I hate him! I hate that blonde bastard!

Kurogane was slammed against the cold corner of his cell during another sleepless night. Sakura, Syaoran, and he had been given ridiculous jobs to do during the day, which made Kurogane angry and ashamed because he was much more capable of more. Did these idiots know of his profession? The thing was, he thought he could fight these people off. He thought he could kill them. But only one thing was stopping him. The damned curse.

But despite that, Kurogane wasn't thinking about the people of this city. He was thinking of Fai. Had he betrayed them? Had he told the people of this city to warp them into some kind of slaves? Did he know how embarrassing it was? For him, a warrior, to be working for thin, skinny, happy freaks?

Truthfully though, Kurogane couldn't believe that this was Fai's fault. After seeing that painful sadness on his face the other night, he had to believe that Fai really had no idea. But if he didn't, why wasn't he squished in this godforsaken cell with them? A little tiny glow inside a secret part of Kurogane's heart, told him that he would rather have it be him that Fai doing this dirty and tiring work. He wouldn't fully admit this to himself, no matter how hard it tried to come out.

Ashura smiled but said nothing that resembled an answer to Fai's question. "Wait, how do you know about the feathers?" He showed no signs in revealing his tempting secrets either. He released his hug and his fingers slithered up to Fai's delicate and white chin. He tilted back Fai's head and Fai showed no signs of resisting.

"I love you. Naturally I would have to follow you to have hope of fulfilling my temptations." He saw the glow of change in Fai's great eyes. A glow of fear, and it was beautiful.

Fai didn't understand. Follow him? Could this possibly be the Ashura he knew in disguise? He tried to resist Ashura's strong grip but stopped himself as it only resulting in cracking of his bones.

Ashura laughed a small puzzling laugh. "Don't worry about silly things like this, my dear. All you need to do is be happy."

A cold touch of glass touched Fai's lips. A cup. It was shortly followed by a cold river of water making its way down his throat. Some didn't make it and dropped to the floor. As the liquid slipped onto his tongue as if desperate, he began to think that it couldn't be water. It was something else. Its taste he couldn't describe without a long term of thinking. After a minute of closing his eyes, a great feeling vibrated through his body.

Ashura took the cup away, smiling. Fai panicked, as he wanted more of the delicious enigma beverage. Ashura however, wouldn't let him have any more of its satisfying taste.

As Fai sat at a round table with Ashura, he began to wonder if he was drunk. He walked dizzily, but he was just stunned by the feeling. It felt like it could burst out of his body at any moment but couldn't. It drove him crazy but at the same time he enjoyed it. He felt beautiful. He felt carefree and together. He felt the urge to be close to Ashura's warmth. Just like a fierce fire destroying a forest in seconds, his loneliness was gone. Yeah, he decided. Like a forest fire.

Ashura could see this. His plan had succeeded. He could see the light around Fai brighten, and his eyes shine of happiness. He knew that this fluid made you feel you had no faults or worries in the world. He also knew that Fai had many faults. He knew that once the drink took its run, Fai would need unbelievable comfort. And only he would give it.

Ashura left after a half hour or so. Fai saw a spark of beauty in everything around him, and saw he had the urge to explore. The feeling still buzzed strong in his body and it made him restless. He made his way down the dark stairs, feeling the rough stone walls with interest. Everything fascinated him. What made the walls like this? Broken and dark. Charred and unimportant. He decided that he loved them. He loved their difference from any other wall he remembered in the castle.

As he reached the bottom of the stairs he found himself looking into a cell that had three bodies sitting down in them. As he saw a particularly grumpy camper in one corner he remembered him. "Kurogane…" He leaned on the unique bars and sighed happily, resting his head on his hand.

The somber one looked up looking tired and dirty. Secretly he was surprised that the man didn't call him by his usual stupid nicknames. "What." He muttered crossly. Syaoran and Sakura seemed to be asleep together. The two weren't cut out for work like this all day.

Fai didn't say anything. He looked at Kurogane with a bright drunken stare. A song sang within him from the mysterious drink. He didn't remember at all about the other two sleeping bodies. He smiled in a way, by force from the feeling.

"Kuro….you're so beautiful."

Kurogane was taken aback by this statement by the blonde. It terrified him, though he wasn't sure why. He reassured himself by deciding Fai was very very drunk. He stood up in alarm, like if Fai were to do something stupid he would stop it.

Fai's fingers grasped the bars lightly. He chuckled before he began to cry fat happy tears. He laughed as they fell warmly down his cheeks. When they fell upon his lips he swore they tasted like the drink he enjoyed only a few hours ago.

Kurogane blinked in silence. "What the…hell? Are you drunk Fai?" He leaned on the bars watching the man cry happy tears of joy and life.

Fai continued to cry and refused to wipe them away. They tasted lovely. "It's really too bad you waste your beauty on anger and annoyance…" he gasped between breaths. "You could do so much with a smile like yours to a man like me….you….I loved you."

Kurogane's face scrunched up in confusion. "What the…? You are so drunk. You better go back to your Ashura before you start doing the handkerchief cat ears." A sound of hate vibrated off the name.

Fai shook his head no. He could feel the happiness ebbing out of him slowly. His stomach gave a lurch of fear and loss. The feeling of desperateness made his face feel warm in panic. He wanted to cling to the feeling. He showed no emotion of this on his face, as to hide it from Kurogane. He was slowly returning to normal. The tears stopped and he sniffed. "I'm a man on the run…I'm pathetic and have no purpose except for running away…" he sobbed lightly.

Kurogane felt a sharp shock of fear hit him like a wave. Why? He was always so happy…always so annoyingly annoying. And now he is…drunk and sad? He seemed so happy when he came down here. "Oh hell, don't start saying that crap." He crossed his arms and looked down at the magician as he seemed to get weaker and weaker. He reached a hand through the bars and held tightly on one of Fai's arms to keep him standing.

Fai felt like he couldn't stand up anymore. He clung to the bars for support. "I'm sorry…He said that you were slaves…and then…he forced a drink down my…it was so beautiful though Kuro-sama!"

Even though Fai was completely out of it, it eased his nerves that he called him by a nickname. "He gave you a drink? Then you are obviously drunk. No worries." He pushed some of the blonde locks away from Fai's frightened face. "And you are not pathetic. Maybe when fighting oni, but not generally." He succeeded in making Fai chuckle.

All too soon Fai seemed to be disappearing. First his hands seemed to dissolve into thin air before his entire body was faded like an old photograph. Both of the men panicked but both knew there was nothing he could do. In the next second Fai was unconscious and gone from Kurogane's view. He reappeared in Ashura's arms still knocked out. Ashura smirked an evilish smirk and set Fai on the bed to have lovely dreams.

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Author's note: I'm sorry it took awhile to get this up. I was really busy and also sick for awhile. I'm not sure when the next chapter will be up but keep reading and thank you! This chapter was loads of fun!