Summary: The actuality of Kurogane's 'bad feeling' comes to light.

Warnings: These warnings are all straight to the point this time. Warning One: As per usual, Kuro-chi does not really use the most polite language. But it's not quite so bad here. It's still there however. Warning Two: I guess there really aren't any spoilers since this is an utter work of fiction. Warning Three: The KuroxFai attraction grows…

Disclaimer: All characters belong to CLAMP, et al. Their actions are mine though! Mwahaha! That really means squat actually…ahem. Onward.

Legend

Battle at the Precipice

or

"I've Got a Bad Feeling About This..."

When Fai awoke, he found Kurogane in the same place he had been since he had gone to sleep. Kurogane glanced over at him, and without saying a word, looked back out into the trees. Fai sighed inwardly. If Kurogane was still here, it must mean the march to battle was still a while away. Idly, he wondered why the sky was still so dark. The sun had to be close to rising. He looked up at it, frowning at the thick clouds that hung there.

"It's going to storm today," Kurogane muttered.

"It is?" Fai asked dumbly, still trying to clear his mind of sleep.

Kurogane looked over at him, frowning. "Not exactly the intellectual when we wake up, are we?"

Fai frowned back at him. "So sorry to not provide stimulating conversation."

Kurogane shrugged a shoulder before looking away again. "We should probably go."

Fai looked over at the camp to see that no one else was stirring so early. Kurogane stood then and began toward the trees. Scrambling to catch up, Fai hurried after him, falling into step just beside him. Kurogane raised an eyebrow.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"You said that we should probably go, then you leave," Fai said. "I assumed that I was going with you."

"Whatever," Kurogane said, falling silent.

The two trekked deeper into the woods until Kurogane stopped them at a small creek. He glared at it as if trying to convince it to give up its fish so as he would not have to catch them himself. He retrieved a long branch from the shore and snapped it in half, tossing Fai part of it. He knelt at the bank and focused on the small fish that skimmed through the flowing water. Fai followed suit, squatting and angling his line of sight to see beneath the surface. Neither moved for some time, but then simultaneously made their respective moves, stabbing into the water and pulling out a wriggling fish.

Kurogane grimaced at Fai, who was quite busy beaming at his handiwork to notice. Moving together like that without a signal was something Kurogane had never experienced. What troubled him more was that it had happened with Fai. The one person Kurogane had never expected. Sensing that Fai had noticed his stare, he looked away in time to avoid Fai's contemplative eyes.

Fai knew that Kurogane probably did not give him credit enough to notice that they had moved in synchronization, but he did not mind. What that meant, exactly, Fai did not know. He felt Kurogane's eyes on him, but chose to ignore it, too pleased with his fishing skills to care at the time. After a few moments of being watched, however, Fai decided it was time to see what it was that Kurogane was studying. He had looked quickly away before Fai turned, though.

He frowned slightly at the other. He knew that it should have been a good sign that they could work together like that, even if it was only fishing, but could not shake the feeling that there was something more about what had just happened than mere teamwork. Shaking his head, Fai turned back to the water and set about catching another fish. Kurogane had already caught another and was working on a third. They continued working in silence, randomly stealing glances at the other when they were not paying attention.

Once enough fish for breakfast had been caught, they rose and headed back to the camp. The sky had remained dark and a sharp wind from the west now blew across the field. The other warriors had begun to stir, but none had come together for the morning meal. Kurogane led them to the coals of the fire closest to the tree where they had spent the night. Fai used the opposite end of his fishing stick to stir the embers while Kurogane tossed some dry grass on top. Once they had the fire going, they cooked and ate what they caught, leaving an appropriate amount for the four other warriors who also used that fire.

Kurogane left then, heading over to sharpen his sword. Fai did not bother calling after him to wait. He would not have anyway. Fai still had a full quiver of arrows plus some, so he went over to visit with the other warriors at one of the central fires. The battle was on everyone's minds and no one spoke much. The call to march came soon after the warriors had finished putting out the fires, collecting their weapons and getting into their armor.

The line was formed six across, three bowmen and three swordsmen. Kurogane was in the dead center of the front by the time Fai made his way there. He hesitated in falling in beside him; Kurogane had the habit of fighting both with his left and right hand. Fai did not know which he was more likely to use yet. Kurogane glared at him before inclining his head slightly to his left, indicating the place at which Fai should stand. Fai did so, glancing at Kurogane hesitantly. He had gone to war many times before, but this was his first with someone other than his last swordsman, Kamui.

Kamui had been a wonderful fighting partner and the two had done well together on the battlefield. He had also been a stellar example of why one should never form attachments in the army. He had been raised with another warrior, Fuuma, and the two were very close; though how close, Fai had never discerned. Fuuma had died in the last battle at the sword of an enemy. Kamui had found a way to die shortly thereafter, 'not seeing' the arrow he should have been easily able to avoid.

Fai remembered Kurogane on the battlefield that day cursing his fallen bowman. The man had not only fallen behind Kurogane, he had tried to flee the battle altogether. He laid dead on the ground, yet Kurogane cursed him still, insisting upon his absolute uselessness and letting him know just how much of a coward he was in life. Even in the grief of losing his swordsman, Fai wondered if Kurogane had actually cared somewhat about the other man. Had he not have cared, he would not have been so angry. He also heard Kurogane swear that he would never take another bowman ever again. He thought it would be a strange irony if the general would end up pairing them together since he had lost his swordsman and Kurogane had lost his bowman.

That had proven to be true; Fai and Kurogane now stood together, prepared for battle. The general appeared before them and they began the march across the field to meet their enemy. The march was short and silent, heavy footfalls sounding dully against the dry, packed earth. The distant sound of thunder rolled through the clouds above them. Fai noticed Kurogane tensing with each rumble, but did not dare comment. The sky had darkened considerably and the thunder intensified as they reached the field of battle. Their enemy stood in their ranks just across from them. Lightening vaulted through the clouds, casting shadows through the warriors.

The general signaled to form ranks and the warriors fanned out, creating lines. He rode past them all shouting last minute instructions and stirring determination with lofty speeches of courage and honor. Fai never paid attention to those speeches. If he were not ready for battle by himself, no one would be able to convince him to be brave. He scrutinized the front line of opposing warriors. Their armor looked thick, not showing many signs of weaknesses, even in the joints. This battle would most likely be a hard one. With another crack of thunder on the heels a lightening strike, rain began to fall. Soft at first, it grew quickly into a pounding downpour.

Kurogane frowned. He did not know why he was surprised it was raining as hard as it was. He had known it was coming. He hated the rain. It always complicated things; like battles. The ground under their feet was quickly turning into a muddy soup. Maybe even too quickly. The troupes opposite them looked quite prepared for battle and Kurogane predicted many casualties. He would never allow one in particular, however.

"Don't fall behind," Kurogane mumbled, not looking at Fai. Because I don't want to have to come back for you.

"I won't," Fai said. Just don't be reckless.

"To war!" Came the final cry from the general as he pumped his sword into the air, charging his steed forward.

The warriors from both sides surged forward, meeting in the middle of the field, swords clashing. Fai kept well out of Kurogane's sword's range, picking off warriors as they came close to them. The ones inside Kurogane's circle fell swiftly under his stroke. The two moved through the battlefield leaving dead and wounded behind them. Though the enemy's armor appeared unbreakable from a distance, it was only a façade; shined and tweaked into looking more than it was, the armor their enemies wore was no stronger than their own.

That did not make them less formidable, however. Kurogane sported a long gash across his chest and abdomen and a broken-off arrow was embedded into his shoulder. Fai had been able to avoid most injury, but likewise sustained sword wounds, a clean, vertical cut ran down his face and another cut across the entire span of his shoulders; he had almost lost his entire quiver with that.

Hours had past since the first charge and night was quickly approaching. This was a battle that would not allow a stalemate, though. It would be fought until there was no one left to stand. Kurogane battled on, ignoring his various wounds and the fatigue that hunts the war-weary. He and Fai had moved through the field and were now close to the edge of the plateau on which the field lay. Fai had long since run out of arrows and yanked whole ones from bodies to use as they continued fighting. Neither had seen much of their allies, nor had they heard any shout of retreat from either side.

Kurogane's shoulder ached from the arrowhead in it and his left arm was slowly losing feeling, but he would not acknowledge it. There was still a battle to be fought. He kept an eye on Fai, making sure that he did not fall behind or was taken down by anyone. He cursed himself silently as he buried his sword into a warrior's chest. He should not care if Fai fell behind. But he did. And he could not explain it. He loosed his inner frustration in a growl as he cleanly decapitated another warrior. Then the ground moved under his feet.

Fai stooped to retrieve another arrow from the neck of a warrior he realized to be a comrade and notched it, when he felt the ground slacken. A glance over his shoulder confirmed that they were quite close to the edge of the plateau. The ground had been excessively dry, and with the sudden and heavy fall of rain, the stability of the earth would be compromised. Everyone on that ledge was going to be swallowed by a mudslide. He looked up, fear almost reaching his eyes, at Kurogane who met his eyes just before the earth gave way.

Kurogane had been closer to the edge than Fai had, and he saw his partner disappear as the earth sucked him waist deep and proceeded to drag him down the side. Fai never even had a chance to call out for him as he was likewise pulled into the mud and down the plateau's side. There was no fighting that current and it was all Fai could do just to attempt keeping his head above the surface. Rocks and branches tore at him, adding cuts, bruises, and scrapes to his battle wounds. He tried swiping the muck from his eyes in hopes that he could catch a glimpse of Kurogane, but it only took away from his effort to stay on top of the slide and he was pulled under. Something hard and sharp slammed into his chest knocking whatever air he had in his lungs out.

Before he could panic, though, a tree limb snagged his tunic, dragging him behind as the mudslide continued into the lowlands. The passing mud tore at him, seeking to take him with it once more, but Fai had pulled himself together enough that he had the wherewithal to grab hold of that branch with all the strength he could gather. Fai clung to it, praying that Kurogane had been so lucky. Though why he was so concerned for his partner's safety, Fai could not fathom. Then he could breathe again as the slide ebbed at last. It dropped past the branch and gravity slowly took hold of him, letting him hang in the air. When it appeared that the earth had finally settled, Fai tentatively dropped to the ground. His legs would not support him though, and he fell hard onto his back. He lay where he was, catching his breath, gazing impassively up into the rain that continued pounding down, slowly washing away the mud still clinging to him.

He had to move. He had to find Kurogane. The warrior in him scoffed; he should be lucky to be alive and just go back to meet his fellow warriors. No one would blame him for leaving his partner behind. More than likely he was dead anyway. He should just go back without him. But he knew that he would not be able to do that. He had to find Kurogane, even if it was to only see that he was dead; Fai would not rest any more until his partner was found. He forced his injured body to sit, trembling slightly from the effort. He snorted depreciatingly at himself. He expected to be able to not only stand, but also search out his partner when he could barely sit up on his own? He would though. If it was the last thing he did, he would find Kurogane.

::-:: ::-:: ::-:: ::-:: ::-::

Kurogane lay facedown in the mud, head tilted to one side looking out across the ravaged plain as the rain continued falling, barely conscious. The mudslide had dragged him quite far from where the battle had been, but he found that he could not bring himself to care about that. He did not even care that he could not feel his left arm anymore; he saw it was still attached to him, but there was no feeling coming from it. What he did care about was finding Fai. Had he more energy, he would have been furious with himself. Fai should not be important. He needed to get back to his camp. If he could stand at all. Maybe he could just lay there and fade into death like his body seemed to want. He blinked his eyes wearily. He would find Fai, he decided. If nothing else, just to find him.

Somehow he made his left arm move and he settled his hands beneath him and pushed himself from the mud. His vision swam, but he remained still long enough to settle it. He stood and on shaking legs, began forward. He had no idea where he was going, but he had to start somewhere. Kurogane was no fool and knew his body could not handle much more before it gave out on him altogether so he stuck close to the fallen and still-standing trees for support.

He did not have the breath to call out any louder than a mere whisper of Fai's name, cursing himself for trying in the first place. Blood ran into his eyes, apparently from a wound on his forehead that he had not noticed before. Half-heartedly, he swiped at his eyes, trying to clear them, but to no avail. He was so tired now. He could just fall asleep right here. But Fai…

"Kurogane!" The cry was distant, but Kurogane knew immediately whose voice was calling him.

"Kurogane!" It was closer now. Kurogane took another faltering step in the direction from which he heard him. "Kurogane!"

"Fai…" His legs collapsed underneath him, bringing him painfully to his knees. He fell forward onto his hands, but his left arm gave out and he crumpled into the mud, fading finally from consciousness. Before his senses abandoned him completely, he felt a soft, cool hand against his cheek.

::-:: ::-:: ::-:: ::-:: ::-::

Fai had struggled on through the forest of downed trees, rocks, and mud, searching for Kurogane. His mind urged him to give up; there were too many places in which to look. He would never find him. Fai refused to accept that though, and continued on, randomly calling Kurogane's name, leaving off the pet sounds he had been attaching to it lately. His chest ached simply from the effort of breathing, but Fai called out still. He would not give up.

Ignoring the pain emanating from his chest, he shouted out louder than he had before. He thought he heard something just past his line of sight and forced himself to go faster, calling out again. His mind had latched onto the idea that he was about to find Kurogane. He should not get his hopes up, he knew, but could not make himself believe otherwise.

"Kurogane!" He past a thick tree laying on its side and saw Kurogane fall to the ground, collapsing first to his knees, then immediately forward onto his hands. His left arm would not support him though, and he fell completely. Fai did not know what spurred him into a run, nor did he know how his body was able to go that fast in his current condition, but he found himself kneeling at Kurogane's side a moment later, laying a hand against his cheek just as his partner faded into unconsciousness.

Fai looked Kurogane over; he looked worse than Fai did. Much worse. It appeared as if he had found many more rocks than Fai had. The entire left side of his face was riddled with sharp and jagged cuts, and the entire span of his forehead bore a deep gash. He noticed that the arrow was still in his shoulder from their battle. Fai frowned; that would have to be pulled out quickly. He leaned over to inspect it, seeing that the only thing there was the arrowhead, the shaft long since snapped free. It was a thin and simple head, meaning to go as deep as possible and not to cause more damage upon removal. Unfortunately that meant Fai would not be able to remove it with his hands. In training, his tutor had shown him a way to remove an arrowhead when most other methods failed. He had never had to use it however and was only a little apprehensive in utilizing it on Kurogane.

But it had to be done. Fai tentatively leaned over his back and brushed as much mud as he could from the wound. He braced the skin between his hands and lowered his mouth to it. He applied suction until the hilt of the arrow touched his tongue. Firmly, he gripped it between his teeth and pulled it the rest of the way out, quite glad Kurogane was very unconscious for this. He spit the arrowhead to the side and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. The wound was now bleeding again, tainting Kurogane's tunic an even darker color. He longed to have something with which to clean it, but in that mud-covered field, there was nothing available. Neither one had a clean strip of cloth on them.

He sighed heavily and, as gently as he could, rolled Kurogane onto his back. His normally tanned skin looked waxy and pale in comparison to the dark ground and his black tunic. Fai winced as he saw the wounds Kurogane had received during the fight. Fai's own wounds decided to be ignored no longer and he suddenly sagged across Kurogane's chest. He gasped for breath and clutched his chest momentarily before noticing that it was bleeding. He had not been wounded there in the battle. Where had he sustained that? His mind was slowly beginning to fog over, but he was able to remember he had been hit there while being dragged down the plateau's slope. He also found a slight irony in the fact that he and Kurogane might die right there with each other. Probably the last thing either of them wanted. Then he thought no more.

A/N: And now that part I know you've all been waiting for: my ramblings on the story you just read! Hurray! Okay. So this is the second chapter of my story on the history of Shurano's version of Kurogane and Fai. I would actually like to apologize. If you hadn't guessed by now, I'm god-awful at writing action sequences. And when I say 'god-awful' I mean 'Why in the name of all that's good and holy do I even try?' So I'm sorry for the sucky-ness. I swear, when we get back to dialogue and thoughts on stuff I'll provide you with a better read. But that won't be until chapter three (Hey, that rhymed!). So…yeah. I did not really like writing this chapter since it was mostly action-driven. Unfortunately, it was necessary to put Kuro and Fai into that position to better develop their characters (read here: relationship). I thought about keeping this chapter going until Fai wakes up, but I thought nah, let's just have Fai sleep between chapters. He deserves it. Plus this gives me an easy way of starting the next chapter. And now I notice that this chapter also begins with Fai waking up. Er…I suck at life… And I guess that's all for this chapter.
And just in case anyone wants to know, I got a little request by KakashiLvr to write the third chapter of my last fic, Lucidity, in Kuro-tan's point-of-view. I thought about it. And thought. And said to myself "Self? Why not?" And Self replied "You really want to write another Fluff Piece?" "Uh…maybe…" ::sigh:: So I'm kind of working on that on the side of this one just for kicks and giggles. Whenever I can't write action sequences well enough to not feel humiliated putting it into words (mind you I'm still mostly humiliated that I had to write this dribble and would not be surprised to see a couple flames…) I work on that. So it might be a while in coming, but I'm working on it.
(Another thing that I thought was that a good majority of my stories are one-worded titles. I suck at titling…) And speaking of titles! The subtitle for this story has a double meaning! Care to guess it? The second subtitle is a joke by the by. Rocky and Bulwinkle and Star Wars references that I couldn't help but add.
So until next time. Thanks for reading!