"Garfakcy…"

The nightmares had ended. Or so the alchemist hoped as he gingerly cradled the tiny human in his arms. The blanket that was wrapped around the two of the tumbled from the chair and to the cold floor. It's folds trembled ever so slightly as Kharl raised a hand and stroked Garfakcy's soft hair.

He still shivered from time to time, a motion that worried the youkai slightly, but he knew the worst had passed for the boy. A small smile curved his lips.

"See? I told you everything was going to be okay. You'll be better soon, and then everything will be back to normal again. I promise."

He sighed and held Garfakcy closer. It was a promise he knew he couldn't keep.

"I love you…
I love you…"


Those three words kept echoing through his head. Over and over again, torturing him. Were they real? Or were they just a fleeting dream?

He had to know.

He had to find out.

The curiosity was killing him inside.

"NO!" The Renkin wizard had to stop and mentally kick himself. "No…you can't think things like that. You can't…"

He couldn't understand why he couldn't. He just couldn't. Garfakcy…he was a human, so small and weak. So sweet and adorable when he was sleeping…

Garfakcy shivered once more and huddled himself closer to Kharl.

"Yes," Kharl muttered to himself, gently returning the embrace. "Yes I can…"
*
"KHARL-SAMA!!!"

Kharl nearly fell out of his chair in fright as Garfakcy bolted out of bed.

"What's going on, why was I in bed, I have to – "

The human was cut short as Kharl placed a finger over his lips, a signal to shut-up for a moment.

"You don't remember?"

"No!" Garfakcy was already searching frantically for his apron. "But I've got work to do!"

Kharl grinned and simply scooped the human up and plunked him unceremoniously into his bed again amidst protests of, "Kharl-sama!!!" Really, he was so cute when he was agitated.

"You've been sick for a week."

"But…"

"You don't want to get worse right when you're getting better. I think you should rest a little bit longer."

"But who's gonna clean up around here?"

Kharl grinned. "I will, of course."

"You?" Garfakcy eyed the youkai skeptically.

"Sure. But, uhm...where do I start?"

The human sighed and shook his head slightly. "Try watering the plants first, Kharl-sama."

"Capital idea!" Kharl turned and quickly left the room. The door remained open ever so slightly, and from down the halls Garfakcy could hear various crashes and clangings of Kharl searching for his watering can. He really could be so disorganized at times.

But that was all part of the reason he loved the youkai so. His carefree smile, his bad memory, his deep violet eyes.

He had been the one who had taken him in.

Alone. It was so dark. He could taste the salt of his own tears, feel them streaming down his cheeks, even as he sniffed and tried to be brave. Dark, dark, it was so dark. He was so alone.

Then something moved in the darkness. Arms wrapped themselves gently around him, lifting him up, carrying him away from the loneliness, taking him away from the darkness.

Kharl.

He had taken him, cared for him.

After a while, he offered him the chance to be together forever.

Or at least, that's how Garfakcy had interpreted it. The words that had left the alchemist's mouth were more along the lines of, "Do you want to live forever?"

"Forever," he had told himself. Forever was a long time. It took him quite a while to think of anything to say in return, but when he did it came out, "Will I get to stay with you, Kharl-sama?"

Funny how he had been so naïve.

Kharl had smiled, patting him on the head. "Of course."

He had smiled in return and nodded eagerly.

Maybe that's when it had all started. Maybe that was when he started noticing those smiles, those forgetful moments the youkai had, those eyes. Maybe that's when he felt his heart begin to beat faster when he looked straight at him.

"I wonder if he'll ever know…" Garfakcy muttered to himself.
*

Garfakcy was asleep again by the time the Renkin wizard had returned, his once white dress shirt and cloak smeared with dust and mud and soap and dampened with water.

"Garfakcy…" He shook the boy gently, softly whispering his name. "Garfakcy, wake up…"

"Huh? Kharl-sama?" Sleepily, Garfakcy opened one eye.

"May I ask you something?"

"Sure," he muttered, sitting up and yawning. Kharl could hardly hide his smile. He was so cute when he did that. "What is it?"

The words almost stuck in his mouth. "Do you love me?"

Green eyes grew wide with a sort of pleased surprise. "Wh-what do you mean by that?"

Kharl drew a little closer, his expression suddenly becoming quite serious. "You know what I mean…"

Garfakcy would have answered, really he would have, if Kharl hadn't quickly bent down and kissed him.

Just like that, kissed him. It wasn't quite what the human had expected, but with Kharl, nothing ever was. Except for when he lost his watering can.

"Yes…" Garfakcy found himself muttering as they finally broke away. "I love you…"

"That's what I thought," Kharl grinned mischievously. Garfakcy didn't say anything, just let Kharl pull him nearer as he reached for the pin that held the alchemist's white cloak in place, and pulled it off. The sound of it dropping to the ground was music to his ears.
End


Garfakcy: You had too much fun writing that last scene.
Kokoro Daisuke: I did! I DID! *does a happy dance*
Garfakcy: Oi. *slaps self*