standing tall with his brothers and her alongside the blasted Sinbad and his vessels.

It wouldn't be until after the war when the peace negotiations began, more his brothers' field than his, that he would learn she had become a Sindrian citizen eight years ago. That she wasn't actually one of Sinbad's vessels, but Aladdin's idiot king candidate who she'd met in Reim's coliseum. That his cousin Hakuryuu and his sister Kougyoku were both on friendly terms with her, even Judal was on better terms with her, but no one thought to mention her to him (and why would they). She even proved to play a pivotal role in the peace treaties alongside Aladdin, his brothers, and the others she seemed to know so well.

She never looked at him once. During the whole peace negotiations he couldn't get one word from her unless it directly related to business. At the end she left with them. She hugged everyone goodbye, even Kouen- though she swiftly jumped behind Sinbad as a human shield after. He just got an almost handshake that turned into the most awkward wave he'd ever seen.

Then she was gone.

He'd see her many times over the years at weddings and political engagements but never on her own time. The only times he'd get the briefest acknowledgement was after a battle against some rebellion or other where she'd inquire into his wellbeing or, his favorite, when someone called him an insane freak and her eyes would narrow and her fists would ball up just the way they did so long ago. Only now she didn't grab his wrists and drag him away with curses and an annoyingly positive motivational speech. Now he might get a lingering glance before she turned on her heels and walked back to her friends. Trusting him to fend for himself.

One year later, after Hakuryuu's wedding, he finally chased after her. Shoving through guests and diplomats he cared nothing for to get to her before she disappeared again, holding tight, and saying the words he should have said so long ago.

He wished he could say it made a difference. That she had started crying and confessed she'd always loved him and they got married and had their own set of brats. That's not what happened though. The difference made wasn't positive in the least. He no longer saw her anywhere. Not at political events or weddings. Not on the street. Not even with Aladdin. And he missed her terribly. His ears strained for any whisper of her. His eyes constantly searched for her in any crowd only to be met with disappointment each time.

He'd gotten lucky, finally, and overheard Hakuryuu reporting on his recent visit to Reim. She was there with Aladdin and his lot on some mission or another. None of that mattered though; he'd finally found her.

Three months later and he finally had an opening in his boring schedule. He gave word to his brothers' and tried not to shirk at the looks he received when he mentioned Reim. They knew but they didn't stop him.

For six months he 'visited' her whenever he had free time. On the last day of the sixth month she finally stopped completely ignoring him with a frustrated shout of "Are you seriously stalking me now?! Go home Kouha!"and a rock may have been chucked in his general direction. He had never been happier to hear his name.

At nine months, she'd occasionally greet him in passing. Always stiff and annoyed.

After a year of 'stalking' they reached a cordial relationship.

After two years they were tentative friends and she stopped avoiding him at weddings or political events. Even going so far as to greet him personally instead of being forced or cornered into interacting him. He no longer had to strain to hear news of her. There were no more hushed whispers or tense glances when he walked by. It was nice and the ache started to fade.

At three years he looked forward to seeing her at the annual peace conference. They talked often now but between their two schedules it had been almost a year since he'd last actually seen her.
He hated that conference.

That conference she told him about a guy she had started dating six months ago, 'Titus', she called him smiling with a happiness that hadn't been directed at him in over ten years. And his heart broke as he smiled, maybe it was more of a grimace but no one pointed it out, and nodded as she told them about how they met. About sweet Margie and grumpy Sphin' and how cute the three were. How Titus and Sphintus were always fighting but to her it just sounded like love and family. How she'd never been happier. That she didn't know how she ever came to deserve those three in her life.

And then she thanked him.

Thanked him for driving her away because if he hadn't she never would have met any of them. Never would have befriended Hakuryuu, Alibaba, Aladdin, or Morgiana. Never would have moved to Sindria and met all the wonderful people there. Never would have the respectful relationship she has with his brothers. Never would have fallen in love with someone who was actually good for her.
And they never would have become such good friends.

Then she gave him the brightest smile he'd ever seen. She was radiant in a way he hadn't seen since they were little. So maybe he wasn't part of her life like he wanted but she was happy and he was part of her life. And if maybe his smile felt like a grimace right now and the tears in his eyes weren't exactly happy ones as he drew her into a tight hug and said words he didn't quite mean, yet, he was happy in a way. How could he not when Cira was glowing like her namesake?

Hope you enjoyed! I look forward to hearing everyone's opinions and thoughtful criticisms.