"They're fading away, Rikugo," Byakko murmured into his robes, "thank goodness they're fading away."
Rikugo sucked in a shuddering breath when he realized what Byakko was telling him and squeezed his eyes shut against the sharp stinging of his own tears. The tiger would mercifully be able to get over what that creature had planted into his mind, would be able to return to his old life, be the happy young man again Rikugo had missed so much, and was damn certain others missed, too. He carded his fingers into the white strands as he tightened his hold, ignoring the wetness running over his own cheeks as he felt the dam break in his friend, glad that Byakko could let it all out.
Byakko just hung on to him, shaking with the force of his emotional release, and Rikugo whispered softly to him. Reassuring words. He felt his aura rise with the need to make his former protégé feel safe, and for a moment he forcefully reined it in -- until a softly keening noise and a violent shake of the silvery-white head told him otherwise.
No longer as overpowering as before, but still effective... and wanted. Maybe even needed.
Rikugo didn't sense the rapidly approaching powerful aura but he saw the figure in the doorframe, as dripping wet as Byakko had been. His eyes widened at the appearance of the other Commander and he was ready to disentangle himself from Byakko, but something stopped him. Intense golden eyes bore into his as Touda watched the scene, and all Rikugo could do was blink away his own tears.
And then the serpent smiled faintly, closing the door behind him as he disappeared back into the storm.
Rikugo just closed his eyes, inhaling deeply, fighting against the new tears that threatened.
It took them both a while to calm down, for Byakko to detach himself, but he didn't draw away. His slightly puffy, red eyes looked at the astrologer and a watery smile graced his lips.
Rikugo urged him gently over to the couch and let him settle, gathering a blanket for the tiger to curl into. There was no denying the cat in the man, the cat who wanted comfort.
"Sorry," Byakko whispered.
"No, don't apologize." Rikugo smiled, suppressing the need to push back some rogue strands.
Byakko caught his hand and squeezed it. "It's okay," he whispered.
Was it? Rikugo wondered. Would it ever be okay again?
The wind god gazed at him, swallowing a little. "You... you got some more hot chocolate?" he asked softly.
Rikugo smiled. "Of course."
He rose and walked back to the small stove, then returned with a large mug for each of them. Settling down across from Byakko, the two shikigami were silent for a long time, each sipping his steaming hot chocolate.
"You didn't have to do that," Byakko finally said, not really looking at him, just glancing at the blond. "Cutting your hair and all. You're my friend, were always there after my father's death... I should have known... should have realized the memories were wrong... manipulated."
"You couldn't have," Rikugo replied gently. "The devil influenced you."
Byakko shivered a little. "Yeah, the devil..."
How could all of this have happened? Rikugo wondered as he watched the shikigami he had known since he had been born.
There was no answer to it and the echoes of the terrible events would still be there for a while to come. They were a few steps further now, but it wasn't the end yet. Both had to work on this problem, but Byakko had made a huge first step.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Byakko's wide eyes stared at him.
"For... giving us another chance," Rikugo said quietly.
The white tiger smiled hesitantly. "You're my friend, Rikugo. I don't want to lose you."
The words touched him and he smiled. "Neither do I want to lose your friendship, Byakko. Never."
The wind god's response was a wide, warm and very open smile.
They continued talking for quite some time until Byakko started to doze off, lulled into a relaxed sleep by the effects of the hot chocolate, exhaustion and the warmth of the blanket. Rikugo only adjusted the cover and smiled to himself.
It was a show of trust that touched him deeply.
° ° °
Ryu's fingers carded through the too short, white blond strands and he listened to the appreciative hum of the shikigami in his arms. He pressed a kiss against one temple. Rikugo was dozing, not really aware but conscious enough to appreciate the caresses. He had returned to Meifu just this morning and Ryu had been delighted to have him with him.
Now, lying hidden within the huge maze, enjoying the smell of the fresh grass, the bushes around them, the two men were just with each other, no obligations, no pressure. He could feel the changes in Rikugo, could feel that something had finally started to heal, just like he himself was healing.
We're quite a pair, he thought with faint amusement. Quite a pair...
° ° °
In a very remote place in the world of the living, two beings that didn't really belong there sat in the shade of an ancient, gigantic tree. It was a cool place, wonderfully relaxing, and there was no one around. Nature was the only witness, the only sound, the only presence everywhere.
Tsuzuki was leaning against one muscular shoulder of his white tiger shikigami. He had taken off his coat and jacket, rolled up the sleeves of the white shirt, and his eyes were closed as he dozed in the perfect calmness everywhere. Byakko was rumbling softly, a deep purr that resonated inside his friend and master.
After a while, Tsuzuki opened his eyes and gazed into the sky that peeked through the leaves.
"Thank you," he whispered.
Blunt ears pricked a little and red eyes regarded him curiously. "What for?"
"Sharing."
Byakko gazed at his master and friend, then leaned down and nuzzled the black hair. A gust of breath disturbed it a bit more and Tsuzuki reached up, stroking over the fur.
"You had a right to know."
"No, I didn't," Tsuzuki objected. "It's personal."
"I am yours, Tsuzuki. What happened not only influenced me, it also touched a lot more lives. Rikugo is one of your shikigami, too. He came here to help me. He hurt himself to make it easier for me." Byakko sighed softly. "He did everything to make it bearable for me, and now that my memories are fading, that the terror is no longer there, I understand the truth behind it all. You saw him... he crippled himself! For me!"
Agitation translated into the long tail whipping sharply over the grass.
"He loves you, Byakko," Tsuzuki told him softly. "He cares for you. I understand what he did."
"Tsuzuki..."
The shinigami shook his head. "No, don't argue, Byakko. He did what he had to. He made a decision. Honor it."
"He took centuries off his power levels!"
"He will regain his power."
"But what if he gets caught up in a fight...?"
Tsuzuki turned so he was facing the white tiger, meeting the agitated being's eyes. "You know I rarely call on him. His powers, even now, are fearsome in this world. You and Suzaku and Sohryu... you are my warriors here. And Rikugo won't be caught in any fights in GensouKai." He smiled a little. "I think the times when Sohryu wanted to challenge him to a physical confrontation are gone."
Byakko nodded slowly. "Yes."
"So he can heal at his own pace. And he has help, Byakko. Never doubt that."
A smile appeared on the wind god's features. "He found someone, right? I felt his happiness."
"Yes, he found someone. It's a complicated relationship, but I think they're very good for each other."
"Good."
Tsuzuki settled back again and Byakko gave him a nuzzle again, purring in gratitude.
Wounds would heal slowly, for all of them, but they would heal.
° ° °
Like many of his kind, Genbu was far more than he appeared to be, though it wasn't any more true than in his case. Looking at him, one would see an ancient, small, bearded shikigami. Bushy eyebrows obscured his eyes, making them close to impossible to read. His beard had grown almost to the ground and it was a miracle he didn't step on it.
Sometimes he did. Just to get a reaction.
Since it was mostly Rikugo in the palace, the reaction wasn't more than a raised eyebrow.
The term 'student' was correct anymore anyway. Rikugo had long since stopped being his pupil, had developed his power, had little more to learn from the oldest of the Gods. But their relationship had never changed, aside from Rikugo's sometimes respectless approach. But it was a game between them and Genbu delighted in their interaction. It kept him young, so to speak.
Rikugo was also one of the few who knew almost everything there as about the Protector of the North. They had had their shared evenings, talking about things no one had ever heard, revealing fears and secrets and hopes.
Because of that interaction and the long time they now knew each other, Genbu had early on realized that something had happened to his friend and student. It had started with the healing of Byakko, with entering the young tiger's mind, and whatever Rikugo had seen there, it had changed him. It had scared him... terrified and horrified him.
So Genbu had watched and he had listened. He was very good at listening.
And he had found more and more proof.
And in the end he had enough to know what had happened, even without his student telling him.
Rikugo had never talked to him -- until he had come back from one of his many visits to Meifu where he had found more than just someone to listen to him in form of Tsuzuki. Genbu was old, but not blind and deaf when it came to matters of the heart.
Rikugo had found love.
And it had changed him again.
So now, on that day, he was sitting in his private study where no servants would dare disturb him, and he looked at the changed man before him. Rikugo was glowing with his newfound strength, despite his shorter hair, despite his loss of power.
He listened. To what his former pupil had to say. And he understood more completely now than even before, despite the fact that nothing truly new was unveiled. His suspicions had been correct, but now he was getting the horrid details.
Genbu listened.
It was what was needed now.
° ° °
Somewhere else, Touda sat on the roof of a place that had once been his palace, before he had fallen from grace. It was an old, run-down building that had never found a new owner after his imprisonment. Over the centuries, with no one taking care of it, it had fallen into disgrace, just like its former master. When Touda had been pardoned and reinstated, he had been given the choice: move back here, have it all renovated or rebuilt, or get a new place.
He had opted for the new place, which was almost in Byakko's back yard anyway.
Now he had sought a quiet place on the rotting tiles of the roof. It was unstable, but he knew where to step. It was quiet here, which was what he needed, but it wasn't too remote, so he could easily return to his own palace, or Byakko's.
His lover was the one on his mind anyway.
Touda knew something had happened, something related to the possession but also to Rikugo's role in Byakko's healing. Touda had very sharp eyes and he was probably one of the first of the Divine Commanders, aside from Genbu, to discover Rikugo's cut hair. He hadn't said anything, just watched the astrologer, and he had sensed the inner turmoil and pain.
Byakko and Rikugo. There had been something between them, something bad, something personal, something so intensely painful that it had driven the powerful dragon into mutilating himself.
Touda was observant but he wasn't nosy. He wouldn't push his lover into answering him questions about what had happened. He would listen should Byakko come to him. He would be open and accessible should Byakko need him. He would be there.
But he wouldn't push.
It wasn't his style and he wouldn't change anything about his approach to Byakko and the others. The tiger trusted him. He loved him. The moment Byakko decided it was time tell, he would. Until then, Touda would wait.
end of this story
to be continued in Dark Horse