Part Nine:
Kurogane turned away from the tearful goodbyes. It turned out, Yuui took the news that Fai was coming with them very hard. He turned into a quivering wreck, which then made Fai a quivering wreck. Not to mention the king getting teary eyed, too. The whole scene was just too much sappiness for Kurogane, but he did find himself having pity for Fai, because it wasn't long ago he'd had to say goodbye to his parents to serve Princess Tomoyo.
One of the parting things Ashura did was revise the markings on Fai's back. Kurogane didn't watch the process, but Fai told him the phoenix was black once again, but he'd have more control over his power. He'd have to learn to manage it himself from now on, with very minor help from Ashura's governing tattoo.
After packing up several items, including a huge stash of fluorite and the trunk with the journals, Fai got into his formal clothing, including his fluffy coat and magic staff. The castle seemed to be in an uproar over Fai's leaving. There was just so much blubbering that Kurogane wished they'd leave, already.
Finally, Tomoyo gave the nod and and surrounded them with the red, hazy orb. Kurogane felt a tingle and then a slight drop as a popping sound filled his ears. He looked around and couldn't stop grinning when he realized they were in Shirosagi Castle once again.
Fai said something that sounded like sing-song non-sense. Princess Tomoyo walked over to him and placed her finger over his lips. After a quick spell, she said, "That translation spell will help you out while you're here."
"Wow! This is so wonderful," Fai said, now making sense, looking at the tall dragons printed on the walls behind the dais. "And it's so incredibly hot. This is summer, you said, Kurgs?"
"Yes. Nice and warm," Kurogane said.
"Time to change, then," Fai said.
Tomoyo turned to Kurogane. "Put his things in the guest quarters. Meanwhile, I'll find him something to wear."
"You're kidding. A constant blizzard? That had to be miserable," Souma said. She was sitting on a pillow across the low tea table from Kurogane.
He shifted on his own pillow and snorted. "That wasn't the worst part. The princess brought back the most obnoxious thing in that whole realm."
"Yoohoo! Kuro-kiro, how do I look?"
Kurogane flinched and hitched his thumb over his shoulder where Fai's voice came from. "And that would be it." Kurogane got an uneasy feeling seeing Souma's face take on bafflement.
She giggled and said, "Well, she certainly is pretty."
"What are you talking about? He's... a..." Kurogane's voice trailed off as he looked over his shoulder and saw the princess and Fai standing in the doorway to the tea room. He barely got out the word, "...man," because he was so disquieted by the indigo iromuji the mage was wearing. He glared and shook his head. "What are you doing wearing that?"
Tomoyo chuckled and then said, "Count your blessings I managed to talk him out of a furisode." Kurogane clenched his fist, torn between wanting to punch the mage and admitting the outfit suited him. The color made Fai's eyes stand out even more. Tomoyo then broke the tension, "I figure no harm since it's just us."
"Well, you won't be in women's clothes when we go on hunts," Kurogane insisted. Trying his hardest to not stare at Fai. They joined them at the table and were served tea.
"This is delicious. It's milder than what I'm used to. Very pleasant," Fai said.
"I'm glad you like it," Tomoyo said. "This is Souma, by the way. She's in charge of the ninjas at Shirosagi Castle."
"Oh, Kuro-rin's boss. How fun," Fai said. Kurogane went back to wanting to punch him. "I'm Fai Fluorite."
"Royal pain in the..."
"Kurogane!" Tomoyo chided. "Anyway, Souma, Kurogane will now be teaching Fai about monsters and how to hunt them. He'll also be watching after him. So you'll have Fai along, as well."
She eyed the mage skeptically. Kurogane said, "Don't let him fool you. He can blow up a forest with his magic."
"Now that wasn't a forest, just a few trees with a tiny little hex," Fai said, in a teasing tone.
"You and your ego," Kurogane grumbled before sipping his tea. "I'll make sure it gets cut down to size before you get sent back, pampered brat."
"This should be interesting," Souma said, her eyes twinkling. Kurogane had a sinking feeling the woman was talking about something besides hunting demons. "We'll head out tomorrow towards Pongee."
"I can't believe you," Kurogane said at dinner as he watched the mage flail around with chopsticks.
"I just can't get the hang of it," Fai said with smile. Kurogane was grateful they were eating alone. Tomoyo was reporting everything to her sister, and everyone else in the castle seemed preoccupied with tasks or too unnerved by Fai.
"Here," Kurogane slid over and sat on the pillow with Fai. He put his arm around Fai and took his wrist. With his other hand, he positioned the chopsticks in Fai's fingers. He felt the mage shiver and then his shoulders tightened. "Why are you so stiff all the sudden?"
"No reason," Fai said, head drooping forward. Kurogane caught sight of the tip of the black tattoo peaking over the collar of the iromuji. "I'm not really hungry any more."
"Fine let's get some sleep. Also, you need to keep that tattoo covered at all times." Kurogane stood and lead him down the hallway to his assigned room. "Otherwise, you'll be a target."
"Target?"
"Only real warriors with years of combat experience get them to signify they've done something outstanding. If another warrior were to see it, they may pick a fight with you to gain status."
"Okay. I'll do my best to not start trouble."
"Tsk, I doubt that'll happen. Get some sleep," Kurogane said, turning to walk away. He sensed the mage's eyes on his back, so he turned and asked, "What is it?"
"Nothing," Fai murmured, looking troubled. He quickly bolted into his room. Kurogane shrugged and went to his own room.
He was relieved to see the mage dressed in some navy colored haori and hakama in the morning, but he noticed there was something wrong with his eyes. He placed the back of his hand to the mage's forehead.
"You look horrible, but you aren't feverish."
"I didn't get much sleep last night," Fai confessed behind a cheery facade. "It's just something new I have to get used to: no Yuui in the room. I kept worrying about him all night."
"You're right about adapting," Kurogane said, hoping the mage would get used to sleeping alone soon. He wouldn't be able to hunt monsters effectively worn out. And, realistically, Kurogane couldn't keep sleeping in the same room as Fai. It would be viewed as odd and unseemly in Nihongo; only married couples shared a bedroom. Privacy and formality were highly prized in his culture.
Kurogane interrupted the dismal moment by saying, "I have something for you."
Kurogane went back to his own room. He had mulled this over in his mind and then decided it was appropriate. He came back with a bamboo longbow with oak lament; he also had a quiver of enchanted arrows. "You mentioned you use one of these. This has been in my family for a while. Take good care of it."
Fai brightened up and nodded. "I will. I haven't shot in a several weeks, but I'm sure it'll be fine."
Souma came in and said, "There you two are. Are you ready to move out?"
"Sure thing," Kurogane said. He looked over to Fai and asked, "You can ride a horse? I didn't see any in Celes."
"I can ride a horse. They mainly stay in the south at Ashura's hunting lodge, where they don't get bogged down in the deep winter snow."
Kurogane breathed a sigh of relief as they left for their first hunt. Judging from the chopstick fiasco, he cringed at the idea of having to teach Fai how to ride a horse.
[One month later]
Fai looked up from one of Demetri's journal he was reading when he heard a knock at his guest room door. He quickly pulled the cloth of his yukata higher on his shoulders to cover his tattoo and sat up on his futon. "Come in."
He was happy to see Kurogane. He had been away the whole day, meeting with Tomoyo. Fai was looking forward to dinner so he could have his favorite company again. He paused any further cheery banter, noticing Kurogane looked grim. He was startled when the ninja sat beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"I have some news from Celes. King Ashura sent it through a dream to Tomoyo."
"Yuui ...? No, it can't be. I'd feel something. My father?"
"They're fine. It's the old man, Captain Demetri. He's passed away."
Fai felt the air leave him. He looked down at the journal in his hands as his eyes blurred. He started to fall back onto the futon, but was startled when Kurogane held him. At first he struggled against Kurogane, wanting to nurse his pain privately, but the ninja refused to let go. Fai, finally drained of fight, let himself relax against Kurogane as he steadied his breath and got his emotions under control.
"You knew, didn't you?" Fai asked, resting his head on Kurogane's shoulder.
"He let me know, in a way. He didn't want you to make any decision about your life out of guilt, so he asked that I keep it a secret."
"I want to be mad at you, but I just can't," Fai admitted. He took a deep breath and parted from Kurogane's arms.
"Let me get you something to eat."
"No, I just want to sleep," Fai said, hoping his glum wasn't too evident. He looked over at Kurogane sheepishly and asked, "Would you stay with me tonight?" He desperately wanted company to assuage guilt and sadness. He expected rejection, so his mind started to machinate on a way to get what he wanted from the ninja.
"Fine," Kurogane gruffly agreed.
Fai was stunned he didn't have to put up a fight. Most of the last month had been a real power struggle between them. Kurogane wasn't a pushover like the others in Fai's life, so he found himself resorting to devious tactics, which only exasperated Kurogane. The ninja saw through it all and despised playing Fai's games.
"Why are you agreeing so easily?" Fai asked.
"Because you just asked, plain and simple," Kurogane answered. "But you're going to eat first. You're too scrawny, as it is."
Fai nodded, still surprised at his victory. After some vegetable soup and sake, Kurogane rolled out another futon beside Fai's and snuffed out most of the candles. Fai reminisced a little about his initial training as a combat mage; it seems it was one huge disaster after another that always ended up with Demetri singed and Fai wailing. He eventually got drowsy from his gloom and several cups of sake.
Kurogane was always amazed how much liquor it took to bring down the mage. Eventually, Fai lay asleep, so Kurogane finished snuffing out the rest of the candles and got comfortable on his own futon.
He tried to roll over, but suddenly Fai crawled over and flopped down, pinning his arm. He snuggled close to Kurogane's chest and fell back asleep. His first instinct was to shove the mage over to his own bedding. He put his palm against Fai's back, but froze; he'd probably just crawl back over.
He cursed the mage in his head as he struggled to get comfortable. The only way to do that was to wrap his arms around Fai to make sure he'd lay on his side, rather than stomach. He tucked Fai's head under his chin and sighed.
Kurogane gasped a little when Fai pressed his back firmly against him. He was finally able to get physically comfortable when he felt Fai breathing evenly, but he had a high level of mental agitation. It took all of his ninja self-discipline to get his mind to cool down and desire sleep.
"Pampered brat," he murmured, burying his face in soft, blond hair. He reluctantly admitted that this wasn't so bad. Fai actually fit perfectly in his arms. Besides, it was nice knowing the mage felt trusting enough to leave his back vulnerable and pressed against him after all the abuse he'd suffered.
Kurogane's life certainly wasn't dull with the mage around. It seemed like some new battle or triumph loomed each day. In spite of himself, Kurogane was looking forward to see what new thing Fai would throw at him tomorrow.
To be continued.
