Quite an impatient bunch, aren't you? (coughCROWKEEPER990cough) I update about every four days, and that's more often than a lot of the other authors out there.
Yami Seraphim-chan, Raenef was supposed to sneeze every time Eclipse thought of him. It's an anime thing. And Crowkeeper990, I don't hate myself, I hate my writing.
A lot of you wanted to know why I didn't like the last chapter. It's because it was a filler chapter between the sled scene and the kitchen scene in this chapter, and I thought I didn't make a smooth transition. Plus, as Tanta Green has observed, the characters are slightly OOC, which also applies to this chapter. I hate OOC-ness; it's a pet peeve, so I'm not too fond of this chapter either. (I love you Tanta-chan, you're wonderful!)
UltimaKeybladeMaster, if you could be a little more specific about what's bugging you, I'd really appreciate your opinion!
Chapter 5
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When Raenef emerged from the bathroom he was feeling wonderfully warm and fuzzy all over, and he was about to make his way over to the closet for some clean clothes when he noticed an outfit laid out on a curious flat rounded tablet in the corner. He walked over to it inquisitively, and as he neared it soothing waves of heat washed over him. Picking up the soft cotton shirt, he noted its warmth and pressed it to his face, relishing the heat as pleasant shivers skittered over his flesh. He then laid a hand on the strange tablet, and as the tingling hotness seeped into his skin he smiled, closing his eyes. It was a heater.
Eclipse… thank you.
After he had dressed he discovered a bowl of hot broth on his nightstand, and he settled on top of the heater, sipping it slowly. The soup completely filled him internally with a delicious heat as the heater warmed him externally, and he sighed softly in content. He lay basking in the sweet heat after he finished the broth, warmed to the core.
Eclipse does so much for me… even though I'm such a failure… No one has treated me like that before.
He drew his knees to his chest, a bittersweet ache of longing and love swelling in his breast.
I wonder… does he put up with me just because I'm a demon lord, or is there something more…?
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The sauce was simmering nicely as Eclipse stirred it slowly, and he went over his mental checklist of ingredients to make certain he hadn't forgotten something. He had just decided he wasn't missing anything when he sensed a familiar presence enter the room, and a pair of slender arms slid around his waist. Raenef pressed himself against Eclipse's broad back, inhaling his comforting scent.
"Feel better?" Eclipse murmured.
"Yes." Raenef nuzzled the valley between the demon's shoulder blades. "Thank you, Eclipse."
"It was nothing, Master Raenef." Eclipse turned and pulled Raenef in front of him with the hand that wasn't stirring, and the blonde leaned back languidly against him. The demon's hand ceased its motion, releasing the wooden spoon and he picked up a small dining spoon off of the counter and dipped it into the sauce. He blew on it gently to cool it off to a comfortable temperature.
"Taste," he said, offering the spoon to Raenef. The youth took his hand delicately to steady it and closed his lips over the spoon. After a moment he drew back, smiling up at Eclipse.
"It's delicious."
I'll bet you are too…
"Wh-what?" stammered Raenef, flushing brightly.
Eclipse sweatdropped. "I did not say anything." Technically true…
"Oh." The blonde looked away, flustered. I could have sworn he said… no, he would never say that. Not in a million years. Just wishful thinking…
Eclipse sighed inwardly with relief. It's been a long while since I said something telepathically subconsciously…What's happening to me?
"…Eclipse?"
"Mmm?"
Timid emerald eyes sought his own dark gaze. "Thank you for taking care of me."
"It is my duty, Master Raenef." Eclipse dumped a bowl full of pasta into a pot of boiling water.
Raenef traced a pattern on the countertop, glancing furtively at the other from beneath lids at half-mast.
"Is that the only reason you took me in, Eclipse?"
Eclipse stopped and turned to look at his lord, but the youth was carefully avoiding his gaze, finding a splinter in the cabinet to focus his attention upon. But Eclipse could sense that he was attentively attuned to him, and him only, giving him the distinct feeling that he was treading on fragile eggshells.
"Initially, yes…" He watched the blonde's expression carefully, but Raenef had donned an impassive mask as he continued to toy with the fraying wood. "But like you mentioned previously, I believe our meeting was destined, and I am glad the strings of fate chose to bind us together."
Raenef turned a surprised jade gaze upon him. "You mean it?"
Dark eyes softened with a smile. "Of course. I would not lie to you."
Raenef brightened, beaming happily. "Thank you, Eclipse."
Eclipse ran his fingers through the youth's flaxen hair affectionately. "Now, pass me the carrots, if you would."
"Okay!" Cheerfully, Raenef scurried to comply. "What'cha cookin'?" He inquired as he relinquished the impeccably sliced vegetable to his mentor.
"If I tell you, will you remember?"
"Uh…" Raenef sweat-dropped nervously. "Maybe…"
"Yes or no?" A curious glint materialized in Eclipse's eyes.
"Y-yes…"
"A demon lord does not stutter, Master Raenef."
Raenef bit his lower lip, wondering why he felt like a fly walking into a spider's web. "Yes."
"Very well then." A smirk threatened to arrogate the demon's lips. "It's an Eastern dish, called Chauterekhaj-raielle Nhudatchette."
Dotted eyes stared at him blankly. "What?"
"Chauterekhaj-raielle Nhudatchette. Don't forget, you said you'd remember it."
Raenef pouted indignantly, and Eclipse fought the urge to smirk wickedly.
"You didn't tell me it was impronounceable!"
"Unpronounceable," his mentor corrected. "Which it is not, as I proved by pronouncing it."
"No fair!" Raenef shot him a positively adorable death glare. "At least give it to me again—slowly."
"Very well. Ready?" Raenef nodded. "Chau-te-re-khaj-rai-elle Nhu-da-tchette," he reiterated slowly, enunciating each syllable distinctly.
"Chow-ru-ta-khaj-rei-da-nu…" Raenef stammered unsteadily, breaking off when he caught sight of Eclipse's miserably futile attempts to keep a straight face. "Don't laugh!" he said, chagrined.
Eclipse coughed apologetically. "Let's try that again, shall we?"
"Okay…" An indignant pout lingered on the youth's lips.
"Repeat. Chau."
"Chau."
"Te."
"Te."
"Re."
"Re."
"Khaj."
"Khaj."
"Rai."
"Rai."
"Elle."
"Elle."
"Nhu."
"Nhu."
"Da."
"Da."
"Tchette."
"Tchette."
"Chauterekhaj-raielle Nhudatchette."
"Chautarekhad-laelle Nodajette…"
Eclipse smiled. "Close, but no cigar."
"Huh?" Raenef blinked. "What's a cigar?"
"Um… never mind…" Eclipse sweat-dropped. 1
"Okay!" said Raenef, immediately dismissing it. Leaning idly on the counter, he watched Eclipse cook while amusing himself with the splinter he had previously discovered. As the older demon went to extract a few herbs from the cupboard, he smiled upon hearing Raenef's continued attempts to pronounce the name of the concoction he was perusing.
"Chau-ke-re… Chau-rai-te… Chau-ta-re…Chau-te—ow!"
"Master Raenef?" Eclipse abandoned his herbs and rushed over. "What's wrong?"
"Heh…" Sheepish emerald eyes looked up at him. "I guess I stopped paying attention to what I was doing." He was clutching his right index finger with his left hand.
"Did you burn yourself?"
Raenef nodded.
"Let me see." Moving closer, Eclipse took his lord's injured hand in both of his and inspected the digit in question carefully. The tip was already inflamed, but the burn was not serious. He soothed it quickly with a simple cooling spell.
"Better?"
Cheeks tinged with embarrassment, Raenef nodded. "Thank you."
"It was nothing," Eclipse murmured. Raenef raised his eyes to meet his mentor's, and it dawned on them with a fluttering tingle up the spine precisely how close they were. Raenef's slender hand was delicate and warm in Eclipse's light grasp, and it registered suddenly that he was stroking it with his thumb. He lost himself in the youth's smoky green eyes, feeling their breaths mingling; something magnetic and irresistible was drawing them closer, but it occurred to him that he wasn't the one moving. Raenef was leaning towards him; involuntarily, judging from the note of surprise in his eyes; his free hand reached up, fingers trembling, to flit over the older demon's pale cheek. Eclipse could feel the rapid beating of the youth's heart, and his left hand slid to the back of Raenef's head, nestling into the golden silk of his hair, guiding him closer… closer…
The door burst open with a resounding crash.
The two demons sprung apart like repelling magnets, Eclipse quickly returning to the stove and Raenef scampering to the opposite side of the room to pour himself a glass of water with shaking hands, trying to cool the furious blush tainting his cheeks.
"By the gods, it's freezing out there!" griped Erutis, shivering violently and rubbing her arms. "I can't believe how fast the blizzard blew in!" Chris, looking rather frostbitten, said nothing, making a beeline for the stove fire at Eclipse's feet, and the knight crowded in hurriedly after.
"A blizzard?" inquired Raenef, wincing slightly when his voice cracked, but the others didn't seem to think anything of it. He had found a different splinter to pluck at, and was having a bit of trouble getting past one reiterating thought: I almost kissed him… I almost kissed him…
Erutis rounded on him peevishly. "Yes, a blizzard. Speaking of which, where have you been? We've been waiting out there for you—as promised—for practically an hour!"
"Oh!" Raenef's cheeks inflamed again, but for a different reason. "I'm so sorry, I was… what happened was…"
"I did not allow him to go back out," Eclipse broke in, glancing over his shoulder at his liege for the first time since the kitchen was invaded. Raenef gave him a very swift grateful glance and then quickly averted his eyes, feeling his overactive cheeks flare up yet again.
"Oh, was that it," grumbled Erutis, unable to retaliate crouched at the demon's feet.
Eclipse sighed. Remind me again why they are living here…?
Chris, who appeared to have thawed a bit, sniffed the air curiously. "Smells good. What's for dinner?"
I can't believe I almost kissed him… "Chauterekhaj-raielle Nhudatchette," answered Raenef thoughtlessly.
The other three occupants of the room turned to stare at him in utter shock. Even Eclipse's normally impassive visage was uncharacteristically adorned in utter astonishment. Raenef himself blinked in surprise. Then he beamed at his tutor.
"See? I told you I'd remember it!" Triumph practically radiated from his ecstatically blinding grin. An amused but pleased smile rewarded him as Eclipse returned to the stove.
"So you did, my lord."
Chris cleared his throat as shock relinquished its paralytic hold on his body. "So what's the frozen stuff we've been out in all day called?"
The brilliance faded from Raenef's face as abruptly as if someone had flicked off a light switch (which have yet to be invented). "Uh…"
Face-faults were passed around the room.
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TBC
1 This line was just an observation on the frequent anachronisms in the manga novels (mostly in the chibi parts), and even more so in some fanfictions I've read. I know it's all fantasy and such but sometimes it bugs. I couldn't help inserting a little verbal irony.
Ja Bai Bai!