Eternal Return

A/N. Not much to say, besides the fact that I´d like to thank all people who reviewed this so far. I enjoy writing this very much and your positive feedback keeps me writing.

Read and Review!

**I knew you never before

I see you never more

But the love, the pain, the hope, O beautiful one

Have made you mine, ´till all my years are done

Without you

the poetry within me is dead**

(Nightwish - Gethsemane)

Chapter1 - In Obscuro

*200 years later, late 18th century*

"Ken Hidaka! You're coming back here right now or you're fucked up!", a tall, lanky man with shoulder-length silky blonde hair hidden beneath a hood shouted furiously trying to catch up with a smaller brunette who attempted climbing up a muddy hill. He slipped and fell face first into the dirt.

"God damn it!", he cursed and tried to wipe the dirt off his face and clothes. "Come back here Hidaka! You're so dead!"

Said boy didn't give a damn about what his friend told him. Instead he continued his slippery way through the rocky landscape. His destination were some hidden caves somewhere at the mountain's base in front of him. The path was covered in mud, but with a bit caution not too difficult. The weather itself couldn't be better. The sun had risen half an hour ago and bathed the usually twilight zone in light. Though it was a bit foggy towards the mountain, he could clearly see where he had to go.

The brunette stopped for a second and wiped some sweat out of his chocolate coloured eyes. He loosened his cape for it wasn't as cold as two hours ago when he had left the castle on the quiet,... or so he thought. Ken could hear Youji just a few feet behind him, the blond man still cursing loudly and trying to catch up the last few metres to him. The swearing got worse when the blonde man stumbled again but somehow managed to stay on his feet this time.

The brunette boy grinned when he heard some curses that would have sent his father in a dead faint. The thought of his father passed out on the ground because of Youji again, was very amusing.

A hand gripped his shoulders hard and interrupted his musings. He was spun around forcefully and faced a very angry, very red faced, panting blonde. The dark maroon hood couldn't hide flashing jade eyes and the dangerous twitching of an eyebrow that could only mean one thing: Youji was mad as hell. He was out for blood! His to be more precise. Ken gulped. Youji scowled.

"I give you five seconds to explain why you are out here this early without protection and someone knowing where you went, Hidaka-sama.", he growled. "And give me a good reason because I am just about to do something that I might regret later on."

/Uh, oh!/, Ken thought worriedly. /Youji only calls me Hidaka-sama if he's seriously pissed off. I hope I can get back at his good side. Time for adorable little Kenken!/

"Aa, come on Yotan.", he whined scrunching up his face cutely. "You know where I headed to. I wanted to see the caves ever since I read about them and Otou-sama told me about this ancient legend that they are the portal into another realm."

Ken looked at him with an innocent, yet curious expression. His face fell when he realised that Youji´s eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Yes, I remember something like that, but if I remember the whole story correctly, he forbade you to come here!"

His face grew worried and he loosened the grip on the boy's shoulder a bit.

"You know that it's dangerous! Why don't you ever listen to me or at least your father?!"

Ken sulked. Youji always was such a spoilsport when it came to adventures and his safety. He angrily brushed some sweaty bangs out of his face.

His father was Lord of the southern regions and thus had many enemies. He had learned quickly that to weaken a person in power they targeted those persons he was close to. As his only son Ken was the perfect target. Therefor his father had asked Youji to take care of him.

Ken wasn't very thrilled when he heard about his father's decision, because it meant that the blonde warrior would follow him everywhere. After a very bad start that had ended in the blonde getting punched by him, Ken quickly learned that Youji was fun having around. They had grown very close until one day Youji admitted to Ken's surprise that he had fallen in love with him. After he had got over the initial shock of the confession, Ken realised that he reciprocated his feelings. Though he sometimes had to teach the blonde that flirting with women when he was around wasn't such a good idea, their love was deep and permanent.

Their was only one slight problem considering their relationship (and other than Youji´s continuous flirtations with most of the female population). When it came to Ken and his interest in ancient myths combined with an adventure, the man was stubborn as hell. Just because he fell into a river and nearly drowned that one time when he tried to find an ancient passage to the other side that had been randomly mentioned in a rotten old book, as Youji would have called it.

Well, it hadn't been his fault that the book had been translated incorrectly. And it certainly hadn't been his fault that the translator accidentally gave him wrong directions, so that he fell straight into the deepest part of the river instead of walking safely through shallow waters on to the other side.

Truth to be told, he could have checked the translation first before he started this adventure but brash as he was at times he hadn't bothered to check it.

/Seems like it was my fault after all/, Ken thought wryly. /Took me only four years to realise that./

Ever since that day his father and Youji insisted that he stopped such ridiculous adventures that somehow always seemed to end in a catastrophe. Ken's life being at risk through the Lord's enemies was enough to worry about, they told him again and again.

Ken stubborn as he could be, had to work in secret if he didn't want to be caught and get the scolding of a lifetime. Every now and then he risked telling Youji about some of his plans. The blonde warrior was fiercely protective of him and him not knowing where he was had ended in a disaster on more than one occasion. He shuddered at the thought. So understandably, he'd rather have him accompany him than having lectures about what he was allowed and what not afterwards.

This time however was different. His father had a fit when a servant informed him that Ken was quiet interested in the caves and their history. Years ago, he himself had told little Ken something about them but didn't think it would interest his son very much. He had gone berserk when he found out that he had seemingly been wrong. He ordered Youji to keep a close eye on him and hid the key to the library where he had found information on the caves, their history and legends that had grown around them.

Fortunately Ken had been able to copy down what he needed in time. This also included that tiny bit of information where the caves where located exactly.

It was strange. Ken wasn't sure why his father was so damn worried about those caves. He could understand his constant worry because of possible attempts on his life, but there was no reason to fear some hole in a mountain. It was just a little adventure, that consisted of exploring the caves and nothing more. It wasn't even as dangerous as the time when he found some new secret passages in the castle and accidentally stepped on a trapdoor which resulted in a broken leg and one hell of a bruised jaw. He hadn't been able to speak properly for weeks.

"Kenken? Are you still in there?"

Youji waved a hand in front of his eyes, worry clearly etched on his face. Ken jumped at the sudden intrusion on his thoughts.

"Hn?! What?", he sounded a bit annoyed though he hadn't planned to.

Youji sighed. He lifted his hand again and caressed Ken's cheek tenderly. The boy blushed a bit.

"I can't convince you to drop the whole matter, ne?"

Ken shook his head vigorously.

Youji sighed again.

"Then there's only one possibility left for me. I´ll have to come with you and save your little butt if you get in trouble...", he chuckled, "...and knowing you Kenken, you certainly get into trouble."

"What?!", the brunette sputtered stunned.

That wasn't what he expected to hear from him. He had prepared himself for being dragged home or something along that line, but certainly not for Youji giving in.

Youji seemed to enjoy his reaction. Ken supposed he must look like a gaping fish, mouth hanging open and eyes bugging out, because the blonde man started to crack up and laughed.

"This is too much!", he choked between fits of laughter. "That look on your face!", he laughed even more. "Incredible!"

Ken pouted.

"How nice that I seem to be so entertaining for you.", he hissed between clenched teeth, then abruptly turned and continued his way towards the mountain's base.

Youji stopped laughing and grabbed the boy's hand before he was out of reach. He spun him around once more and embraced him suddenly.

"Gomen! I didn't intend on hurting you.", he said softly.

Ken leaned into the embrace and closed his eyes, quietly enjoying the feel of warmth the older man provided.

"Apology accepted", he whispered softly.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

*Half an hour and one muddy hill later*

"It has to be somewhere here.", Ken said excitedly. "The book said something about a hidden passage that can only be seen if you look from the correct angle."

"Which book?", Youji asked calmly.

"Uh,...", Ken blushed and scratched his head showing that he was nervous as hell. "..the one I copied before Otou-sama hid the key to the library?"

"Aa...why did I have to ask? I should have known it beforehand."

Ken chuckled weakly, but excitement took over quickly.

"C´mon, help me search!"

"Remind me afterwards why the hell I'm doing this for you.", the blonde man grumbled. "I could have done other more important things instead of searching for that stupid cave and baby-sitting you."

Ken who had sunken to his knees in order to observe the area from the ground, looked up sharply.

"First...", he ground out. "...I thought you're doing this because you love me or at least have some sense of honour towards my father whom you promised to protect me. As you said dozens of times before, you can't protect me if we're at two different places."

His eyes narrowed further. "Second... your so called other more important things would have been consisted of chasing after everything on two legs wearing a dress or a skirt.", he breathed deeply. "Last but not least, I don't need you baby-sit..."

The boy was interrupted when Youji suddenly grabbed his arm.

"What?", he asked pissed off. "Don't like the truth. Now listen you..."

"Raven!!!!", Youji hissed.

"Hn?", Ken was confused.

"There was a raven. That's bad luck. I think we should better go." He looked around alarmed.

Ken gaped at him, then smirked.

"You're scared of a raven?", he asked an amused smile brightening his face.

"So what?", Youji retorted annoyed.

"I didn't know you were superstitious, Yotan.", the brunette giggled. He seemed to have totally forgotten what had happened only moments before.

"I am *not* superstitious.", Youji growled defensively, jade eyes flashing.

"Yes, you *are*! You can admit it!", Ken said smiling. "One would think that with all those stories and legends I'm constantly reading that I would be the superstitious one, but "errare humanum est"!"

"Hn?!?", Youji looked at him blankly.

"To be mistaken is only human", Ken translated. He brooded a moment. "Yotan?"

"Yes, o mighty Kenken!"

Ken sighed. That guy was so hopeless.

"Tell me what you know about those caves."

"Why", Youji asked confusedly.

"Just tell me!"

"Well, my father always told me to stay away from here because the caves that are supposed to be located here are entrance to the demon world and people tend to disappear while walking on these grounds. It is also said that if you don't disappear, you'll be cursed for the rest of your life, but I think he just made up that part of the story."

Ken sighed again. Why did everybody here just have to be so damn superstitious?

"Baka! You should learn to distinguish a tale from true background story. Let me tell you what *I* know about them.", he stared at Youji. "And what you could know too, if you'd followed my father's advise to use our library...before he hid the key that means."

"I hate books!", Youji muttered silently, but Ken caught his words nonetheless.

"Believe it or not! I figured that out a long time ago."

Youji stuck out his tongue. Ken groaned in despair.

"Ok. The books *I* read are similar to your stories on some parts. They also mention a portal into another realm, but there's not the slightest hint of any demons mentioned in there. It is said that two hundred years ago, a Lord from the other realm crossed the gates into our worlds and met the young son of the Duke of this region. Both fell deeply in love with each other and they would have lived happily ever after if it wasn't for the boy's father who didn't approve of their love when he found out about it. He attacked the young lord, but didn't expect his child trying to protect his lover with all his might. The boy was killed by accident. Just before he died, it is said, that he made a promise to meet his lover again in the future. The young lord vowed to wait for his beloved and returned into his own realm. After that incident nobody crossed the gates between both worlds again or so it is believed.

The cave's location was slowly forgotten, only mentioned in one book that I found by chance. All that was left in the memory of the people around here was a legend."

"So you came here to find the portal?", Youji asked carefully.

"No! I consider it a legend, too, but the caves might show a hint that people used them as a homestead two centuries ago and abandoned them afterwards. No demons! No portals! Just history turned into a myth though I have to admit the story itself is very romantic and sad. I wanted to prove I'm right. Besides..."

"What?"

Ken stumbled a bit over his next words."The caves are supposed to be one gigantic subterranean system of passages and labyrinths. I want to..."

Youji snorted. "That wasn't what you wanted to say, Kenken. I'm not stupid. You've acted weird for some time now and I want to know why. I know that you can be stubborn and easily obsessed over something but I have the feeling that there's more to it. Tell me!"

Ken dropped his head.

"You'll only laugh!", he whispered.

"I promise I won't laugh", he assured the brunette and squeezed his hand gently.

"Well, I... have those...weird dreams.", he stuttered.

"What dreams?", Youji asked growing concerned immediately.

"There is that boy in my dreams. He reminds me of myself somehow though I can't see him. He meets this redheaded stranger. I know he is very beautiful although I have never seen his face properly. The stranger seems to be very close to my dream ego.", Ken flushed suddenly. "He kissed the boy on several occasions. I suppose they are lovers or so."

Youji drew in a sharp breath, but remained quiet. An odd glint had appeared in his eyes, but Ken didn't notice for he was far to lost in his thoughts.

"Anyway...they usually meet at a mountain's base, this mountain's base to be precise and it shows the entrance to a cave, but it's always hidden in the shadows. I remembered what Otou-sama told me about the caves and what I've read myself about it. That's when I got curious and wanted to know if these caves here have some relation to those of my dreams."

Ken looked around and tried to recall more of his memories. Suddenly his face lit up.

"He always came from...", the brunette turned a bit to the left and pointed his index finger straight at a hedgerow hidden in the shadows. "there!"

As if on cue both could make out the outlines of a cave hidden behind the hedge. It could be easily missed. Just a few feet to the right or left and all that could be seen would be shadows, not even the hedgerow.

"Very impressive...", Youji said flatly.

Ken turned to his friend and lover and looked at him strangely. He then noticed the glint in his eyes and finally understood.

"Aa, come on, Yotan!", he teased. "Unsure of my affections?"

Youji knew that the boy just wanted to make a joke but to him, it didn't sound like one. The lanky playboy who always flirted with other women, was suddenly very scared that he might loose the one thing, the one person he truly cared for.

"Jealous?", Ken asked smiling.

"Yes!", Youji hissed and he certainly meant it. He wasn't about to let some dream lover take away his little one. Demon Lord or not, Ken was his and only his! He would never let him go, not as long as he could prevent it.

The smaller boy laughed softly, obviously amused over Youji´s behaviour. He closed the short distance separating them and looked deeply into his jade eyes.

"Then let me show you that you don't have to be jealous of anyone!", he said and with those words stood up on his tiptoes and kissed the blonde.

Youji growled possessively and pulled him even closer, his tongue running over Ken's lower lip demanding entrance. The boy complied without hesitance.

"You're mine, Kenken!", he hissed.

"Yours.", was the only answer before the kiss was deepened even further and passion took over.

They didn't notice the hooded person watching them silently from the entrance of the cave nor did they notice when said person finally left leaving no indication that it had ever been there.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

*In a beautiful garden somewhere behind the gates to the mortal realm.*

Omi quietly approached his Lord and bowed.

"Ran-sama!", he said in a low voice.

The redheaded Lord who had been sitting on a bench intently watching a blooming field of violet-blue gentians, looked up. His face was expressionless, yet his eyes held a sadness behind comprehension. Wind played softly with his flaming hair, but he didn't acknowledge it. He fixed questioning eyes on his most trusted servant.

"What is it, Omi-kun?"

Omi bowed even deeper.

"He finally returned, my Lord!"

Ran´s eyes grew wide and a soft smile began to tug at his lips. He became worried when he noticed the look on the boy's face.

"Is something wrong? Tell me!"

Omi sighed and bit his lip. His Lord wouldn't like what he had to tell him. After having waited for so long to get his beloved back, he had to discover that...

"Omi! Tell me, now!", his voice held a slight undertone of despair. Omi knew only too well why.

"My Lord, he doesn't seem to remember you...", he started.

"That was to be expected..", Ran´s face grew sad but not surprised.

"...and he...Cain-sama...", he stuttered, "Cain-sama already found someone else. We're too late!"

Ran dropped to the ground in shock, tears filling his eyes.

"No!...No, no, no...this can't be true!", he screamed in utter despair, a cry that was also heard by a dreaming brunette boy in his sleep.

/You believe in love trough the times, koi?/

"Beloved...", Ran whispered brokenly.

/I will return for you then./

~ End chapter1~