Hi everyone! I'm back with a third story on Tales of Vesperia!
This story happens somewhere near the end of the game, when the party got his free pass for the hot springs that we never have a chance to use...
I've started this as a one shot, but I probably add more chapters if some people are interested, since I got a good idea for a sequel.
Warnings for slight shonen-ai and an implied lemon, some character bashing and violence... And also for some grammatical errors since I'm not a native English speaker.
I also take this time to thank BoredomIsDeadly because this fan fiction is the result of her/his lovely idea. Thank you very much!
I don't own Tales of Vesperia and I don't make money from this story so don't sue me. ^^
Summary: After a long day of fighting monsters, Brave Vesperia goes to Yumanju's hot springs to relax. But a prank on Rita's part can sometimes lead to heated encounters... and more. Raven/Yuri
"Taaah!" Karol dealt a violent blow of his axe on the monster's skull, killing it. The monster fell to the ground screaming in agony. Karol sighed and let himself slip to the ground, completely drained. Yuri put a comforting hand on his shoulder. Karol looked up at him and saw him smiling.
"You did well, Karol. With this last one, we got enough materials to forge new equipments!"
"It was time! I feel like we haven't rested for an eternity…" Rita complained, sitting down on the ground.
Estelle sat next to her friend, also worn out from all of their fighting.
"I agree with Rita. Yuri, do you think we could go rest somewhere?" The young princess asked him, hopeful for a positive answer.
"Already? Oh, and I wanted to fight more…" Judith whined softly.
"Don't tell me that your murderous desire is still not satiated after all these battles?" Karol asked her, discouraged by her attitude.
Judith pouted with a sad look in her eyes.
"But they were all weaklings…" She complained.
"I swear! She'll never change…" Rita sighed.
She got up on her feet and stretched slowly. Her gaze dropped on the corpse of the last monster and she noticed a strange blue powder of sorts covering the ground around the carcass. Her curiosity got the better of her and she approached the monster. She frowned lightly when she didn't recognize it.
"What in the world is that?" Rita asked aloud.
"Rita darling, I didn't know you had an interest in corpses!" Raven teased her, displaying his presence after keeping away from most of the battles, complaining about how it was too hard on an old man like him. Like he was that old to begin with…
Rita spun around rapidly and shot him a dark glance.
"I haven't called you, old man!" Rita told him harshly.
Karol got on his feet with difficulty and came to stand next to Rita. He examined the powder, hovering over it, but never touching it. Rita stamped her feet impatiently, awaiting his verdict.
"So, can the expert in monsters tell me what that substance is?" Rita asked him, annoyed.
"I saw that before. It's a hallucinogenic powder. If someone had the misfortune of touching it, swallowing it or even inhaling it, he could be the victim of violent hallucinations. Nothing really serious, I think, but it would be better to avoid it."
Rita kept silent for a long time, thinking about what Karol had said. Then, under Karol's questioning look, she got out an empty bottle form one of her numerous pockets. With a little instrument that resembled a spoon, she took a little quantity of the powder and put it in the bottle.
"What are you doing!? Were you listening when I said it could be dangerous?" Karol asked her, dumbfounded.
Rita only shrugged her shoulders, completely ignoring his warnings.
"I know, but it could be of some use for my research, so I'm taking it with me." The magician explained simply.
Yuri sighed deeply. He was fed up with all of this. He came to stay between Karol and Rita, feeling Karol's tension.
"Well, if you two are finished here, I suggest that we leave soon. Some people here are eager to rest somewhere." Yuri informed them, his gaze shifting to rest on Estelle, who was still sitting on the ground.
"So where are we going? Ba'ul can fly us anywhere we like." Judith pointed out.
"I know, I know! We could go to Yumanju's hot springs!" Raven proposed rapidly.
Yuri sighed again.
"The only reason you want to go there is to peek in the woman's bath!" Yuri accused Raven.
Raven pretended to be hurt. He approached Yuri and gave him a bear hug without a warning.
"Yuri! You're hurting my feelings! You really think I'm this kind of man!?" Raven moaned in an exaggerated way.
"Yes you are! Now let me go, old man!" Yuri shouted, trying to free himself from the man who was clutching his clothes desperately.
"I think that Raven got a good idea. On top of that, the hot spring's owner gave us free passes. We could ate and bathe to our heart's contents!" Judith exclaimed happily.
Raven finally let go of Yuri and went to Judith with the intention of giving her the same treatment.
"Judith darling! You're agreeing with me, my love!" Raven chanted.
Judith didn't let him time to touch her. She hit him in the stomach. Raven moaned in pain and fell face first on the ground, pretending to be in agony. Rita chuckled darkly. She always enjoyed seeing Raven in pain.
"I'm up for Yumanju." She told them.
"Great! The hot springs!" Karol exclaimed with a new found energy.
"It will be great!" Estelle squealed in delight.
"Okay, then it's decided. We will stay one night at Yumanju. You should be happy now old man. You got an occasion to spy on the woman's bath." Yuri replied, throwing a glance at Raven who was motionless on the ground.
"Oh, he's dead. Judith, can you call Ba'ul for us? We can leave the old man's corpse here, we'll come back to bury him tomorrow." Yuri claimed with a neutral voice that didn't show a care in the world.
Judith laughed slightly and called Ba'ul. Yuri walked to her and he was not surprised in the least when he heard Raven's voice behind him.
"Yuri, you insensitive jerk! You could have checked if I was alive before assuming that I was dead!" Raven complained loudly.
Yuri gave him a look of complete indifference and shrugged his shoulders.
"If you have finished playing dead, then come with us, we are leaving." Yuri told him simply.
At the same moment, Ba'ul came down from the sky and the group got on board of the Fiertia bound for Yumanju.
When they arrived at Yumanju and showed the employee their VIP passes, they were at once guided to a private quarter with their own baths and chambers to stay the night. The six companions, hungry from all their fighting, took place around the table in the lounge, awaiting the food they were craving for.
After many minutes of waiting after the food, Raven sighed deeply and dropped his forehead on the table. Yuri glanced at him with a mocking smile and arched an eyebrow.
"You are dead again, old man?" Yuri asked him, highly amused.
"I would hope so… Raven said, his voice smothered by the table. I think I'm devouring myself from the inside… I'm so hungry! All these battles are too much for this old man…"
Rita, who was sitting next to him, snickered.
"If it's too hard for you, you can just quit and stop following us wherever we go. It will be better for everyone." Rita claimed.
Raven lifted his head and looked at Rita with tired eyes.
"What? You got something to say?" The young magician asked harshly, irritated.
Without a warning, Raven threw himself at Rita and circled her waist with his arms, rubbing his face on her arm.
"Riiita, what cruelty! Raven moaned with fake sadness. I'm sure that despite your cold behavior, you would miss me if I disappeared. You just don't have the guts to admit it!"
"Argh! Let me go, old pervert!" Rita screamed, pushing on Raven's shoulders with all her strength to get him off her.
Karol burst out laughing upon seeing the scene.
"What a lovely couple you make!" Karol let out a sarcastic remark.
Rita turned red from rage. She managed to push Raven away by deploying superhuman efforts and got up with the intention of strangling Karol until he would turn blue by lack of oxygen. Yuri held her back by her arm before any harm could be done.
"Calm down. It won't serve you any matter to release your tension on Karol." Yuri warned her.
Rita didn't stop her struggle after hearing Yuri's words but the young man was far stronger than her. Judith watched with amusement.
"Rita I hope you know that the more you struggle, the more your hunger will rise." She pointed out.
"I don't care! Rita replied. I'm fed up with these two! I'm going to beat them to a bloody pulp!"
"Rita!" Yuri warned her with a strong voice.
The tone of his voice didn't leave her much choice. Rita went back to sit down, still furious. The waitresses chose this moment to enter the lounge, bringing with them a multitude of delicious dishes and bottles of sake of excellent quality. The six companions attacked the food with appetite.
During the dinner, the conversation was going on in a friendly tone while the stomachs were filling up. The companions were enjoying themselves, except for Rita. She was constantly turning over her desire to murder Raven and Karol since the beginning of the dinner. Her desire for vengeance grew even more when she saw Raven flirting with Judith in a too evident manner and ogling the waitresses who were passing by. She stared at him with obvious disgust as he stuffed himself and drank one glass of sake after another.
It was then that an idea bloomed in her head. She discreetly got out of her pocket the bottle of hallucinogenic powder. She still remembered Karol's warning, but he also said that the effect would probably be only strong hallucinations… Nothing really serious. Rita observed her companions, waiting for a moment when their attention would be focused elsewhere. The perfect occasion came rather quickly. While they were all busy making sure Karol wouldn't die suffocated by the piece of crab that got stuck in his throat, she quickly empty the bottle of powder in Raven's drink. She barely had time to put the bottle back in her pocket before Raven took his glass and emptied its content in one long gulp. Rita gave a hint of a smile. This would surely be getting interesting very soon…
The first effects of the powder didn't take long to appear. The party had just finished eating when Raven opened his collar wide in an abrupt gesture. Yuri looked at him with curiosity.
"What is it, old man? You got a sudden urge to impress the women in the room?"
"Don't you think it's too hot in here?" Raven asked while making wind with his hand.
Karol and Rita, who were throwing food at one another, stopped dead in their tracks and stared at Raven. Yuri, Judith and Estelle looked at each other, frowning.
"Euh… No. Estelle answered back, hesitant. Are you sure you're all right, Raven? Maybe you got a fever…"
"It must be because of the alcohol then…" Raven muttered.
He shot a glance at his empty glass before looking around the room. He groaned in discontent.
"Where are all the waitresses? They were pouring in before…"
"There's one… standing just besides you…" Karol hesitated. He pointed at something to Raven's left.
"What?"
Raven turned his head and frowned.
"Are you making fun of me, Karol? I said waitress, not waiter! That is a man!" Raven explained while pointing his finger at the waitress.
The waitress, indignant about being called a man, shouted insults at Raven before storming out of the room. Raven watched him leaving, a look of complete confusion on his face. His friends stared at him open mouthed, except for Rita who was repressing her urge to laugh.
"Why did he get angry? What did I say?" Raven asked them, confused.
"I think Raven isn't feeling well at all… You think he's sick?" Estelle asked Yuri.
"No, I think he simply drank too much alcohol." Yuri answered her, trying to hide his curiosity.
The old man never acted like that no matter how many bottles of sake he downed.
"But…" Estelle continued, refusing to let go.
"Drop it Estelle. Judith interrupted her. Come with me, we should take advantage of the time the old man is in that state to pay a visit to the baths. We came here for that, after all! You come too, Rita!"
Without giving Rita time to decline, Judith dragged both girls with her. Rita wanted to see what the old man would do next, but she didn't have a good excuse to stay behind and she got no choice but to follow the girls if she didn't want to confess her little trick. Soon there was only Raven, Yuri and Karol in the lounge. Raven dropped his forehead on the table again. A freaking headache was coming fast. Yuri sighed and got to his feet.
"I'm going to the baths since there's not much to do here. You coming, Karol?" Yuri asked the young boy.
Karol seemed to consider his offer, but his gaze lingered on Raven.
"No, I prefer to stay with Raven. I wouldn't want to leave him alone in his state."
Yuri shrugged his shoulders and turned around, facing the man's changing room.
"Do as you want, but I doubt it will serve you to stay with him. He doesn't seem to be conscious anymore."
Yuri left the room to go get changed, leaving Karol alone with Raven. Upon seeing that the old man wasn't moving anymore, Karol already regretted not going with Yuri. He shook Raven's shoulder, trying to wake him up.
"Hey, Raven! Don't sleep, please!" Karol whined, still shaking him.
Raven lifted his head and stared at Karol like it was the first time he saw him. Karol stared back, worried.
"Raven?"
Without saying anything, Raven took Karol's hand in his own and approached his face from his. Karol was stunned, speechless.
"Hi, my sweet little girl. What is your name?"
Karol looked at Raven like he had suddenly gone mad, which was probably the case.
"Raven!? I… I'm not a girl! Karol stammered. It's me, Karol! Don't you recognize me?"
Raven frowned slightly.
"Karol? No way… Raven protested. You cannot fool me. Karol doesn't resemble you. He's too masculine."
"Estelle was right. Raven must be sick!" Karol began to panic.
He took a step back. Raven reached for him with his hand.
"Wait, don't be afraid! You haven't told me your name yet!"
Karol had seen enough. He ran away the faster he could while screaming all the way out. He preferred to sleep outside tonight than having to spend one night anywhere near Raven.
Raven sighed and got up, staggering a little on his feet.
"Am I so ugly that this little girl had to run away like that? Raven discouraged himself. Where is everybody?"
He looked around the room. Finding that no one was there, he decided to go search for them. Raven entered the first room he staggered to. He was now in a changing room. He walked forward slowly but stopped dead in his tracks when he saw in front of him a magnificent young woman with long black hair who was undressing herself, her back to him. I must be in heaven, thought Raven. He was not going to pass this opportunity. In his drunk-like mind, Raven decided that this woman would be his tonight. He slowly walked towards her. He didn't want to scare her.
Yuri turned around when he heard the faint sound of moving clothes behind him. He saw Raven coming slowly towards him with staggering feet.
"Raven? Where is Karol?" Yuri asked him while removing his shirt, preparing to go in the hot springs.
Raven didn't answer his question. His gaze was glued to Yuri while he closed the distance between them.
"Raven?" Yuri called his name again, worried over his friend's lack of reaction.
Without warning, Raven pushed the smaller man back against the wall and took his chin in his hand. He leaned in close to Yuri's face who was too stunned to make a move.
"Lovely lady, your beauty cannot be described with words. With only one glance, you seduced my heart, stole my soul…" whispered Raven in a deep luscious voice.
Yuri stared at him with a mixture of horror and anger.
"Raven!? Are you doing this on purpose or what!? It's me, Yuri!"
Raven wasn't listening to him. He closed the distance between him and the object of his desire and captured Yuri's lips in a passionate kiss. Yuri hadn't anticipated this move on Raven's part and it took him many seconds before he could react. He pressed his hands on Raven's chest and pushed him rashly away, broking the kiss. He cast him a dark glance.
"What's gotten into you!?" Yuri was angered beyond words.
He noticed that Raven's glance wasn't focusing on him but rather on something that seemed beyond him. One thing was for sure; Raven wasn't in his normal state. But this realization wasn't helping him in the least because Raven had no intention of letting him go. He embraced Yuri's waist and pressed him against the wall once more. He buried his face in Yuri's neck and nibbled the sensitive skin just below his ear. Yuri cried in surprise and tried to push Raven off him, but his grip on him was too strong, even in his drunken state.
"Raven, stop it! Yuri protested. I don't know what exactly you are seeing, but I'm not a girl, damn it!"
Raven lifted his head and locked his lustful gaze with Yuri's, confused and filled with anger.
"Why are you hesitating? Raven whispered. Ah! I understand. You don't want us to be discovered like this, right? In that case, let us go to my room, we will have more… privacy."
Yuri blushed with shame when he understood Raven's implications. The old man released his hold on his waist to take his hand and guided him to his room without giving him the chance to run away like Karol had done. It was only when Yuri was in Raven's chamber and that the old man had pushed him on his futon that the young man realized he was trapped. His only option to get out of this situation was to send the old man out cold since he had the obvious intention of making Yuri his tonight. However, Yuri really didn't want to hurt his friend. He hated causing pain to others. He would rather hurt himself. He looked at Raven with begging eyes.
"Raven, listen to me. I know that you are not in your normal state. I don't have a clue how you got like this and I honestly don't care, but I beg you, don't do this. You will regret it, I know it…"
Raven ignored him once again. He sat next to him and stroked his cheek gently.
"I searched all my life for someone like you… Now that I've found you, I never want to let you go… But you'll leave, I know it… They all leave me. I beg you, don't leave me alone…" Whispered Raven in a heart breaking voice.
Yuri felt his heart stop for a moment. While hearing those words and seeing Raven's sad gaze, Yuri couldn't bring himself to break his heart, even if what the older man was seeing was only an illusion. So when Raven pushed him softly on the futon until he was lying on his back and pressed his weight on him, showering his neck with butterfly kisses and soft bites, Yuri submitted himself to his friend. He knew he would regret it later, but he couldn't hurt his friend even if he wanted to. He only prayed that Raven wouldn't hurt him too much tonight…
When Raven woke up, the first thing he felt was a dull headache caused by his hangover. He slowly opened his eyes, getting them used to the morning light. He was aware of lying in a futon but the memory of how he got there refused to come to his mind. On top of that, he was naked under the sheets and Raven never slept naked without a reason. He turned his head to the side and froze when he saw the reason for his sudden nudity.
A person with long black hair was lying next to him in the futon, his nude back to him, sleeping peacefully. Raven jumped and sat rapidly. He grimaced in pain when his brain protested against his sudden action. Scraps of memories were coming back to him now. He remembered drinking too much sake, meeting a beautiful woman, bringing her to his room and then he remembered making sweet love to her. It was so mind blowing that he thought it was all a dream. Only that the proof of it being real was at an arm's length. Raven reached a hand and caressed lovingly her silky hair with his trembling fingers. The young woman stirred and turned her face towards Raven's hand like she was seeking his touch. When he saw her face, Raven's heart stopped for a moment.
It wasn't a sweet young woman who was sleeping peacefully by his side. It was Yuri. The reality of what really happened came to his mind. He had made love to Yuri, thinking that he was a woman. He would never have done such a mistake normally, even dead drunk. Raven thought about what could have happened to him. That's when the realization struck him. The hallucinogenic powder! Rita must have dropped it in his glass during dinner while he was not looking. This would explain the strange events that happened in the evening… Rita would pay for that, he would make sure of it!
Raven looked at Yuri's sleeping face. He looked so peaceful like that… Raven never saw the smaller man appear so innocent, so vulnerable… He then thought that Yuri must have seemed even more vulnerable in the throes of passion… At his own surprise, Raven suddenly regretted seeing a woman last night instead of Yuri. He would have liked to see his face rid of his eternal mask, to see genuine emotions spread on his features. Even if Yuri was a man, Raven was able to admit that he was good-looking and extremely attractive.
No, he didn't regret what had happened and he was even drawing great pride from the fact that he had gotten the young man in his bed, a feat not many people would have been able to accomplish. He caressed Yuri's ivory neck absent-mindedly. This gesture awoke Yuri, who sighed and opened his eyes slowly. This snap Raven out of his reveries and he looked at Yuri. Yuri looked back at him, his eyes gleaming with incomprehension. Raven smile softly at him and leaned over him, moving away some bangs that were covering his beautiful eyes.
"Good morning, Yuri. Did you sleep well?" Raven teased him.
Raven's words brought back the memories of last night to his mind in an instant. He sat back slowly and the sheet that was covering his torso slid down to pool around his waist. Raven noticed a large bruise at the junction of his neck and shoulder. It seemed like he didn't go at it gently during their lovemaking… Raven sought Yuri's glance, but the young man was keeping his head down and his long bangs covered his face. His lack of reaction was beginning to freak him out… After a long minute of silence, he finally heard his voice for the first time this morning.
"Raven… Do you remember all that happened since yesterday?" Yuri asked with a voice that showed no emotions.
Raven thought about his question. He could tell him the truth or he could pretend to remember what happened… Raven chose the second option. It could prove to be amusing to see his reaction. He leaned over Yuri and whispered sensually in his ear.
"Yes, I remember all of it… I remember how last night you offered yourself to me, how our bodies united perfectly… I remember the expression of your face when you reached the peak of your pleasure…"
Yuri quickly moved away from Raven. His cheeks flushed red with shame. He clenched his fists in anger and his body began to shake. Raven knew he had crossed the line. He lifted his hands in front of him.
"No no! I was only joking! Listen Yuri, Rita dropped the powder in my drink last night and I mistook you for a woman. I'm sorry for what happened… Or maybe not. Anyway, if it can help you, I don't bear any memories of doing it with you, which is a pity…" Raven whispered the last part, but Yuri heard him anyway.
"I heard that, old man!" Yuri fumed, his anger growing by the minute.
Raven wasn't intimidated in the least. He lifted Yuri's chin to lock his gaze in his own. A mysterious smile spread on his lips and Yuri answered with a murderous glance. He leaned in close until he could feel Yuri's warm breath on his lips.
"So, want to go for another round? It could surely help me remember…"
This snapped the last of Yuri's restraints. The old man was so dead.
The three girls were eating breakfast in the lounge when Karol burst in the room, out of breath.
"What is it, kid? You ran the marathon or what?" Rita asked with sarcasm in her voice.
"Haha! You're so funny! Karol replied, annoyed. Did you see Yuri somewhere? I searched all over the place since morning and I haven't seen him." Karol asked the others.
"No, he didn't come in here." Estelle answered.
"Why are you looking for him?" Judith asked, curious.
Karol hesitated. He didn't know if it would be better to tell them or not, but he decided to go for it in the end. He nibbled his bottom lip nervously.
"Well it's… it's about Raven. He was acting strange yesterday and I thought it would be a good idea to warn Yuri."
This sparked Rita's curiosity. She hovered over Karol, giving him her full attention for the first time in days.
"We kind of noticed that the old man was more strange than usual. What did he do after we left?" Rita urged him to answer.
"He… I think he was hallucinating. He mistook me for… for a girl and kind of flirted with me." Karol hurriedly finished his sentence while turning red like a tomato.
Estelle choked on a piece of bread, Rita burst out laughing and Judith looked surprised.
"I don't believe it! Rita exclaimed, tears in her eyes. I would have given anything to see that!"
"Stop it! It's not funny at all! It was freaky!" Karol angered.
"You surely understand that if the old man mistook you for a girl, he must have mistaken others for girls too…" Rita pointed out.
Judith and Rita exchanged glances. Both had thought the same thing at the same time… Karol and Estelle frowned, still not understanding.
"Karol, when you said you looked everywhere for Yuri, what did you mean by that?" Judith asked him, a sweet smile spread on her face.
"I meant exactly what I said! Karol lost his temper. I searched everywhere!"
"Even in Raven's room?" Rita asked him, displaying a wicked smile.
Karol stared at her.
"No! I didn't want to wake him up and I was afraid that he would still be strange…"
"I think I know where Yuri is hiding." Rita claimed, amused.
"What?"
Estelle and Karol both realized what Rita and Judith were trying to tell them.
"You don't mean that he…" They began to say.
Suddenly, they heard a loud crash followed by a scream that sounded very much like Raven. What followed happened so fast that none of them could even react. Raven burst out in the room, naked in all his glory, followed closely by Yuri, a bed sheet draped around him and holding his unsheathed sword.
"Come back here, you coward! Pervert!" Yuri screamed obscenities at Raven, completely oblivious of their new found audience.
"I already said that I'm sorry, even if what happened wasn't my fault to begin with! What do you want more?" Raven replied on the defensive.
Raven then noticed their four companions staring at them, wide-eyed. He smiled, thinking of a good way to make Yuri even more pissed off. Yuri frowned when he saw him smile. This didn't mean anything good, he just knew it. The old man was plotting something.
"Yuri, even if you keep asking me to make love to you again, and you know I would gladly grant you this request, you must understand me. I'm not as young as you anymore and I don't have as much vigor as I had before…"
Yuri stared at him open mouthed. It took a long time for his brain to process what Raven had said.
"But… what!? I never said anything like that! Don't take your fantasies for reality, bastard!" Yuri exploded, turning red from anger and shame.
Raven laughed of his reaction. Yuri prepared himself to decapitate the bastard right here and now but he stopped when he heard a laughter rise from behind him. He slowly turned around and saw with complete horror that their little love quarrel was taking place in front of all their companions. Estelle was blushing madly, Karol was stunned with his eyes threatening to fall from their eye-sockets, Judith was displaying a mocking smile and whistling at them and the worst of all, Rita was chocking herself with hysterical laughter. Yuri blushed even harder. Raven laughed louder, oblivious of the fact that he was naked in front of his friends. He was being too preoccupied making fun of Yuri. The young man shot him a glance that promised him eternal agony.
"You are so dead, old man! Yuri shouted violently.
Raven knew it was time to flee. He ran out of the room without caring that he was bare for the world to see. Yuri chased after him with the intention of pursuing the old man until he would be nothing more than a bloody mess lying on the ground. From this day on, Brave Vesperia was forbidden to ever come back at Yumanju.
The End?
Maybe not, it depends on you. I've got a sequel in my head right now, so I will write it down if it interest some people out there.
Thank you for reading and reviews always make me happy! ^^