A/n: wow I was mean in that last chapter.
Chapter 9:
"He's breathing." Yuui's eyes softened, knowing his brother needed urgent medical attention and he looked up pitifully to Kurogane for help. Given silent permission to move, the young warrior didn't hesitate to sheath his bloodstained sword and scoop Fay up.
"We're heading back to Nihon," He ordered. Yuui whimpered and scrambled to his feet, following his mentor and guardian. "I've got an army outside, they'll get us home without any stoppages,"
"He'd never make it all the way there. He got hit real hard! He's… he's going to…" Yuui sniffled and closed his eyes, prepared for the worst.
"Then… do you have enough magic to get us there that way?" Kurogane questioned, as the two walked hurriedly down the empty hall.
"I'm too tired!" He sobbed. "I'd end up killing all three of us." Tears flowed freely down his cheeks. "We're meant to protect each other!"
"Would you shut up!" Kurogane barked. "He is NOT gonna die!"
"I have lost everyone in my life Kuro… please… I can't lose Fay." Kurogane nodded and looked down at Fay who lay breathing so gently Kurogane was scared it was his imagination. He was very pale and the ends of his hair were burned black. He was no doctor but the prognosis wasn't good. Fay was already the weaker twin and whatever he'd been hit by certainly wasn't helping his poor health.
"Kurogane-san." A soldier breathed, seeing Kurogane splattered with blood carrying the barely alive body of one of the twins close to his chest and trailing a weakened one behind him.
"No time for talk, we're heading home, and fast!" He growled and headed back towards the carriages. "Half of you stay here on rescue."
"Kuro! Fay!" Chii squeaked, standing up and hurrying over. She hugged Yuui close, but he didn't return it.
"You're awake." Kurogane muttered approvingly.
"I'm Yuui." Mumbled Yuui looking at Fay as he lay dying in Kurogane's arms. He knew that if he had to go, he'd like to go there, but he clenched his fist. He desperately wanted Fay to hold on, because being a solo twin sounded like a very lonely prospect.
"Tomoyo told me to tell you the troops returned from their rescue mission, they managed to find a whole bunch of people seeking refuge in the old church." Kurogane offered, entering the room. Yuui was laid across Fay's bed holding his hand. Three days since they got home and he had not regained consciousness, but on the plus side had not died either. Tomoyo came in regularly to cast spells on the injured boy. Yuui had been alarmed to know magic was trusted, and that the people readily accepted royalty with magic in their blood.
"Survivors…" He breathed. Kurogane nodded.
"Yeah at least 50 in the church, and around 30 were found elsewhere within the city so far, mostly women."
"Because he was scared of the demon boy… that'd be you."
"How'd he kill them if he never left the castle?"
"I'm not sure, something to do with his magic I think, or maybe it's like a virus and he was infected too. He may be just as much a victim as those who died. It got inside their heads, drove them mad. Pitted families against each other. Mother's killing sons, brothers and sisters stabbing each other, whole spates of suicides…" Yuui's voice seemed far away and distant, he stroked his brother's face and kissed his hand. Fay stirred a little, then stilled causing Yuui and Kurogane to smile slightly.
"I'm convinced he can hear us." Yuui mumbled.
"I'm sure he can, he's just being lazy." Kurogane muttered and ruffled Fay's hair in his sleep. He sighed softly and looked at Yuui who was obviously exhausted from the effort of staying by Fay's side constantly. "You have eaten right?"
"Yeah, Tomoyo-hime brought some food up earlier." Yuui smiled sadly, then remembered Kurogane had told him not to do that and wiped it from his face. He cuddled a little closer to his brother, thankful for the warmth emanating from his body. "How is Chii?"
"Sane, she's not jabbering on about voices anymore." Kurogane offered. "His burns are pretty bad they'll scar…" He added, looking at the sleeping twin. Sure enough, his hands and his feet were badly burned, worst on his legs. Somehow his pretty face had remained in tact. Eyes resolutely closed like a porcelain doll.
"That's fine. As long as he lives." Yuui whispered. "I never said… thank you… for everything."
"He wasn't worth dirtying your hands." Kurogane said looking at the young boy. He nodded softly, and tears sprung into his eyes. He stared at Kurogane and bit his lip. He should say it. Now while they were still young and naïve, where gender wasn't a card, while he could maybe stand a chance.
"You saved our lives… you helped my country… I could never repay you." He whispered, his tone a little strangled, heart racing and palms sweating.
"I never said you had…"
"Uhm." Fay murmured. Yuui gasped and couldn't take his eyes from the stirring blond.
Fay struggled to open his eyes.
"We in heaven?" He mumbled eventually.
"No." Yuui promised, kissing his brother's cheek. Fay blinked the days of sleep from his bloodshot eyes.
"Hell then?"
"You wish. Hell's gonna look like a holiday when you're well enough for me to deal with you. What were you thinking, running off like that?" Kurogane demanded, however, his voice was soft, as though he was secretly more pleased Fay had woken up than he wanted them to know.
"Kuro…" Fay whispered in shock. His cute little voice was hoarse with disuse.
"I'll explain everything." Yuui swore. "Just rest." Kurogane stood up and excused himself.
"I'll leave you two alone for a little while, Tomoyo'll wanna know he's up anyway." He left the door slightly ajar for the young brothers as he left, smirking slightly.
Yuui retold the story the way eleven year old boys do retell stories, full of gasps and over dramatic flails and roars, occasional blushes and smiles.
"So… the demon-boy saved Valeria," He concluded, trailing off a little.
"The end." Fay suggested, finishing the Once Upon A Time.
"Not quite…" He began wringing his hands, scared to admit it. "You should know… I think… I'm in love with Kuro-tan." Yuui said, feeling slightly shameful he'd considered telling Kurogane earlier, Fay ought to know first. Fay smiled.
"What am I, blind? I noticed." He croaked.
"Are you… mad?" Yuui dared to ask, his own voice betraying him and showing his fear.
"Why would I be mad?" Fay winced and squeezed his twin's hand. "It makes sense to love him, after all he's done for us. Shoot for the moon, Yuui." Yuui had to smile, genuinely, at the tiny play on words. He kissed his brother's forehead.
"I think he likes Chii though, she's a girl… and she's curvy too!" Yuui lay down.
"He better not!" Fumed the burned twin.
"Eh!?"
"I just uh… I meant uhm… you're better for him?" Fay suggested lamely, and Yuui had to laugh.
"Brother…" He whispered softly. "I'm so glad you're alive."
"Uh… well I'm pleased about it too y'know." Fay suggested, and despite his injuries he slid his arms around his twin.
Watching Fay's recovery was heartbreakingly slow. For weeks he couldn't walk, stand or do anything on his own, such were the burns on his arms and legs. Yuui assisted as much as he could, but ended up being hospitalised for exhaustion, after that Tomoyo forbid him from playing doctor and insisted he take it easy.
"No." Kurogane scolded as Yuui automatically went to fix Fay's pillow.
"But…"
"A nurse can do that… better yet, I'll do it. You sit!" He barked, adjusting the cushion. Both Fay and Yuui pouted.
"Ne, Kuro's a meanie!" Fay moaned.
"A real big meanie!" Yuui agreed, nodding in confirmation.
"The doggy bites!" They said together.
"What the hell you two!" Kurogane growled. "Sometimes being your friend is like being your babysitter!"
"Ehhhhh… did you hear that? He called us his friends!" Yuui grinned, leaning close to his brother and speaking in a tattling whisper.
"I heard it I heard it!" Fay chirped. Kurogane glared.
"Screw you guys I'm going to go practice… don't you dare touch his pillows Yuui!" He added as warning but Fay struggled up, trying to stand. Yuui helped him sit up but prevented him from leaving the bed.
"Kuro, one last…." He coughed raucously, and Yuui gave him a sip of the cold water by the bedside. "One last thing… come here?" He begged, shaking rather violently. Kurogane approached hesitantly. What happened next shocked both Kurogane and Yuui.
Fay kissed Kurogane, fully on the lips.
A/n: BAD FAY!
