Standard disclaimers apply. Please don't sue me!

Warnings: Absolute OOCness ensues. There's absolutely no RanXKen action in this chapter. I intend to tell the tale of the guy you've all been waiting for… Aw c'mon, I don't need to tell you, ne! Enjoy! (meaning, don't kill me…)

For Chitoshiya no TohmaI'm sure you know who I am talking about so you may skip reading this chapter for the sole fact that your hated character is, well, here. I promise that Ken would be in the next chapter, ok? Ehehehe…

Okay, here's the beta'ed version! Arigatou Skyyler-sama! (n.n)

My goal in life is to collect the Gravitation Remix mangas by Maki Murakami-sama.

Scarlet Moon

By Ninetails

Chapter 6

Omi walked on through the woods, deep in thought. His steps were slow and careless, unmindful of the possible danger that visible trail marks could entail. Deep blue eyes were trained to the ground, unseeing, unmindful of the scenic route or the various vegetation that would normally take up all his attention. His young brow was uncharacteristically furrowed, the expression out of place on his still boyish features.

His cousin was acting more mysterious these days. Granted that he was always aloof and mysterious, but this time, something was obviously bothering him… a lot… enough for it to show.

The boy sighed, rubbing the rather tight shirt his maid insisted on dressing him in. The velveteen material was impractical for a rather warm morning, but he couldn't be seen in anything less. It was hard to be related to a marquis, harder still to be his cousin. He wasn't of royal blood himself; his mother and Ran's, both commoners, were sisters. Sadly, his aunt passed away a few years ago, and he felt the change of Ran's demeanor more keenly at that time from a brooding lad to a downright solemn man.

His younger sister, Aya, was sent to a convent soon after for reasons quite unknown to Omi. When he finally ventured to ask Ran why, he almost thought that the knowledge wasn't worth the sight of naked pain etched in his amethyst eyes. "To remain safe from me."

As far as he knew, his cousin never visited her. He would sometimes caress the necklace left to him by his mother, a cross, that he remembered he saw around Aya's throat. At those times, Omi longed to draw Ran into a hug and comfort him, but there was something in his stance that entreated to be alone, to be one with his pain. Recently, he did not see that necklace with Ran.

Omi didn't like to stay in the castle. He felt that there were too many secrets, too much pain lurking in every nook and crevice of the fortress. He himself was affected by the gloom of the palace, which he couldn't afford, because it was bad enough to see his cousin pining away in that… place. He did his best to cheer Ran up even a little bit, his cheeks sometimes aching from all the smiling he had to do. Good thing his ridiculous behavior was paying off… most of the time.

His cousin was a handsome man, although his reputation seemed to precede that, so he was always alone, feared by many. Ever since Omi could remember, his cousin had always been like that. His somber expression, unsmiling features, cold eyes and aloof demeanor were enough to stave off even the most persistent courtier. Yet sometimes, Ran would gift him with one of his rare smiles, and everything would be all right again.

As the boy continued to walk, he lost track of where he was and suddenly found himself in an unfamiliar and utterly obscure part of the woods. Oh no. Ran is going to thoroughly disembowel me with his sword! He always warned me not to venture too far into the woods, he reprimanded himself, belatedly repenting his decision to stroll through the woods to get away from the palace staff.

He squinted down at the uneven ground, trying vainly to recall all the forest tracking skills drilled into him by his father. He almost cried out in dismay; the terrain he was travelling on was rocky, the disturbances on the ground almost too imperceptible to discern. What he could have left as footprints were marred by the thick carpet of leaves that was continuously growing, the leaves slowly drifting down from the trees like rain. He sighed once again and decided that since he was already lost, he should just walk around until something struck him as familiar. Worst thing to do for a wise woodsman, but he always relied on his instincts, and it had never failed him yet.

It was still early morning, the sun barely near the zenith, and Omi enjoyed the cool breeze playing with his blonde locks, making him contemplate the conundrum that was his life. He and his cousin didn't have a thing in common. His own face was still too soft, too rounded, as that of a child. His cousin's was all smooth angles and sharp features. And his eyes…

Ran's violet eyes told a tale of woe, of sorrow too deep that it cut through bone. Omi sometimes shuddered at their depths; violet eyes akin to that of his uncle's. Eyes that were passed on for seven generations. When he would pass by the wall where the portraits of the Lords of Fujimiya hung, he would gaze deeply into the eyes of each, and he noticed that the eyes of Ran's namesake, as well as of the men succeeding him, had the same bleak look in his eyes. There was a secret there, and Omi ached to know and heal it.

He heard the telltale splashing of a lot of water and knew with slight surprise that he was quite close to the river. He suddenly fancied a little dip in the cool waters to soothe his already overheated body despite the chilly air, too exhausted from his long walk.

He quickened his steps and soon after, he was rolling up his trousers and dipping his feet in the cool water, his boots forgotten on the slick bank of the river. Laughter bubbled up from inside him, bursting forth in a fit of hearty chuckles. No one would see him here, no one would judge what he was, what he ought to be. They said he was too flighty, that he should know better, and that he had duties to uphold, being near-relative to the Lord of the land. He tried to please them, and acting his age was a rare luxury. So there he was, ankle-deep in rushing water and giggling like a little child.

A slight blush suffused his cheeks as that certain thought crossed his mind. Oh well… no one could witness his humiliating actions here… wherever here is.

He spotted a floating figure farther down the river, and he suddenly tensed.

For days now, news about the Lorena's fateful sinking circulated the land and now flooded his mind; he wondered whether that figure could be…

He warily approached, lifting his knife from its jeweled scabbard before advancing further.

When he was in a fairly safe distance from the dark figure lying facedown on the damp ground of the riverbank, he stopped and surveyed the bedraggled figure of what he surmised to be a man.

His clothes were tattered, and his tanned skin was bruised, his stubbled face pale and haggard-looking. There were numerous scratches on his body that were still bleeding, seeping into his once-white shirt. Omi breathed a sigh of relief to see the man's back still heaving. Feeling pity overcome him, the boy hastily bent down to do what he could to help.

He gently poked the broad shoulder, still wary despite his compassion for the distraught man. The man stirred, groaning in what could only be pain. Omi helped the man turn over onto his back, feeling his body's weakness as he settled the man's head on his lap. He cursed himself silently for not bringing anything but the clothes he wore; he did not intend for this to be a long walk after all.

He scrutinized the man's injuries. He seemed to be beaten up badly, and his hands were bloody, some of the skin peeling off. He must have struggled for his life… by holding on to something, maybe a plank or a mast of the ship.

A few days ago, the great ship Lorena carrying more men from the ruins of the Holy Land unexplainably sank. People speculated that it was an omen of bad things that would happen in the Crusades, some said it was a sign of great famine. He heard one of the guards say it was the fault of half-rabid men who were too eager to put their feet on solid ground of their homeland. Omi didn't know what the connection could be.

Some of the seamen were found floating near the limestone cliffs, other weren't able to make it. Less than half of the crew and passengers were recovered, and they said that there were no other survivors. A few days after the tragedy, men stopped looking.

Apparently, they haven't searched enough. This man clearly was one of the victims of the wreck, if the seaweed clinging to his arms and legs and a few certain echinoderms latching onto his hair were to go by.

The boy suddenly felt despair overwhelm him. How was he to help this man in the middle of nowhere without any medicinal supplies whatsoever! The man he cradled in his arms suddenly started to struggle as unintelligible words poured from his chapped lips. Omi's foremost thought as he grappled with the distraught man's flailing limbs was that he must bring this man to the nearest healer and fast.

"Sir? Sir? Please, can you hear me?" he asked tremulously as he gently shook the figure's shoulders, waiting for any reply. The man moaned louder and Omi was afraid that he had aggrieved his injuries more. He continued to call out to the man, desperately hoping for a coherent response.

The man jerked from his light grip and sat up, opening his eyes and turning to look at him.

Omi was completely enthralled by the greenest eyes he had ever seen. The man before him wrinkled his brows before trying to form his mouth into words. "A-angel?" he said, voice raspy from disuse.

Omi blushed profusely, hastily shaking his head before answering. "No, sir. I am Omi and I found you in a very uncomfortable position on the riverbank. I wish to give aid to your hapless state… if only we could reach my home…" he answered, suddenly feeling disheartened once again at the prospect of trying to find his way back.

The man's eyelids were getting heavy, and his already slumped form stooped further back into Omi's embrace, which made the boy's blush more vivid. The last thing the man's slurred voice uttered sounded like "Ken" before heavy lids covered his emerald eyes and exhaustion overcame him.

Only one thing predominated Omi's mind. He had to let this man live.


Omi managed to get the man's cooperation and they walked, or in the other's case, stumbled back to the castle. The man was very weak, and yet he found the strength to journey through the rough terrain of the forest. Omi did his best to support him, the man's arms around his shoulders and almost all of his weight on him. He first supported the man by holding his waist, but seeing his painful wince, Omi opted to slide his arm lower to his hip. He could feel the man's sinewy muscles straining beside him, and he blushed once again before putting everything into the back of his mind. He had a mission set out for him.

Since the river was behind them, he knew the castle's direction to be north-west since he once saw a map of his Lord uncle's farther lands. The sun was already at its peak, and sweat caused his shirt to cling quite unpleasantly to his back, in spite of the autumn wind caressing the darkening forest.

Progress was slow. The man's lurching steps would prompt him to slow down his pace further for fear of aggravating the man's waning strength. Leaves rained down on them, hastily shed by the trees as if to caress the man in pain. The cool breeze made him shiver, and he hastily checked the man shuddering in his half-embrace. Would they make it in time?

He gritted his teeth at the sudden pain of the thought of losing this man. They would make it, whatever it took. Whatever he must do.

The trees seemed to whisper, their words indistinct to his untrained ear. Indistinct conversations, explanations, demands seemed to be directed at him as he passed by their gnarled shadows. The wind picked up speed, blowing at his back, seeming to push him into hurrying further east. Yes, hurry, it seemed to whisper, and he shivered once again. Complying, he turned right, heeding the wind's direction and his instincts.

When he felt that the man couldn't walk any further, he would sit him on a convenient tree stump or any thick moss. At these frequent short breaks, he would scavenge for any fruit he could find and feed it to the ravenous man whenever he was lucid enough to eat. To do this, he had to climb a few trees, and thankfully spotted the castle's parapets. In this way, they slowly approached the castle.

Once near enough for the sentries to spot them, Omi called out for help. Soon after, a swarm of uniformed men ran for him and took the burden of the man's weight from his arms. Omi sagged with relief, feeling drained and bereft of reason. They put the man on a hammock before bringing him inside the castle, presumably to the healer.

Omi wanted to follow the other man's supine form, but he was too tired. One of the castle staff brought him fresh towels and escorted him to his room. As he laid down on his downy bed, his thoughts drifted back to the man with the beautiful green eyes, his soft alto voice calling him "Angel."

Omi smiled, looking out his window at the late morning sun. He would rest for a while, before checking up on the man. He drifted off with a small smile on his face.


Omi woke up with a start, and he looked out his window to see the sun almost setting. He took his sweaty clothes off and took a quick bath in his washroom before donning on a fresh outfit. For some reason, he took great care in selecting his clothes, opting for light trousers and a cerulean shirt. He hunted for his favorite coat before setting off to find the man he rescued from near demise.

He was directed to the castle infirmary and he warily approached, peeking in to see the Master Healer bent over one of the beds, applying salve onto the sleeping man's bruises.

Now that the man was fairly clean, Omi saw the creamy skin softly glowing in the candlelight, crisscrossed here and there with faded and fading scars. He slid his gaze up only to be awed at the man's beautiful features, his face finally clear of stubble, grime, and the sea's entrails. A small frown marred the perfect visage, and Omi longed to smooth it away.

"This man has suffered a lot. He has numerous scars on his body, not all of them new, and he has a few fractures on his ribs, which are healing quite fast. But with him alone in an isolated place, I don't think he could have survived. His apparent struggle to dry land also worsened the state of his health. A very fortunate occurrence that you found him, else he might be…" The Healer trailed off, seeing the pained look in the boy's eyes.

The robed figure of the healer hastily checked the patient over one last time before bundling up his supplies. "Good night, young master. Rest assured that this man will heal in time. You did a good thing for him." And with that, the old man left, catching the smile sent to him by the boy.

Omi pulled a chair over and sat down near the bed, checking the man for any other sign of pain. As he looked at the frown on his face, he slowly reached out and gently ran his fingers over the man's furrowed brow, smoothing the frown away. The man smiled in his sleep. Omi noted the silkiness of his skin, warm against his fingers.

Too warm.

Omi frowned.

"So the rumors are true. You brought a man home," a slightly amused voice sounded from the doorway, startling Omi and causing him to snatch his hand away with a guilty expression. He turned around to see his cousin smirking at him.

"Don't scare me like that, Ran!" he said, a touch breathy as he calmed down his rapidly palpitating heart.

"Aren't you going to explain him to me?" the other man asked, casting the man on the bed a slightly suspicious look. He slowly approached his younger cousin, giving him a small smile before settling a few feet beside him.

"Oh, I'm sorry for bringing him here, but this was the closest place I could think of. I found him near the river, unconscious, in a considerably worse state than how you see him now. I woke him up enough to drag him over here. I suspect that he's a survivor of the Lorena and the tides might have brought him near the river," Omi related, gaze riveted to the peaceful face of the sleeping man.

"The Lorena, hm? He is one of the Crusaders, I hazard. I will ignore the fact that you blatantly ignored my commands by walking to the river for now," Ran said almost sternly and his cousin gave him an innocent grin before he continued. "I shall leave this man's welfare to you until this matter is cleared," Ran said with a slight glint in his eyes. Omi was surprised. His cousin had been going out of castle for frequent trips to only he knew where these days, and this change in attitude… unnerved him.

His cousin gently cuffed his cheek. "Don't look so surprised. I could see how important he is for you." At his younger cousin's steady blush, Ran let out a quiet chuckle and gave him a knowing look. "I know how you feel, Omi," he said with an almost saucy wink. "Don't stay up too late," he continued, and Omi could feel himself gape at his cousin's uncharacteristic behavior.

With a last half-bow, Ran walked back to the door with graceful, noiseless steps. Omi watched his black embroidered shirt until the door entirely concealed his view of it.

Something has happened to him. Something that makes him mope one time, and laugh the next. Could he be…? He blinked at the direction his thoughts were taking. Impossible. Right? Or isn't it?

Before he could give himself a headache, he reverted his thoughts back to the man he saved. It was embarrassing to be thought of as an angel. The man must've thought that he was…

Omi abruptly stood up to fetch the bowl of water on the far side of the room, eager to escape the despondent thoughts his consciousness was drifting to. He was pleased to discover a washcloth immersed in the cool liquid. He approached the bed and placed the bowl on the bedside table. He wrung out the cloth before folding it and gently placing it on the man's burning forehead. He pulled the down blanket higher up the man's frame, tucking him in securely to retain warmth to ward off the slightly cool air despite the hearty blaze of the fireplace.

He sat down again, staring at the still form. His fingers, of their own volition apparently, caressed the man's long locks before slipping through the silky strands.

Omi sighed. It wasn't fair for men to give up their lives so easily, to have the life they cherished taken away so forcefully. His heart grieved for the victims (or heroes?)of the Crusades; for the brave men (his father included) who were willing to give up everything for the pope's Holy War. The things this man must have gone through…

At the thought of the beautiful man experiencing pain, Omi felt his heart lurch. Certainly, he did not deserve this cruel twist of fate.

The candlelight played with the man's features, the alternating shadows and brightness managing to give the man lying so still on the bed an ethereal look. Omi felt his heart beating rapidly. A sudden jolt of realization made his blue eyes widen. Could it be? This man? Out of all the people, could he be the one I…?

He stared, wide-eyed at the still figure on the bed. Impossible! We haven't even properly met! This is illogical, silly at the least. Get a hold of yourself Omi Tsukiyono! Think about the things people will berate you with! he chastised himself furiously, feeling his heart flutter with an unknown and not entirely unpleasant feeling.

He continued to gaze at the man's almost surreal beauty before a completely wild and unconventional thought crossed his mind. Feeling completely under the man's spell, Omi languidly inclined nearer to the bed until his face was inches apart from the other's face. He gently lowered his lips onto the other's, feeling the dry lips of the man beneath him and savoring his strangely sensual taste.

The man stirred a little before groaning and opening his eyes. Omi quickly sat up and stuttered an apology, bowing his head in utter shame. He suddenly felt pressure on his arm and saw the man's hand atop his. He looked up and his eyes were riveted to the other man's emerald eyes, their lush color leaving the younger man in complete awe. Heavy eyelids blinked, dark eyelashes almost touching the man's cheek, and sharp verdant eyes observed the smaller figure sitting before him. Omi felt his heart beating more rapidly as he was put under the intense scrutiny.

A glint of recognition entered the man's eyes and he gave a small smile to the boy. He opened his mouth, but no words were formed, a pained look on his face. Omi rushed to the side table and retrieved a glass of water, taking the cloth from his forehead before helping the man gingerly sit up to drink. He held the glass to the other's mouth as he drank. He watched the slender throat move with every gulp, the lips moistening with water as he drank his fill. He felt the strangest sensations travelling along his body, but he paid them no heed.

When the man had enough to drink, Omi placed the glass back onto the table and gently laid him down once again onto the pillows he set in a mound behind the man's half-seated figure. He noted the winces and tiny gasps, evidence of the man's pain. His heart longed to ease away his suffering.

"Thank you," a raspy voice said, and the boy faced the speaker, the man giving him another smile. He felt himself blush once again as he shyly returned the smile.

"I'm glad that we made it back to the castle in time, and I'm glad that you are safe. Oh, I apologize profusely for my rudeness! I am Omi Tsukiyono, cousin of Lord Ran Fujimiya. I assure you that your presence is welcomed in his castle," he finished, giving the man a cursory glance amidst the shelter of his sandy bangs.

"I…" the man started, before a frown once again marred his features.

"Is something the matter?" Omi asked, bothered by the troubled look on his face.

"No, I…. I am Youji…" the man on the bed said, voice trailing off in a whisper despite the slight triumph in his eyes.

The other man surveyed his surroundings for a while, finally resting his eyes back to the boy who had saved him from certain death. The boy was nearing the end of his transformation into manhood. His skin glowed with a healthy vibrancy, and the skin on his cheeks was rosy. He blinked. He knew it was impolite to stare too much, or indiscreetly. The boy – Omi – had a pretty face, almost too feminine, but still withholding an amount of masculinity that warrants him as a man. He noted the slightly developed muscles somewhat obscured by the youth's blue shirt. Then his eyes slid down to Omi's waist to spy a jeweled dagger. He frowned slightly. Something about that dagger tickled at his thoughts.

Omi smiled again, giving him a huge grin. A fitting name for one so…. He hastily shook his head to clear away the wayward thoughts."I am very pleased to make your acquaintance, Youji. May I inquire as to where you have come from?" the younger man asked, trying to distract himself from his wayward thoughts.

Youji grimaced, a distraught look on his face as he gave Omi a lost look.

"I… cannot remember."

TBC


Author's Notes:

Don't like yxo? Too bad.

Okay. Some of the things here are inconsistent (or should it be accurate?), I know. Like how Youji could be swept upstream; I mean, rivers flow towards the ocean, ne? If someone thinks up an explanation as to why Youji was conveniently on the spot where Omi could easily find him (NO, "fate," "dumb luck," or "the power of love" won't do), good for you. I am currently lacking a few hundred brain cells to put why in this fic. As for Omi's name… well, I already started with Fujimiya, ne? Yup, this fic does have a western feel to it, so please forgive the Japanese names… I couldn't possibly invent a new surname for our favorite bishies, ne? So sorry for a bad chapter, I just had to get this out of the way to proceed with the plot. I honestly don't know if I'll make another chapter relating the budding, err, (dare I say) romance between these two. I haven't thought that far yet. Besides, I can't think of any more plot to continue their story… meaning I'm too lazy to do so (lacking a few brain cells, remember?). I might make another chapter concerning their story, but don't hold your breaths (in pain of experiencing apnea). I also might just let all of them reunite and solve Youji's amnesia (?) in the last chapter. Gomen to all youjiXomi fans out there if I didn't do their love justice! (hastily hides under convenient… microwave oven)

And yes, this is the shortest chapter ever (so I'm making it up with this absurdly long author's note). I also got distracted with my GW fic "Out of the Sea," which is disturbingly attracting the most weird and downright uninspiring reviews… Oh well. Just a bit miffed 'coz it's a Gundam Wing fic and a parody (sort of like Scarlet Moon) of my all-time favorite fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" and people don't seem to appreciate it. (sighs) That's the life of a fic writer for you.

As I am typing this, my brother is watching this show called "Nginig" (Shiver); the episode teaches1 people without the third eye to see "shadow people." The "Questors" (as I think they are called) are hunting for ghosts and other entities in a Disco bar. I am never entering a disco ever again. Or some place with strobe lights at least; after all, you never know if the person you're dancing with… is a person, ne? It's seriously creeping me out and my brother is laughing at my expense, darn him.


Replies to Reviews (Chapter 5):

Chitoshiya no Tohma I'm SO sorry! This chapter is just a filler and I'm sorry if it wasn't up to anyone's standards and all that crap. Wait, Little Red Riding Hood Kenken… (gets a glazed look) Wow. I wish I could draw that, but since I couldn't even draw a straight line… (starts bawling) Thanks, that conversation caused my head to ache unbearably, thanks for appreciating that. Would it be ok to give you a box of pocky instead? Flavor of your choice! (chocolate and almond are MINE!) Oh, and here's a blueberry cheesecake for you for being the 1st reviewer of chapter 5.

Brokn Innocence Err, I think I answered all your questions with this chapter, ne? Ehehehe… (sweatdrops) Thanks SO much for the review! (huggles) Here's a blueberry cheesecake for ya!

RosefaerietaleRed Nyahaha! Err, Manx didn't really take Ran's clothing. She was just (conveniently) there to spy on Ran's state of undress (snickers). Thanks SO much for the review! I hope you're not averse to a blueberry cheesecake!

HeatherR Wai! I love that wolf-Ran snuffling bit too! (starts drooling) Btw, thanks for replying to my review. I SO love you! (huggles HeatherR to near-death) I wish I was that close to our dog. I'm a bit wary of animals. Childhood trauma. (wince) Thanks for thinking that it was a wonderful chappie! Ugh, my head still aches when I think about what I've been through to get that out. Religion, such an interesting topic, ne? Oh, yeah, the Pope was a very great man. Thanks for the review! Hope you like blueberry cheesecake!

Silverfrost Err, I was from UP (Manila), but I transferred 'coz I couldn't shift to the course of my dreams (shrugs). I still go there a lot and hang with my ex-block mates. So sorry for that misunderstanding. 'Nyways, everyone is prejudiced about Kase, ne? Him taking up Manx's trade to separate Ran and Ken? Hmm… Maybe. Still not sure (sweatdrops). Thanks SO much for the review! Here's a blueberry cheesecake for you!

And now I'm off to eat a late brunch.