A/N: Heylo there. I'm apologizing now for the shortness of this chapter, but school starts tomorrow and I want to go to sleep early tonight so I'm good and rested for the big day. But I wanted to get this up for y'all. There's a little insight into Fai's past at the beginning, and just to quell y'all's fears, no Fai isn't a Fairy (pun intended ;) ), or an Elf in the traditional sense o the word. He's something else *cough* alien *cough*, but you'll have to wait till later to know exactly what. *cackles evily*

Oh, real fast: Chaos's name is pronounce "Kows" where the "s" is soft. Just FYI. :)

Enjoy...

Chapter 10

A forest of smooth, grey barked trees which sparkled in the noon-day sunlight. In the center of this forest, on a small hill sat a perfect circle of roughly hewn stones in the center of a large clearing. Tiny glittering specks of light fluttered around the stones. If they moved just so, he could see tiny bodies within the light. Fairies. And for some reason, it didn't bother him that he was seeing mythical creatures which should be, by all accounts, extinct.

And he, he was standing in the midst of the stone circle beckoning. Beckoning to what? Then he saw it. Or her, for the beckoned thing was actually a young girl. He couldn't quite make out the girl's facial features but he knew she was female, nonetheless. The dress she wore was a dead giveaway, as well as the long dark brown, almost black tresses tumbled over the child's petite shoulders. Plus, something inside him told him she was a girl. He just somehow knew it. Also, He could tell she was smiling even though he couldn't make out his surrounds as clearly as would have wished.

This was a memory. He was sure of it and that was what fueled his true desire to see this scene clearly. But no matter how hard he strained his eyes, he still couldn't make out details.

But he did know some things almost instinctively. Like for instance, he knew for a fact that he had brought the girl to this place for a purpose. A purpose that must be carried out at any and all costs or else something terrible would happen. He also knew that he was the only one who could accomplish this…whatever it was.

He felt a sadness weigh down his heart though he continued to smile encouraging and beckon the child forward. She had to enter the circle of her own free will. All he could do was encourage and entice, everything else was up to her. However, one she entered the circle she was rightfully his to do with as he pleased.

He also knew they were both being followed by a posse of humans from the planet's surface. He had miscalculated the level of power these humans possessed. A miscalculation which could quite possibly cost him his life, and quite possibly hundreds, if not thousands of others, if he didn't complete this ritual.

Ritual. Yes, that's what this was. A ritual of…of…he couldn't remember.

Almost there. The child had almost entered the circle. Just a few more steps. Five more. Four more. Three.

Voices. A felt the beginnings of panic prick his chest. His heart rate increased as he schooled his expression and breathing to that of a semblance of calm. He had to succeed or else…or else what?

The child had stopped in her advance and was now glancing behind her to the humans who had just arrived in the clearing. No.

No!

He is speaking now but he couldn't hear his words. They sounded like sounds, only muddled and muffled as though heard through a wall or from under pillows.

The voices retored sharply and began speaking to the child. She started to turn back to the humans when he said something. Whatever he'd said caught the girl's interest and she started toward him again. One more step. Just one more.

But then unexpected happened. Another child, this one a teenage boy, broke into a run. He raced from the group of humans to the child. The sight of this older boy threatened to break his heart. Some part of him died then, but he couldn't have said why to save his life. He knew this teen, knew him well. But how and why? And why was he calling this child to him when it was obvious her own people didn't want him to?

He started calling out desperately to the child. She glanced at him in confusion which cleared the instant a fairy flew before her face. Her smile immediately returned and she stepped into the circle. Finally, she was his. He knelt and opened his arms wide in welcome. She embraced him and he held her close.

He felt relief as well as sorrow well in his heart, until he looked up from the child he held against his chest and his relief became shock.

Then he woke up.

XxX

Chaos jumped back when Fai almost strangled him upon awakening. It took all of his extreme discipline to keep from reacting in self defense as he waited for the blonde to fully wake up. He couldn't help but sigh in relief when he saw life return to the shaman's blue orbs. Literally, he couldn't help it. He'd been nearly choked to death by a sleeping person.

Fai blinked in shock whe he recognized Chaos's face then drew back his choking hands as if they'd been burned and started apologizing profusely, to which Chaos cocked an eyebrow in mild reproving interest all the while massaging his throat. "You know, Fai, I like my neck, that includes my windpipe, intact, thank you. I plan on living a few more decades at the very least."

"I'm so sorry Chaos. I didn't mean to, I just had this nightmare and I--"

"Nightmare?" the green-haired young man interrupted, intrigued.

"Yes. It was a memory I think."

"Tell me." Chaos listened intently to Fai's description of the mildly disturbing dream before humming in thought a few seconds after the shaman fell silent. "Intriguing. Perhaps you will regain your memory sooner than expected. But that aside, I've come to ask if you were alright. Kishim is being tight-lipped and when she does bother to speak, it's in riddles. As per usual."

Fai snickered earning him a friendly glare of annoyance. Then he gasped arching his back as a lin swam through his body. Jolts of pleasure sparked through his body like lightning. While he didn't mind the sensations much, he did wish he was given a bit of warning before things like this happened.

When the lin was gone and he had caught his breath, he apologized.

"No need, friend. I saw the lin just as well as you did. What did it say?

"It says good morning," Fai responded blushing. "To both of us."

"Really? Is that all?" Chaos teased, to which Fai became a bit sheepish and red faced.

"Well…it says more, but I'd rather not relay it all. If that's alright with you."

Chaos dark green eyebrow sketched a perfect arch. "Is that so? Well then, it seems I'll have a bone to pick with that one when I change back," he commented crossing arms and glaring pointedly at the wriggling lin, who suspiciously appeared to be laughing at him. "Also you, Fai, will have to introduce me to your off-world friends. In the meantime, however, you have a few guests to attend to."

The shaman cocked his head in interest. "Already? This early? Who?"

Chaos eyed the shaman incredulously. "It's midmorning, Fai. Hardly early. As for the guests. I saw a couple of your visitors. Villagers from Yama and Shura. From the looks of them, I deem they mostly need a refill of the medicine you gave them or advice on weather patterns. Duty calls."

Fai moaned. Sometimes he hated being the Moon Shaman. As a shaman it was his sole duty to study and accurately predict the weather, decide the best time to plant crops and reap them, diagnose and cure illnesses of all kinds, heal injuries, mediate disagreements from simple arguments to feuds as large as that between King Ashura of Shura and King Yasha of Yama. He was also the designated protector of the people of this moon, Shara, to which his ability to see and communicate with the lins came in handy. Plus, the added fact that Kishim had taken him under wing only added to the mystery Fai embodied.

"I haven't scanned the skies or read the winds yet since I arrived," Fai complained sending the full force of his puppy dog eyes on Chaos who merely shrugged.

"Better get to it then, eh friend?" With a last wink in the shaman's direction, Chaos strode to the window and leapt out into the vast expanse of blue only to morph into a huge elegant crane-like bird and fly away. Fai rolled his eyes to the ceiling, moaned, and fell back onto the bed.

XxX

Kurogane was not a very happy person at the moment. No, not at all. He had had to lower himself no less than six times (repeat that, SIX TIMES) to ask for directions just to get to this strange place. I mean seriously, what kinda place was this? A city of globes, and platforms in the treetops? What was hell? Anyone with any sanity would be perfectly satisfied to have his or her feet firmly rooted to the ground.

But then again, what about Fai was sane?

So here he was, standing about a hundred feet above the ground, in a tree that stood only a few dozen feet from the edge of a cliff. Did he mention he had a problem with heights? Flying on a Glider was one thing, but standing on a rickety platform with no escape was another jar of worms which should never be opened anywhere in his vicinity.

And seriously, where was Fai? He'd been waiting here as patiently as he could and still the shaman had yet to show his ridiculous smiling face. He had been more than a little relieved to escape the onmyoji and his slightly clueless follower, but he couldn't quite decide which was worse. Hanging around with an onmyoji who would be perfectly satisfied with studying every scroll he could get his hands on and his over-inquisitive friend, or an insane blonde whom he happened to have a slight, slight, crush on, maybe? And that was a BIG maybe!

Hien chirped in the pirate's ear. It seemed just as impatient as he was feeling, but at least it had been getting almost constant attention from the people who were milling around in the usual hustle and bustle that was to be expected from a village. He also caught some interested and some distrustful glances cast in his direction. Be he couldn't really blame them. Anyone would stand out wearing what he was.

His loose cotton shirt was dyed red to match his eyes and could be tied up near his throat, something Kurogane never bothered to do. His black pants and black leather boots succeeded in giving him an unapproachable air. The red scarf tied around his head signified his rank as a captain, not that he believed anyone here knew that. A gold loop earring pierced his left ear and a black tattoo of a dragon decorated the underside of his right forearm, when Hien didn't feel like being out that is.

He was deep in his thoughts when he heard the rustle of the crowd increase suddenly and he instantly became alert. He noticed how many people were staring out at the open air across the way from his comfortable position leaning against a sturdy tent post. Mildly curious, he turned to see what all the fuss was about and gawked.

There, flying straight for the small copse of trees his platform village stood in, was a great bird. It's feathers were a faint pinkish white and its appearance reminded him of a cross between an eagle and a crane. He stood in awe wondering if he should run, but upon looking around, he noticed that no one else seemed worried in anyway. On the contrary, they seemed excited.

Before he could ask what was going on, the bird back winged suddenly and made to land but instead melted away to reveal a young man. His hair was an olive green that matched his eyes and tinted his skin. He wore a simple but elegant maroon outfit comprised of a long shirt that fell to his feet but was split into numerous strips from the waist down which fluttered with his every move. This was covered by a long, sleeveless outer coat that was, once again, olive green, and trimmed with gold.

"The Moon Shaman will arrive in the River Pavilion. Anyone who wishes to speak with him should go there now. He will arrive shortly. I apologize for the wait, but then again, Fai will be Fai," he said with a smirk.

This last comment drew a laugh from everyone within earshot. Apparently, the people here were relatively used the dumb blonde's antics, a feat which Kurogane couldn't help but admire. Fai was definitely a handful, and he'd only know the guy for a few days. However, now that Kurogane thought about it, he realized with growing disgust that he would have to, yet again, lower himself to ask directions to this 'River Pavilion' if he wanted to see Fai. He made a mental note the throttle the ditz when he got his hands on him.

A moment later, the shape-shifter boy transformed into the giant bird again and flew away towards the right.

A/N: *deep sigh* Well, I finished that. Hope that wasn't too cheesy or short for y'all. I'll try to post again later this week, but I can't guarantee when because if classes. *hangs head in annoyance and disappointment* Miss y'all. :)

FYI: I'll explain the connection between the draco Hien and Kurogane's tattoo in later chapters. Sorry, y'all gotta wait.

Rate and Review!!!!

Translations:

Savi – when placed at the end of a name it could mean Mr., when placed at the beginning of a name it means male sav user; can also be used to refer to sav users in general, both male and female inclusively

Sava - when placed at the end of a name it means Miss, when placed at beginning of name it means female sav user

Sav - life energy of which magic is the best equivalent

Lin – a grayish, slender, serpentine creature with a fish-like face, eight tiny legs, and fin-like appendages on the sides of their head right behind their gills. They live between the realm of reality and the world of the dead. They breathe sav like humans breath air and they swim through the air as if it's water.