AN: Well, it's finally the end. Thanks to everyone who read or reviewed this story. I'm glad you enjoyed it, but unfortunately there can be no more (there's no more verses in the poem for a starter.) Remember, this is shounen-ai, and based on a manga I don't own.

And now, proudly presenting the final chapter of Fire and Ice.

Chapter Six – Night

I am Night: I bring again
Hope of pleasure, rest from pain:
Thoughts unsaid 'twixt Life and Death
My fruitful silence quickeneth.

From a poem by William Morris


Chris had discovered a lot of things over the past few days; that Eclipse and Raenef were in love and apparently had been for a while; that Eclipse became even more irritable when sunburnt; that Eclipse seemed to find something interesting in staring at Raenef for hours upon hours while the demon lord slept, and now, that Raenef really loved snow, but hated the fact that it was cold.

Apparently Eclipse had enjoyed spending time with Raenef at the beach as well, even though he ended up burnt to a crisp and continued to deny that he found anything even slightly amusing about their journey to the coast, even though his face would light up every time one of them would mention something that had happened.

It was almost like the way they cared for each other, because it seemed that even though the two of them had features that they would have no doubt found completely off-putting had they been part of someone else's personality, they loved each other completely and without reserve. It was almost like fire melting ice, and ice cooling fire. Raenef and Eclipse; fire and ice.

Chris wondered why on earth he was thinking the things he was, shook off whatever bout of out-of-character-ness that had overtaken him, and concentrated on the snowball he was forming.

This one had Erutis's name on it, he decided, just as he received a mouthful of snow thrown at him from somewhere in the vicinity of a certain red-headed female swordsmaster.


"Master Raenef!" Eclipse called out. "If you stay out here you're going to get sick again!" Today was the first day Eclipse had felt Raenef was ready to be out and about again, and the last thing he wanted was for his master to enter a relapse.

Raenef sighed. "All right."

Eclipse didn't miss the disappointment in Raenef's voice, and tried to remedy it.

"I can wait another couple of days before I return the castle to normal if you'd like to enjoy the snow some more."

"That's okay," Raenef said, trying his hardest to smile. "I think I prefer a warm sun or fire anyway," the demon lord admitted, wrapping his woollen jacket more tightly around him, wishing that it was Eclipse that was keeping him warm.

It was so confusing, Raenef decided. The kiss had seemed so real, but when he had woken up again he was back in his bed, and it seemed like none of it had happened. Eclipse's attitude certainly hadn't changed towards him, much to Raenef's dismay.

Maybe it was time to find out for sure whether it had been a dream or reality.

"Eclipse," Raenef asked shyly, "do we have a fireplace?"

"You know we do, Master Raenef," Eclipse answered.

"In that case," Raenef said, moving close to Eclipse. He very slowly wrapped his arms around Eclipse's neck, pressing their bodies together and feeling Eclipse freeze as he did so. "Can you take me there?"

Eclipse's body seemed unable to move. Raenef wasn't even sure if the elder demon was breathing.

"Oh," Eclipse suddenly gasped. "There as in the fireplace. Of course."

"Because you know you promised me that you'd teach me how to perform that fire-lighting spell."

"Of course, Master Raenef."

"And I thought I told you to stop called me Master.'

Eclipse ignored Raenef's protests and wrapped his arms around the demon lord's waist.

"Of course," Eclipse smiled, leaning in close to the younger man's ear. "Raenef," he whispered, sending goosebumps up and down the demon lord's body.

It had been so difficult, Eclipse thought. For so long even the smallest of glances or touches had sent him into a self-doubting spiral that gradually made him feel less and less like the person he had thought he was, but this; this was so much easier. Why hadn't he just thrown caution the wind earlier, because he got a hell of a lot more smiles from Raenef when he just let his emotions take control; that was for sure.

"Eclipse," Raenef sighed. "Can you do that again?"

"What was that my lord?"

"Say my name again," Raenef answered, resting his head against Eclipse's chest, "without any stupid titles."

Eclipse grinned, and then, because he couldn't very well be a good servant without doing exactly as his master asked, leaned even closer to his ear.

"Raenef," he repeated, somewhat pleased with himself when he heard Raenef sigh in pleasure.

Eclipse was startled when he felt Raenef's lips press very chastely against his own. The kiss was much more reserved than his own had been, and lasted for only a moment before Raenef pulled away again.

It was good. There was no doubt about that. But it wasn't quite enough, so Eclipse captured Raenef's chin with one of his hands and brought their lips together again. This time it was a long while before they parted.

"Eclipse," Raenef whispered as they parted. "Eclipse, I…"

"What is it Raenef?" Eclipse asked softly. "Whatever it is you want I'll do it."

"Eclipse," Raenef repeated. "I think we should move."

"What?"

With that Eclipse turned around to discover a couple of pairs of eyes watching them. Chris stared at them in horror, fainting as soon as the two of them looked his way. Erutis cheered.

"I think you may be right," Eclipse commented. "Go."

"Awww…." Erutis complained, oblivious to the fact that Chris was unconscious and therefore couldn't hear her. "Now this time I know we're missing out on something."


Raenef's lips were captured as soon as they reached their destination. The fireplace was left unlit, and there were no blankets in the room apart from Eclipse's robe. Raenef soon discovered however, that Eclipse was much warmer than any fire, or any blanket ever could be.

Later, when he was wrapped up only in Eclipse's arms, the older demon's robes covering them both, Raenef knew he had never been this happy before, and probably never would be unless he stayed with Eclipse.

"I love you," the blonde whispered, leaning back against Eclipse's chest.

"I love you too Raenef," Eclipse said, pressing a kiss to his lover's forehead.

Raenef smiled and stared absentmindedly at the empty fireplace in front of him.

"Eclipse," he whispered. "Can you teach me how to light the fire?"

"Of course," Eclipse said, smiling from ear to ear. He grabbed one of Raenef's hands in his own, letting some of his power flow through his fingers and into Raenef's so that his master could feel what he was doing. "It's a weakened version of a popular battle spell. Just feel the fire flow into you, gather the energy and then speak the incantation."

Raenef looked up at his tutor, his eyes asking Eclipse for the incantation, even if his voice did not.

"Fiery blaze," Eclipse whispered.

The fireplace was lit.

THE END