Title: The Tale of Psyche and Eros Redux – Act 2
Series: Axis Powers Hetalia
Pairing/Character(s): Greece/Japan, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan
Rating/Genre: PG-13 / Fantasy-AU, romance, adventure, humour
Warning: probable OOCness, slight crack and a mishmash of all your favourite mythology/folk-tales thrown together
Summary: In which Yao proceeds to make a difficult family decision and Kiku resigns himself to a fate of doom.
Note: Whoa, this took longer than expected, but it's finally here~! This chapter is dedicated to my husbando, CorruptedWhispers, for all the lulz she provides me with
Act 2
Kiku had always loved the sun. At dawn each day, he would walk down the curved path to sit beside the lake, right underneath the old cherry tree and watched as the sky gradually changed from a dark inky blue to a warm orange glow, which spread out as far as the eye could see. He would bask in the light as the sun enveloped him in its warmth, turning his pelt a brilliant gold. And if anyone were to look at him then, they would think he was a child of the sun in the shape of an orange fox; his expression betraying nothing; his eyes bright like amber flame.
Once the sun was blazing high in the sky, Kiku proceeded with his other daily routine: fishing. Unlike other foxes, Kiku was very fond of fish, and would seize every opportunity to have some. Mornings were always the best time to hunt as the fish were still sluggish with sleep and thus were easier to catch. He had just managed to seize a large carp between his jaws when he thought he heard a faint crash through the undergrowth. He frowned, changing back into his human form and turned around as the crashing grew louder, only to receive a face full of brown fur and whiskers as an animal of sorts flung itself at him.
"DA ZEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE~!"
Black paws groped clumsily at Kiku's chest as a brown fox landed heavily on him, nearly bowling him over. He hissed, vulpine ears and tail erect in shock, as he tried to pry the offending creature off him.
"Hey Kiku! See, I told you the next time you wouldn't be able to hear my wonderful attacks until it's too late. Nyahahaha!" The brown fox laughed, obviously taking much pleasure at the other's discomfort.
Kiku sighed in exasperation. He should have known.
"A simple 'hello' would be more preferable as a way of greeting," he said, flicking his tail in slight indignation. "But I suppose I shouldn't expect so much from you, Yong Soo."
"You're just annoyed that I scared you," the brown fox gloated, paws still clinging on stubbornly to the man's chest. "But hey, everyone knows I'm the master of stealth. In fact, I created stealth."
Kiku considered nipping the other fox's paws and probably would have done so if Yong Soo didn't suddenly decide to change into his human form. Kiku stumbled under Yong Soo's larger weight, slipping over the fish he'd dropped earlier and sending both of them into the water.
"Aaaahhhhh!" Yong Soo spluttered as he struggled to stand up, splashing more water over Kiku, who was half-pinned beneath.
"Tch. You guys are embarrassing."
Ignoring Yong Soo's shrieks, Kiku looked up to see two newcomers standing by the lakeside; a young girl and boy, both with ears and tails much like his.
"Hey Hong, Mei, don't just stand there. Do something!" Yong Soo wailed in the fear that twenty inches of water could possibly drown him. Hong stared at the other owlishly as if in deep thought.
"Call me Edison. Hong is like so boring." And without warning, he cannon-balled into the water, soaking them further.
The wind picked up, sending the tree blossoms swirling into the air, and a large white fox appeared. His eyes were like golden orbs, his nine tails spread out behind him like a magnificent fan. He sniffed, watching as Hong and Yong Soo wrestled each other while Mei helped Kiku out of the water.
"Hong. Yong Soo." The white fox finally spoke, his voice stern. The two immediately fell silent, crouching under his gaze. Kiku shook himself, thanking Mei and bowed politely to the white fox.
"Yao." He greeted simply as the other approached him, golden eyes still blazing and Kiku wondered if he was angered. Before he could ask, Yao transformed into his human form and bursting into tears, enveloped the smaller man into a fierce, bear-like hug.
"Kikuuuuu! Oh, how I missed you, you never visit as much as I'd like you to and when was the last time you even wrote to us?"
Kiku was sure he felt a rib or two break as Yao hugged him tighter. He winced, as Yao rattled on how he thought Kiku looked thinner and why was he catching fish when meats surely were more favourable, and that was probably why his poor little Kiku was horrifyingly undernourished.
Kiku wondered if it'd be too rude to consider biting his eldest cousin as well, just to get him to stop squeezing him to death.
"I'm fine, Yao." The smaller man said, squirming out of the other's hold. "And I do apologize for not visiting more, but lately I've been rather busy. There's been an increase of patients, and I didn't want to leave them unattended."
He adjusted his yukata, pausing to bat at Yong Soo, who was busy nibbling at his tail, and gazed back at Yao.
"What brings all of you here?"
At his question, Yao's eyes filled with tears again and crying, threw himself once more at Kiku.
"The Oracle of Delfi came to Brother Yao in a dream." Mei said, curling her small hands tightly around Kiku's left arm. "And she told him... she said...,"
The girl choked, dissolving into tears as well, unable to continue.
"The virgin is destined for no mortal lover. His future awaits him on the top of the mountain; a beast of the night whom neither gods nor men can resist.(1)" Yao recited hoarsely, the words leaving his lips like a proclamation of eternal doom. Kiku flatten his ears, still somewhat puzzled and not quite sure if his whole family hadn't suddenly gone – excuse his frankness – quite mad.
"Basically she means you're to be sent away and married off to a beast. Beast, as in like, a monster." Hong drawled, lying lazily on his back, chewing at a stalk of grass.
"I'm pretty sure she meant 'eaten' instead of 'married' though." Yong Soo added unhelpfully.
Kiku always had a strange relationship with his family; his three younger cousins were boisterous and energetic while Yao, being the eldest of them, was a doting older brother figure, and at times, painfully overbearing. While Kiku didn't dislike them and was fond of them in his own way, there were times he felt exhausted just being around them.
Seeing how distraught they were by the Oracle's news however, he tried to console them, even though in truth, he himself was quite unnerved. But Kiku was never one to reveal his innermost feelings, not even to family and tried to reassure Yao that perhaps it wasn't all that bad.
"It is all bad, Kiku." Yao said sadly, as the family sat together for dinner in Kiku's home that night. "Everyone knows the Oracle's prophecies are never wrong, and if we don't abide by what is to be, our family will be cursed for generations and generations. Aiyaah!"
Kiku remained expressionless, but felt his heart sink. Yao was right.
"Well...," he began slowly, gazing at his family. "If that is indeed my fate, then so be it."
The next day, they all made their way to the top of Mount Shirōma, where Kiku was to wait for the beast to lay claim on him. After much crying from Yao and Mei, and Kiku's constant reassurances he'll be quite fine, the others left him to face his fate alone. Without the need for his brave front, now that his family had gone, Kiku could only sit quietly beneath an old tree, his bushy tail curled around him more for comfort than for warmth, even though it was highly unlikely he would admit it, even to himself. He did not like this misery welling up inside him and for the first time, he wondered if he was indeed cursed by the gods above.
He froze, ears twitching when he felt something tickling the back of his neck. Hissing, he leapt aside, fangs bared and ready to face whoever or whatever it was that crept up behind him, only to see nothing…. well, he wasn't sure if a grinning mouth filled with sharp teeth and framed with long white whiskers was considered a something, especially since they didn't seem to be attached to a body, let alone a face and were just floating on thin air.
He wondered if he should ask what– no, that would be too rude, and said instead, "Who are you?"
The spaces between the grinning mouth and whiskers finally filled out and the face of a calico cat with amber eyes fleshed out before him, along with the rest of its body.
"Are you asking for my name?" the cat purred, swishing her twin tails languidly. "If it's a name, then you could just call me Corporal Cat."
An odd name.
"It's actually Corporeal Cat, but Herakles was half-asleep when he named me."
Kiku wasn't sure who exactly the cat spoke of, and the only thing he thought of was how "Herakles" sounded liked the name of the tentacled-beast, the Kraken.
"Herakles? Who…?" The kitsune flattened his ears apprehensively, suddenly noting that Corporal Cat had grown several times bigger and was now looming over him.
"Your future, of course."
It was a strange sensation, really, to have the cold wind brushing against his cheeks and whipping the folds of his sleeves around him while he clung tightly unto Corporal's back. The daemon-cat was skimming high across the sky, so high that Kiku could only see the clouds below them and felt the chill of the wind right into his bones.
"We're almost there, fox." Corporal said. "Hold on tight."
As Corporal slowly descended, Kiku saw they were approaching a quiet dale, filled with an assortment of blooming flowers. Once they landed, Kiku alighted from the daemon-cat, and despite still feeling cautious, looked about him with much curiosity. Butterflies flitted all around, the scent of the flowers sweet and pleasant while birds sang from a nearby grove of tall, stately-looking trees.
After the first few steps, Kiku paused, uncertain and glanced back at Corporal. The calico only swished her tails languidly, a bemused look in her eyes. She nodded at him to proceed on. Kiku's jaw twitched slightly and after giving her a small bow, continued on nervously down the path, and entered the grove of trees. When he finally reached the heart of it, he could only gasp in amazement.
Right before him was a magnificent palace, its towers rising high into the sky. Just before the entrance, a fountain gushing out crystal-clear water, the bubbling sounds like music to his ears. Filled with admiration, Kiku continued forward and entered the palace. Inside, he was greeted by more works of beauty – gold arches, pillars and walls enriched with cravings and paintings. High above him, on the ceiling was a mural of Ätlenthea and Kiku was so filled with wonder of it all that he felt terribly small in comparison to such perfection.
While he was busy studying a sculpture, he felt something tickling his ear. He glanced back and saw Corporal, now a normal-sized cat, floating right beside him.
"All you see in this palace are yours. Dinner will be ready shortly so you can lie and rest in the room if you wish, or take a bath. Herakles' servants are yours to command; when you need anything, speak of it and they will attend to you."
Kiku did as Corporal suggested, and when he was ready for dinner, he was served with the most scrumptious meal he had ever laid eyes upon. While he ate, music played even though he could not see the players, nor did he see the servers who kept replenishing the food and wine until he could eat no more. He had also yet to see the beast who was his betrothed, and as far as he could tell, the only other living creature in sight beside himself was Corporal Cat, who he decided to share his fish steak with. She certainly had no objections to that and purred into his ear affectionately as a way of thanks.
It was only at midnight did his betrothed came to him, his true form shrouded from view in the darkness. Kiku sat nervously on his bed, trying to remain composed but his heart was pounding in fear and–
"Are you scared, little one?"
Kiku looked up at the surprisingly soft and husky voice and saw eyes, green as the sea gazing at him. He could not see the face of the one who spoke, but in those eyes, he saw no malice; only a quiet calm and a gentle kindness. He stared, slightly taken aback and only realized he hadn't replied when the figure brushed a hand softly against his cheek. "I'm sorry for scaring you. But I swear you will not be harmed in any way."
The touch startled him a little, but Kiku didn't move away and only coughed nervously, averting his eyes.
"N-No, I apologize. It's just that... this is all very different from what I had expected. N-Not that it's bad or anything."
He turned back to Herakles – for it washe indeed – afraid he had somehow offended the other, only to be greeted by a short, breathy laugh.
"You are adorable." Herakles said, eyes glowing with amusement, and perhaps something more. "Would you like to view the stars with me? The skies are clear tonight, and it would be nice to have some company."
Kiku blushed, but managed a soft smile. "I would be honoured."
And so it was Kiku spent his days living in Herakles' abode in such fashion. Herakles never showed himself to Kiku and was away mostly during the day, but he made sure that Kiku had everything he needed and treated him with nothing less but kindness. Even at night, when they shared the room together, Herakles never forced Kiku into any uncomfortable or awkward situations. He seemed content enough just to exchange thoughts and stories with the smaller man, and at times, humour Kiku with silly antics and jokes, to which Kiku couldn't help but laugh.
"For once I think the Oracle is wrong."
"Oh? How so?" Even in the darkness, Kiku could almost see Herakles' lips quirking.
"She said you were a beast." Kiku began solemnly. "But I see now you're neither a beast nor a god. You are a clown."
Herakles snorted in mock indignation, and Kiku buried his nose into his sleeve, unable to contain his laughter. Herakles shook his head, but chuckled good-naturedly.
"And you," he said, a mischievous spark growing in his green eyes. "You need to be punished for being so bold."
Herakles pounced unto the smaller man, tickling his sides and Kiku continued to laugh while trying to wrestle away from his grasp. Herakles wasn't about to let him slip free and tickled him more, causing Kiku to squirm harder until both were laughing like children and their bodies were so close they could feel each others' breaths on their faces. It was only then Kiku realized how entangled they were...
"Kiku...," Herakles thumbed his cheek lightly. Kiku stared, mesmerized by those green eyes, while trailing a finger against Herakles' strong jaw, and his soft lips, and before he knew what he was doing, he leaned forward to kiss Herakles. If the god was surprised, he didn't show and only move to deepen their kiss. And with that kiss, everything finally came undone between them; all inhibitions, all restraints dissolving away into the night. What could not be shared with words before, they now shared with tender touches and unfettered gasps, their hearts and bodies joined and entwined as one with burning passion.
Outside by the wooden doors, Corporal Cat licked one white paw nonchalantly as she listened to the sounds of their lovemaking.
Brows knitted in deep concentration, Kiku busied himself with preparing food in the kitchen when Corporal Cat appeared, rubbing her flanks against his ankles before leaping up unto the table.
"The servants can take care of dinner." She said pointedly, sniffing curiously at a bowl of gravy.
"I feel bad for always troubling them. Besides, I want to try something different, for Herakles."
Corporal watched him work for a couple more minutes before speaking again.
"Your cousins, I think they are looking for you."
Kiku dropped the wooden spoon he was holding with a clatter. "What do you mean?"
Corporal explained how she'd seen three foxes searching about in the dale, and how she'd heard them calling out to him. Kiku was surprised at the news at first, but soon felt ache in his heart, and he realized then how much he missed his family. He stared back at Corporal, uncertain. The calico studied him for a while, noting the silent plea in those brown eyes and she sneezed lazily.
"Herakles...?" she began, glancing upwards. A soft breeze picked up, and then Herakles spoke, his voice echoing through the room.
"You miss them." There was no question in the voice. Kiku bowed his head, silent for a moment before he lifted his gaze, nodding. A long pause, and then Herakles sighed.
"Guide them here, Corporal and they can stay for dinner with Kiku. But thereafter, they must leave again."
When Kiku saw the trio – Yong Soo, Hong and Mei – he could hardly contain his happiness before he was drowning under a sea of fur and whiskers as his cousins flung themselves unto him, embracing him with joy. Kiku showed them then, the wonders of the palace and over dinner, told them about Corporal Cat and the invisible servants and about how everyone had been kind to him since the day he arrived.
"So he's not really a beast?" Hong asked, helping himself to another serving of pudding. Kiku didn't answer, and only busied himself to hand out more bread to Yong Soo.
"What's he like?" Mei quipped, tugging at Kiku's sleeve. "Is he a man, or a kitsune too? Or perhaps a god?"
Kiku gave them a weak smile. "Um... in all honesty, I've yet to see his true form with my own eyes."
The three stared in shock, before bombarded him with more questions and slowly but surely began to fill him with doubt.
"If you've never laid eyes upon him, how do you know he isn't a beast like the Oracle said he is?"
"... Herakles has never harmed me in any way, and I don't believe he ever will."
"Then why hasn't he shown himself to you?"
"Cousin," Yong Soo said, wearing a look of utmost seriousness. "The Oracle is never wrong, and on our way here, we even heard the villagers say this valley is inhabited by a monstrous serpent, who fattens up his captives only to eat them up later."
"Kiku please, listen to us." Mei begged. "At least find a lamp while your husband sleeps and see for yourself if he's man or beast."
"Right. And if he really is a beast, just stab him already and you'll be free again. It's that simple."
Kiku set his glass down with a bit more force than usual. He gazed at his food, torn between anger and fear. "I think you should all go now. It's getting late."
Once they were gone, sent away back to the valley by Corporal, Kiku firmly tried to put their suspicions out of his mind. Their words continued to eat away at him however, and he was unable to contain his own curiosity. So that night, after Herakles had fallen asleep beside him, Kiku quietly rose to retrieve a sharp knife from the drawer and lit a lamp. For the first time, he laid eyes upon his lover and saw not a hideous monster but the face of a handsome man with a strong jaw and brow, and high cheekbones, his lustrous brown hair in longish waves. His eyes were green like the sea, with the fire and intensity of roaring waves within them.
His eyes. His beautiful green eyes.
Kiku blinked then, realizing that Herakles' eyes were open and he was staring straight at him, a look of distress and betrayal upon his face. Without saying a word, Herakles moved away and jumped out from the window.
"Herakles, no, wait..!" Kiku was overwhelmed by terrible guilt and in his desperate attempt to follow Herakles, fell out from the window and crashed painfully to the ground. Herakles, seated on Corporal's back, was flying away into the night, but seeing the kitsune lying curled in pain below him, he guided the daemon-cat back to hover for an instant before him.
"Foolish little fox," Herakles said, unable to keep the sadness from his voice. "Is this how you repay all that I've done for you? I broke my promise to Francis, and in an attempt to shield you from his vain wrath, decided to hide you here until he forgets you."
He gazed at the other man, hurt still in his eyes. "I love you Kiku, but I see now what you truly think of me; a monster. Go back to your family and I shall leave forever. Love cannot last without trust."
And so saying, Herakles fled away, leaving Kiku, heartbroken and alone, to weep silently in regret of his actions.
To be continued~
Notes:
(1): As I much as I wish it were mine. I just tweaked it a little to fit the story :)
- I didn't get to slip it into the story, but the Oracle of Delfi is supposed to be Elizabeta Héderváry. Oh well.
- Also, this turned out waaaay longer than I expected and makes Act 1 look really... uh, sad. Maybe I'll rewrite that to with details of Francis and Herakles' drinking game. Maybe.
- One more thing: I was listening to the LoTR OST while writing this and I must say the song "Concerning Hobbits" fits the kitsune family just perfectly.
- Last thing: I was kinda torn about Hong Kong's name, whether to give him a Chinese name or an English one. So I went and gave him both, with an original Chinese name, and a Western name which he believes will up his "cool" factor... orz
- Edit: Thank you, CorruptedWhispers, for pointing out the bit about how to correctly pronounce Herakles' name. I should have researched better /sobfail
Critiques/feedback/comments are welcomed~