Disclaimer: I do not own Magi, its story, or the characters. That right belongs to the amazing creator, Shinobu Ohtaka. I do own the idea(s) and OC's that are contained within this story. And hope that you as read respect that. Please don't use the OC's without my permission, as she has been with me since I was 6... On a different note, she and her other half are starring in another of my stories.

Author's Note: Also, I reply to all signed in reviews. Sorry to those who are guest reviewers, but do please continue to enjoy this story.


Concession [kuh n-sesh-uh n] - Noun

the act of conceding or yielding, as a right, a privilege, or a point of fact in an argument: He made no concession to caution.


6 months after Ren Kouen arrives on samon island.

Year 1, Month 6 (November), Day 30

General POV

Pink-eyes met red-eye in a silent conversation as the two had a staredown. Tempers had grown thin in the past few days. No one spoke it aloud, but it was apparent that without the girl around, they all were suffering. They'd been spoiled in the few months that she had been there. And now, it was causing a tension that was not normal between them all before a deep breath was taken and exhaled loudly, almost over dramatically.

"All I am saying is that maybe you might want to go for a nice relaxing walk," Koumei said.

This had an eyebrow lifting as Kouen stared at his younger brother, "Oh, and just where would I go this late in the evening for a walk?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe to the cove... and if that isn't 'far' enough, then take the trail into the Jungle that is there and go until you reach a small waterfall-fed pool," Koumei said shrugging indifferently.

Both met in a silent stared down once more before Kouen finally stood up from his chair, grabbing his walking stick and headed out the door. He was missing the small smile that played at the edges of Koumei's mouth while his pink eyes shone with mirth.


Kouha's POV

Kouha paused and looked after his eldest brother as he walked out of the hut. Arms filled with their share of the days catch from the fishnets. He noted the severe look on Kouen's face before shaking his head and heading into the hut. To see Koumei measuring out some rice to cook and causing him to blanch and swiftly move over to his other brother. With a swift, but light kick, he got Koumei to stop prepping the rice.

"Where is Kouen going this time of day?" he asked, setting the cleaned and gutted fish on the mat.

The soft chuckle from Koumei had him pausing and looking very carefully at his brother. Something told him that he was not going to like what Koumei had just done. Then again, they were still on speaking terms. Both had agreed that for once, their elder brother, should only be the one to give in. He was the one that hurt their friend... and the person who cooked decent food for them.

"A walk, to find himself, so to speak," Koumei said, humming in amusement, eyes gleaming darkly.

Kouha leaned away from his elder brother. He knew that Koumei was not a fighter, though he could if he had to, but was more a tactician. And it creeped him out when Koumei got that look in his eyes. It meant that he was manipulating people. And he was making it very obvious.

"You...didn't?" Kouha said as it dawned on him.

"I did. And that is the end of it," Koumei said. "We are all miserable. And while I have not gone out and kept track of our little ward like you. It has been almost a week."

Kouha snorted at this. He agreed. But he didn't want Kouen to go out to where Lunaria had made a small little space all for herself. He'd not admit it aloud, but he liked being the only one of the three of them to go and see her daily, spending time with her without having to share at all. Though he knew it was not practical.

"Well, let's hope he doesn't run afoul of the kitty while he is there," Kouha said, smiling thinly.

This had Koumei looking at him, eyes wide. He indicated to Kouha that his brother had forgotten about that little tidbit though he was still wondering how that had come around. Not that he was going to be upset if there were scratches on Kouen when he returned. Hopefully with Lunaria in tow.


Kouen's POV

He was not amused. Though he had to admit, Koumei had gotten better at being persuasive. But the fact that he had openly and bluntly been manipulated was grating on his already frayed nerves. The tension in the hut for the past six days was damn near explosive. And the fact that neither of his brother, especially Kouha, we're hardly talking to him had him feeling like some child who was being disciplined.

And while he knew he had been 'technically' in the wrong with how he had handled that situation. Kouen was a proud man. And as he made his way to the cove, he thought about how to say he was sorry, without being obvious about it. Each step was feeling heavy as he left the village. The cool breeze blowing off the sea let him know that winter would be on it's way early for the year, which means that the tropical weather was waning.

Sighing as he saw the cove he paused, his mind recalling how three months ago, his childhood dream friend dropped into his life. And him finding out just how stubborn the damn girl could be. Though, he was happy to have her around. Just taking care of her full time not as easy as he thought it would be. She could draw people to her. Downright annoying. Evoking many emotions in him, while not realizing she was doing it.

Sighing, Kouen let his gaze scan the edge of the Jungle and quickly spotting where there was a path that led to it. He was not blind; he knew that Kouha had been keeping in contact and watching over Lunaria. Which irritated him, since his brother would shrug him off when he had asked how she was doing. He was acting as if he didn't know. He was furthering the tension that had been in between them all. Slowly he walked towards the partially hidden path.

It was only a few minutes later that the sound of water reached his ears. Meaning he didn't have to go too far to conclude that waterfall-fed pool. Though as he pondered on Koumei's rather specific directions. Meaning he was done with this little war of attrition that was going on. And frankly, Kouen was too, not that he'd say it aloud. He wanted to eat actual food again. Neither himself or his brothers were excellent cooks, and the healers had outright abandoned them.

The moment the Jungle thinned out, he became more situationally aware. Eyes narrowing in the dim glow of the setting sun as he looked around. It was a small, very well put together camp. It had been cleared, a rock ring in the middle with red and gray-tinted logs that didn't put out a lot of smoke. To the side, he saw a simple woven frond lean-to. Which had more fronds woven into what looked to be a durable sleeping matt?

Overall the small little camp was rather impressive. He turned at the sound of foliage moving only to go still at the sight of glowing green eyes out of the black face of a Jungle cat. Size alone told him it was young, not even a year. As it stalked out into the clearing, Kouen got a good glimpse of almost inch long canines as its pink tongue lolled out the side of its mouth, a low growl coming from the creature as it eyed him like he'd be its next meal.

Kouen was not so sure what to do, he had his walking cane. Was a bit out of shape and practice. So, he didn't move, just met its gaze to try and show he was not intimidated. Only to go stiff when he heard a familiar female gasp. To twitch when she spoke up telling the damn cat that he'd taste bad. A smart retort on the tip of his tongue when the girl said the damn Panther to sit, and it did. Leaving Kouen stunned.


Lunaria's POV

She had heard someone come through the Jungle. They were not quiet. And Kouha had already gone back to the village. Which she was sorely missing, but she would not go back until she got an apology. If there was one thing her blank slate of a mind told her was that she was stubborn. So, coming back from the small pool, Lunaria had seen Kouen as he turned to look at the little panther cub that she had adopted — or rather outsmarted and trapped.

Something in her made the cub recognize her as the bigger predator. She had quickly named him Kida. Which had caused Kouha to ask her what was wrong with her mentally in a harsh tone because it was clear that the panther cub was distinctly male? The answer was not one he had expected after Kida had knocked Kouha to the ground and snapped at him. When she had tried to explain that she understood the large cat, he looked at her like she'd lost her fucking mind. But it was the truth.

It had been four days since then, Kida often stayed with her at night, keeping her warm. But during the day, he was stalking through the jungle hunting or lazing around. So, when Kida growled at the intruder, a person she bothered wanted and didn't want to see, she told Kida that Kouen would taste bad. And the way he stiffened spoke volumes. Prompting her to tell Kida to sit, glad he complied.

Lunaria walked forward and knelt by the fire, poking it with a pointed stick she used to keep the embers going as she fed a few small fallen branches she'd gathered that morning. Taking this time to look at Kouen, note his body posture. Quickly seeing that he was subtly shifting from leg to leg, meaning he was in pain. Not that he'd let her help. After waking up and healing Kouha, only to pass out again, she had worked with the colorful bunch of sisters, the healers. They'd cautioned her about using her 'magoi' to heal people.

Smiling, she spoke up, "I was hoping it was Koumei. What are you doing here? Come to make me miserable again?"

The fact that he spun around almost toppling over as he leveled his red gaze on her had Lunaria raising both her eyebrows. His face was drawn tight in pain. Meaning he hadn't been moving. How or why she knew this, she was not aware — making her feel a bit more frustrated. Not having any memory, though the knowledge was there was irksome. Struggling, she had meditated to try and help it come back, but still, it refused.

"No, I was told to take a walk...and was given specific directions," Kouen groused.

This had Lunaria chuckling as she pulled the leaf-wrapped bundles to the edge of the fire so they could steam cook. Her eyes never leaving Kouen as his own tracked the little packets. And the way they glinted said he knew what they were and he was hungry. All while frowning at her open and vocal amusement.

"Ah!" she said, pretending great wisdom with that single word. "Koumei is getting tired of you all taking turns cooking, huh?"

She was leaving it at that. Because Lunaria already knew the answer. It was a part of it, but she knew that Kouha and Koumei both missed having her around. Kouha had loved to expound on how her not being around was bullshit boring — making him irritable. To which Lunaria had told him he was adorable. Earning her a shoving match though the reality was that she missed being there with all of them.

"I guess, he wasn't talking to me," Kouen replied.

At that, Lunaria narrowed her eyes and mentally made a note to give Kouha a fantastic sparring match. He hadn't mentioned that they were not talking to Kouen. Then again, he was the one who told her not to go back to the village that day. She was under no illusions that he enjoyed having her all to himself. He'd practically stated as much. His attachment to her was strong and a bit uncomfortable, though he had not done anything to make her want to shy away. Just something about him didn't sit well with her.

"Well, I wonder why. As I have not been there, I have no right to comment. Come to sit; I can at least feed you," Lunaria said, waving her hand as she stood up and went around the clearing and pulling out various things she had found in the Jungle.

Again she didn't know how she knew, that each thing was edible and safe. Kouha said she had a great survival instinct and that in her world, Forest of Eternia, that she must have had training. A small pang resonated in her chest where her heart was. This happened each time she thought of that place, let its name echoed in her mind.

"Thank you, Lunaria," Kouen said.

At his simple, polite, and sincere thanks, Lunaria looked blankly at him. She was conveying silently that she was still not happy with him. His words, actions, they cut her deep. And she didn't know why, but they hurt her exceptionally badly because it came from him. A person she trusted and respected explicitly. She felt he betrayed her. More so, with his non-verbal consent to her being a burden to him.

When he looked down, Lunaria finished grabbing everything. The fish would not take long to steam in the frond bundles. And with a glance at Kida, who had eaten the entrails from the fish, she sat down and readied the small tubers and fruits. The silence was filling the clearing. It remained that way as they both ate in silence.

Unsure of sending him back in the darkness of the Jungle now that more of the nocturnal creatures were awake and hunting. Lunaria sucked her bottom lip into her mouth and chewed on it with her teeth until Kouen told her to stop that. Making her snort at him as she cleaned up the remains of dinner, disposing of them at the far edge of her little camp — the furthest point from where her small house was set up.

"It is dark, you may sleep here tonight... and return in the morning," she stated, pointing to her little lean-to.

The offer was silent as she watched a surprise show for but a second on his face before it was a blank mask again. Shrugging Lunaria padded over to the lean-to and knelt on the woven matt and laid down on her side. Leaving more than enough room for him should he chose to take it.


Koumei's POV

Koumei looked out the window, frowning at the fact that the sun was down, and the moon was rising higher into the sky. Kouen had not come back. He was not worried per se about his safety; he knew his brother would be fine. Able to defend himself to a degree. And that if something happened, Lunaria would act. It was just that he had hoped Kouen would get over himself, be a bit humble for once, apologize and bring Lunaria back that night.

"I wouldn't worry. If Kouen followed your directions, he should have found her camp. And had a decent dinner," Kouha said. "Besides you know even if she is mad, she will offer him a place to sleep..."

When Kouha trailed off, Koumei turned to look at his younger brother — seeing a slightly sour, pissed off look on it. This had him tilting his head in silent questions.

"Kouen's probably getting to cuddle with her... she has a matt she wove outta fronds. It is big enough for two, and she is too damn nice," Kouha hissed.

Turning away, Koumei smiled up at the night sky. He didn't like the idea of Kouen sleeping next to Lunaria. But if it got the two to talk and resolve the issue. Maybe meet in the middle he would be happy. Both of them were precious to him. One was family, the other as a good friend and someone he had hopes of investing more of himself in.

"I believe that is of no concern, you said the cat was possessive of her," Koumei said as he turned from the window and made his way to his room.

The bark of laughter from Kouha reminded him of the laugh the young man gave when on the battlefield. Making Koumei chuckles softly.


Kouen's POV

Kouen had been a bit surprised by the offer to stay the night. Then again, Lunaria was nice for her good. But then again, he was pleased she didn't tell him to leave after eating. With a bit of difficulty, he stood up and made his way to the matt and squatted down, setting his walking cane to the side. Then slowly lowered himself to the ground, placing his back to Lunaira's. When his arm was tucked under his head, Kouen closed his eyes, ready to go to sleep.

"Kouen?"

At Lunaria speaking his name, he stiffened and gave a soft grunt. Suddenly unsure of what to say.

"Goodnight."

It was simple. So, very basic. And it had warmth spreading through Kouen. He missed hearing it every night before she went to bed. He was smiling as he laid here.

"Lunaria, would you think about coming back?" he asked, hoping that this would not seem rude.

"Maybe... if I got an apology. You hurt me... deeply, Kouen," she replied.

The smile left his face as he opened his eyes. He was listening to the sounds of the jungle nightlife around them.

"I...am not good at this...Lunaria," he said.

"That is very apparent," she said, her voice getting distant.

Knowing he was not making headway, but instead losing ground, Kouen took a deep breath. He had not had to apologize and sincerely mean it since he was a little boy.

"I do regret... what I did and did not say. My actions were not right. I don't have a right to control you..." Kouen said slowly. Finding the right words were not wanting to come to him.

"Kouen... regret is one thing. Being truly sorry is another," she said to him, her voice soft and sad. "You are who I look to for my protection. Whether you wanted that job or not. You were the only one I knew in this place, so all my trust was yours. Same with my respect. Your actions... they... hurt me..."

Hearing her words had him grimacing as he lay there. Her words stung. More so because he knew she was right. His pride had gotten the best of him, and he had hurt her. He did value her for the friendship they'd had. There was a lot of pain she didn't recall, for which Kouen was silently happy about. The image of her looking like death warmed over, eyes red, face streaked from crying as the scars on her back were red. It had made something in him that day rise and want to protect her.

"You are right; regret is not saying, I am sorry," he said.

"Well, now that it is said, I forgive you, Kouen. Now, go to sleep!" she said, her voice happy and light.

He was confused at the sudden turn in events. But he realized saying it and meaning it was just what she wanted to hear even though he was not amused about being told to go to bed.

"Brat!" he said in good nature, earning a quiet giggle from Lunaria.

As he lay there, eyes closed, drifting off, he heard that voice in his head again. "You are the brat. But I am proud right now."

TBC!