Finding Kouji was easier said than done. The forest was dark, and Takuya knew that the twins favoured peace and quiet, and could even talk below the level that he could hear at a distance without a problem. It was a relief when he started to hear a song that seemed to hang in the air. It moved through a stately sequence, only to be joined by another in what Takuya realised was an intricate round. He followed the sound of the music, but couldn't find them. Finally he realised that they might be in the trees and looked up, only to see nothing.

"Kouji?"

The singing stopped instantly, and Takuya stood quietly, waiting to see what would happen.

"What is it, Takuya?" asked Kouji quietly from behind him.

Takuya 'eep'ed and spun to face him. "Can't you make more noise or something? You frightened me to death!"

Kouji smirked. "Serves you right for interrupting."

Takuya drew in a breath to start to shout at him, but stopped. He tilted his head to one side and simply watched Kouji. He looks lovely in the moonlight, even if he is scowling at me.

Kouji started to shift uncomfortably as Takuya continued to stare. "What? Had enough tormenting people at your party so you come to torment me?"

Takuya reached out slowly and took Kouji's hand. He couldn't describe what it felt like to touch his hand, but he did feel something, as opposed to the blankness of Chihiro's touch. "Kouji, can we talk alone somewhere?"

Kouji looked up somewhere into the trees, where Takuya guessed Kouichi was sat, and spoke quietly in elvish for a moment, before turning to look at him again. "Sure, Takuya."

Takuya smiled and tugged on Kouji's hand gently, leading him further into the forest, until they found a fallen log to sit on. "Kouji… What were you singing about?"

Kouji shrugged. "Nothing you'd understand really."

"Oh." Takuya shifted uncomfortably. "Kouji… Does your lady Elsa forbid you to love people who are the same as you?"

Kouji blinked a few times. "Like me? You mean elves, or 'Empty Ones', or…?" He trailed off, unable to understand the question.

Takuya sighed. "Men. Are you allowed to love men?"

"Men? Of course we can care about them!" Kouji seemed relieved to have grasped what Takuya was talking about. "I love Kouichi, and I did love my father dearly. Why do you ask? Do you think I don't care?"

Takuya looked at the ground. "Kouji… I don't really understand this love thing. I know I'm getting to 'that' age, when I'm supposed to go chasing after girls, and kisses… Like Junpei does. And a girl has already tried to start off the whole thing with me."

"Oh." Kouji looked at the ground, then spoke in an uneven tone. "I hope you're very happy together."

Takuya shook his head. "I'm not." He shifted again. "When she touches me, I don't feel happy, or sad, or anything. When I took your hand… I don't know what I felt, but it was something."

Kouji looked at Takuya, startled. "Takuya… I don't know what you're trying to say…"

Takuya rubbed his head. All this dancing about seemed to be giving him a headache. "I don't know. What I feel for you… I think, maybe, it's what I'm supposed to feel about girls my age. I want to keep you safe, and I like you just being near." He rubbed his temples angrily. Of all the times to get a headache. "How do you feel about all this?"

Kouji opened and closed his mouth silently a few times before replying, his gaze fixed back on the ground. "I don't know, Takuya. I… There's something about you… I don't know what, but it calls to me. I was afraid it was some strange vibrations between our magic, but now…" He shook his head, then looked up. "I can't deal with vague feelings and 'what if', Takuya. I… I need you to tell me what it is you want, because I want to believe you're saying what I want to hear, but I can't be certain."

"I… I…" Takuya winced as the pounding in his head grew worse. I have to say this. I may never get up enough courage again… He grasped his token. Goddess forgive me, and give me strength to follow my heart. He lifted his gaze to look directly into Kouji's eyes. "Kouji… I love you…" The pounding became deafening. He you dimly hear Kouji's disbelieving 'What?!' before the world dissolved into darkness and he slipped into unconsciousness.

*********************

Kouichi ran through the forest, following Kouji's call. He didn't know what was wrong, but he could feel Kouji's panic, and sharp pain from Takuya followed by a worrying silence from his thoughts. He came across Kouji kneeling by a sprawled out Takuya, who was breathing shallowly in pain.

"Kouji! What happened?" Kouichi moved to kneel by Takuya, checking him for injury with a practiced hand.

Kouji shook his head, looking worried. "I… I don't know… He… He said 'I love you', then he just collapsed. I don't know… you never told him how to say that, did you?"

Kouichi froze. "Wait. His exact words were 'I love you', not 'I love you'?"

Kouji nodded, and stroked Takuya's hair gently. "Is it so bad that I was glad he fainted? I don't know what I feel about it, and I don't think he really does either." He gently put his arms around him. "We should take him back to his family. The night may be warm, but he should stay somewhere comfortable." He lifted Takuya gently, and started walking toward the light of the farm.

Kouichi followed him. "Kouji, think about this! What are they going to think when you carry Takuya in? That you're only doing it out of the kindness of your heart?"

Kouji shook his head and started to run. "He's hurt, and I want him well. I don't know if it's love, or the same as I feel for you. I just can't leave him out here."

Kouichi watched him worriedly as they ran. "You need to decide what you feel."

Kouji shook his head. "I've never really known what I feel, you know that." He looked at Takuya for a moment before concentrating on running through the gloom again. "Maybe I do love him, I really don't know, but maybe it will be too hard for us. No one really accepts men in love with men."

"And you want acceptance?"

Kouji remained silent as they ran into the firelight farmyard. The busy chatter stopped, and all eyes focused on Kouji, and on the body he held in his arms.

Yuriko let out a shriek and moved quickly to glare at Kouichi and Kouji. "What did you do to him?"

Kouji shook his head. "He just collapsed. We don't know what's wrong with him."

Hiroaki came up and roughly took Takuya from his hold. "Leave him to us, you've caused enough hurt already."

Kouji folded his arms. "No. We're both trained as healers. We can help him just as much as you." He ignored the escalating muttering of the guests. "We need to get him somewhere well lit."

Hiroaki glared. "Follow me." He carried Takuya into the farmhouse, into what was clearly Takuya's room, laying Takuya on the bed, then moving to light a lamp.

Kouichi started checking Takuya gently, sending his magic out into Takuya, and ignoring the angry glances of Takuya's family. "Come on, Takuya. Wake up and stop worrying everyone."

Takuya moaned slightly, reaching out towards the lamp.

Kouji moved it away slowly. "Wake up, Takuya. You don't want to loose control again."

Takuya blinked a few times, and then sat up, almost hitting Kouichi. "Uh, what happened?"

Yuriko moved to kneel by him. "Takuya, what's wrong? Can't you speak?"

Takuya looked at her confused. "Mama? I'm talking to you now, why are you asking me that?" He started to worry as Yuriko's face became panicked. "Mama, I'm talking! Can't you hear me?"

Kouji put a hand on Takuya's shoulder. "Takuya, something is very wrong with you."

"I know that," snapped Takuya, then paused. "I understood that. You spoke to me in your language, and I understood." He placed a hand to his throat, panicking. "I'm speaking it too, aren't I? The words in my head are in Common, but they're coming out wrong."

Kouji looked worried. "Takuya, calm down."

"Calm down? How can I calm down? This is wrong, all wrong, make it stop, please, whatever you did make it stop!" Takuya put his head in his hands.

Yuriko put her arms around him. "It's okay, Takuya. We'll make them take this curse off you, and then they can leave us alone. You can stop worrying, and you can be just like you were. No magic, no elves, no fires, just us four, together again, okay?"

Kouichi stepped forwards. "Takuya…"

"Get away from him!" said Yuriko. "You've done enough already. Now take this spell off our son and get out!"

Takuya looked back up. "No! Please, stay! You're the only ones who might be able to help me. I don't know what's wrong with me, or why it happened. All I did was tell Kouji that I… that I…"

Kouji took one of his hands. "It happened after you said that you, you know. Maybe that's why. Neither of us have the power to do this, it would be only the highest, deepest magic that could do this."

Kouichi spoke quietly. "A god's magic could do this."

Takuya's hand clutched his token. "You mean the Goddess did this? Why would she do this to me? Is it punishment for lo… caring about you? For thinking that about a man?"

Yuriko brushed Takuya's hair gently. "Don't worry, you'll soon be back to normal. She'll protect you, I'm sure."

Takuya blinked. "Maybe she did do it. Maybe that was what she meant. She said her gift was so my heart would grow stronger if I listened to it." He sighed.

Kouji tried to smile. "Then you must be able to still talk to your parents. Just take a deep breath, and think about what you want to say."

Takuya closed his eyes and remembered the sounds he wanted to make when he spoke. "Mama? I'm… okay… I understand… just can't speak. I think I need to think hard before I say things." He smiled. "I think I'm getting it."

Kouji did finally manage to smile. "Good. You just need to learn to think before you speak." He moved a hand as if to brush Takuya's face, but moved it back quickly. "We'll make an elf of you yet. Magic, forethought in speaking… But we'll let your family fuss over you, okay?"

Takuya touched his hand. "Do you have anything to say about… that?"

Kouji shook his head. "Give me a little time, okay? I am thinking about it, but I don't want to make the wrong choice."

Takuya smiled. "It's okay, Kouji. I know it's a tough thing to choose. You're my friend no matter what. I'd just like to try to sort out what I feel about you."

Kouji nodded, then left with Kouichi, leaving Takuya trying to explain what had happened to his family.