Takuya found Shinya sat on the house porch the next morning. He sat beside his little brother, who turned away with a soft 'hmph'. Takuya held out the ragged ball that he had found that morning.

"I know it's late, but I made this for your lifeday."

Shinya turned back to look at him. "Takuya made that for me?" He took it, and turned it in his hands.

Takuya moved closer slowly. "I made that for you, before I had to leave."

Shinya shook his head. "You're not Takuya. Takuya can't do what you do, and doesn't make that hissing noise."

"What? When I talked last night?"

Shinya nodded.

Takuya laughed slightly. "Shinya, that's just how elves speak. I've heard them talking for the last two months. You just get used to it."

"It's demon-talk, that's what mister Arada said. He said that some demon had taken over Takuya's body, and was speaking demon-speak, like the elves do." Shinya shuffled closer and looked into Takuya's eyes. "I know you're trapped in there, Takuya. Me and Mama and Papa will get this demon to let you go." He paused in his speech, his eyes still searching for something. "I love you, Takuya… Please hold on." Shinya blinked, rubbed at his eyes as if starting to cry, and then ran off, still clutching the ball.

Takuya realised that his hand was still reaching out to where Shinya had been moments before, and put his arm back down. Shinya… I'm not what you think I am… I'm still me… Just a little older and wiser. He sighed and got up. There's work to be done, the farm never stops needing it.

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

I like animals. They're much less complicated than people are. Kouji scratched the dog's ear, like Takuya had showed him to, and the dog obligingly rolled over so Kouji could rub his stomach. "You don't have problems like love, do you? It's all ignored and driven by instinct." The dog wriggled happily at Kouji's touch. We people-of-the-trees don't mate for life, but we do mate for love. So why am I so against letting Takuya have a chance? I care about him, and who and what I am obviously doesn't bother him. He sighed. What am I to do? Do I want to encourage him down a path that will make him more isolated from the other humans? Do I want to have responsibility for what people will see as me leading Takuya away from what's expected of him? He stopped playing with the dog. Well I suppose it all comes down to how we feel. The dog nuzzled his hand, wanting the petting to continue.

Kouji smiled, and went back to petting him.

"Not everyone hates us then," observed Kouichi, walking across the yard to where Kouji and the dog sat. "Any closer to deciding?"

"Not really," replied Kouji. "I just don't know if we can face other people if we do admit it. Part of me can't see how we can be thought of any worse by our people, but I'm sure they'd find a way to disapprove of us more just for that."

Kouichi sighed. "This isn't about them, it's about you. What you and Takuya want and feel."

Kouji looked at him. "Will you tell me? I don't really know what I feel."

//Have more faith in yourself. I can't do this for you, much as I want to.//

Kouji looked annoyed. "You kept pushing, but now you won't help?"

"You two need to talk. I don't want to be stuck in the middle." Kouichi got up. "I'm going to go find something to do. Maybe Yuriko will let me help in the kitchen."

"And maybe she'll think you're trying to poison everyone."

"Thanks. Maybe I'll go to the village, I don't know. But I'm not staying here, you'll both try to talk to me." Kouichi smiled at Kouji, then left him to his thoughts again.

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

Kouji and Kouichi remained silent throughout dinner, and Takuya's family ignored them, the previous night's accusations not forgotten. Takuya reached out to the water jug, brushing Kouji's hand gently. Kouji smiled back, then forced a blank expression as Hiroaki glared.

Takuya banged his fork down. "Why can't you just accept them? I did!"

Yuriko looked upset. "Takuya, you ran away. Then you turn up again two months later with these creatures in tow, saying you're some sort of fire mage, and that the Goddess has spoken to you. We hardly know you anymore!"

"Then get to know me," retorted Takuya. "I can't be the scared little boy who left here, I've changed. I'm still changing. I've got things expected of me, and no real idea of how to achieve them, or if it's even me who's supposed to do them."

"Takuya…" Kouichi put a quieting hand on Takuya's arm.

Takuya sighed and hung his head. "Sorry, Mama… Sorry Mama, I keep forgetting."

Yuriko patted his hand. "You're just under stress, but you're home now. You should just forget about all the bad things that happened to you."

"And ignore my magic?" asked Takuya. "Is that what you want? I ignored it all my life, and what happened? I burnt the barn to the ground! I can't ignore what I am, Mama. And I can ignore what I'm meant to do."

"Enough!" Hiroaki stood. "Takuya, you're our son, and we care about you, but you are not some long-foretold warrior." He shook his head. "You're not a warrior of any sort! Now get your head out of the clouds, and back to reality. The crops need fetching in, the fields need tending, and all of it can be done without needing some grand destiny."

Takuya glared back. "Then maybe I should leave sooner rather than later."

"No," cried Yuriko. "You can't leave again. You only just came back. I thought you came back to stay."

Takuya shook his head. "The king said he had work for us to do for him. Something only we could do. Then at least I'll be doing something of use with who I am, with people who will let me be me and explore what I can do."

"Stay here," barked Hiroaki. "Magic other than healing is not for us, but for the Gods. Forget about these wild tales and adventures, and act your age."

"I will not!" Takuya turned to Kouji and Kouichi. "Leaving at sunrise okay with you?"

"You will not!" yelled Hiroaki. "You will stop with all this daydreaming."

Takuya glared at him. "I'll do what I want. Something is telling me I have to go back, and I see no reason to stay here, you all think I'm a demon still!" He stormed out, ignoring Yuriko's tears.

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

Kouji found Takuya in the stable, trying to find his saddlebags in order to pack. "Takuya… I… We need to talk."

Takuya sighed. "My family probably isn't going to accept… us… on top of everything else. Maybe I should never have come back here. Let them think I was dead, or never their son."

Kouji moved forwards and touched Takuya's shoulder gently. "They're your family. Family forgives in time. You've given them a shock, and confusion is to be expected."

Takuya turned towards him. "Why can't they accept what I might be? What magic lives in me? Like you do. You've never turned me away."

"I hope your declaration of love was based on more than that, Takuya." Kouji brushed an extended finger across Takuya's face in a gentle caress. "I think maybe I do love you back, but I'm not certain. I'm okay if you want to try to find out."

Takuya lent into the gesture. "That's okay. I'm not certain either. Can we be uncertain together?" He smiled a little. "Find our way together?"

"If you don't mind an unusual friend who's an outcast."

"Same to you." Takuya pulled away gently. "Guess you're glad to be going, I know they haven't been very welcoming."

Kouji looked serious. "Takuya… Kouichi says you should try to make sure you make your peace with your family before you leave. He says that he's…" He shook his head. "Events are still moving on without our interference. He thinks soon you may be called to your destiny."

"So we're not coming back." Takuya shrugged, and pulled the saddlebags off a shelf. "Why should I care? They don't want me."

Kouji grabbed Takuya shoulders and spun him so he faced him. "Listen to me. You stay angry with them, then one day they're gone. And you'll never get a chance to make up. You have a chance now. Maybe they'll understand, maybe they won't, but they will love you for who you are still." He took the bags from Takuya's hands. "Go talk to them. I won't try to stop you from leaving at dawn, but you'll regret it later if you don't talk to them now before you go." He held up the bags. "I'll deal with these."

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

Dawn was a quiet affair, with Takuya, Kouji and Kouichi saddling and loading their ponies in near silence. Takuya's family lined the porch watching, and made no move to help or hinder them. Finally when the preparations were complete, Takuya moved to them to say goodbye.

"Mama?"

Yuriko shook her head, looking near to tears. "Why, Takuya? Why do you want to leave us? We know there's nothing demonic about you."

Takuya hugged her. "I can't stay, Mama. I have a destiny out there somewhere that I need to find. Wish I could take you with me."

Hiroaki shook his head. "Destiny is for lords and royalty, not some farmer's son from Greenfields. You should stay here and forget all this nonsense."

"I can't." Takuya moved away slowly, and smiled at Shinya, who was hiding behind his parents. "Take care of them, Shinya. Remind them they need a little fun now and again, because I can't be here to do it."

"Takuya…" Yuriko wiped away a tear. "Please change your mind. Stay."

Takuya walked away slowly. "Something is pulling me away. It's right that I'm going. I love you all, and I promise I'll come back." He mounted Chess, then rode on behind Kouji and Kouichis' mounts, trying not to cry at leaving the home he had tried for so long to return to.