Disclaimer: RG Veda still belongs to CLAMP, but at least now i have a full set of the manga.
Day 1: Role Reversal
It was hard for the last survivor of the Kendappa tribe to wait for the god-king's alchemist to return from her duties at Zenmi Castle. It would be one thing if she could expect Souma to make a slip in ingredients – make her potion into a poison instead of a cure – but her lover never did. Instead, Kendappa had to worry about what would happen if Taishakuten found out Souma was sheltering a renegade.
It was with relief, mixed with a little regret, that she welcomed Souma home in the evening. Souma always came home worn out. She would never admit it to Kendappa, but it was the stress that wrecked her. She collapsed onto her bed, and Kendappa curled up next to her. If there was nothing else she could do for Souma until she came face-to-face with Taishakuten, she could at least make her lover feel better after the difficulties of court. She couldn't even imagine taking Souma's place.
"How are you feeling?" she asked quietly.
"Exhausted," Souma admitted. Her eyes had been unfocused in the general direction of the high ceiling, but she flicked her gaze over to Kendappa and gave her a tired smile.
Kendappa ran her fingertips over the lines in Souma's palm. "It must be so hard to serve him, after he killed your family."
Souma swallowed. "He needs an alchemist. I'm not in any danger now, since i'm the only one who can do it."
"That's not what i meant." Kendappa's eyes flashed in the dark, and her grip tightened on Souma's hand. "He killed them, Souma, and you have to look into his eyes and act like you don't hate him. How can you stand it?"
Souma swallowed, trying to force her pounding heart back down out of her throat. It was one thing the two of them couldn't agree on. "It's better than being killed by him. He's too strong, Kendappa. I wish you would stay here, with me."
Kendappa's head was shaking. "I can't, Souma. You know i can't. I'll kill him, and then you won't have to live in fear anymore."
Souma pulled her close, and buried her face in Kendappa's hair. "I know how you feel," she whispered. "I do, but i worry for you. I'm so afraid you won't come back to me."
Kendappa wove her fingers into Souma's hair and drew her head up so she could kiss her. "I will," she said, her voice rough with unshed tears. "I promise you, Souma, i will always come back to you. No matter what happens, you can count on that." She kissed Souma again.
She didn't say the other thing, the one Souma always refused to listen to. When the two of them were together, they were perfect. They would be unstoppable. If they combined their skills, they could kill Taishakuten quickly, before he even saw them coming. Souma didn't believe they could do it, but Kendappa knew their love gave them a strength a man like Taishakuten could never have.
A/N: So technically i missed the first day because it snowed and i couldn't get online, but i'm doing it anyway. I've always wanted to do a fandom week, and this is the first time i'm anything remotely resembling ready. Better late than never.