Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle: Reflections
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Disclaimer: Not mine, no claim on characters, no money earned, et cetera, et cetera.
Warnings: Pretty non-existent plot. Odd formatting. Third-time fic and first time writing for the fandom, if that counts. References made to manga volumes 1-6/anime episodes 1-19. Can be seen as either shounen-ai or a just a really good friendship, whatever floats your boat.
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Chapter 1: Kurogane
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1. Impressions
Kurogane knew, from the moment he set eyes on That Man, that this was a person to be handled with care. To do otherwise would be a mistake. The signs were not as obvious as they were with himself (masked as they were by that easy demeanor and idiot grin), but they were there, signs that this man, this pale, slender wizard who looked as though he would snap at the slightest pressure, had undergone just as many battles and struggles as any experienced ninja. Perhaps Syaoran had put it best: something—the way he held himself, the predatory grace with which he moved, the look in his damnable aquamarine eyes—shouted "fighter" in large bold letters to all who could read, and Kurogane knew, without a doubt, that had the blond not chosen to forgo his own power, he would surely be a match for the legendary Black Steel.
2. Expressions
What Kurogane had not known, was just how bloody annoying Fay D. Flourite of Celes could be. He had practically raised it to a minor art form, and Kurogane was willing to bet on his Silver Dragon sword that the man specially went out of his way to irritate the living hell out of him, his main method being (though in no way limited to) the giving of stupid nicknames. It had started on the very day they had met, with Fay cheerfully and without any inclination for basic manners whatsoever addressing him as "Black," and it had all gone downhill from there. In fact, the only time Kurogane had ever heard his full name leave Fay's lips was when he had given it to him. "Kurogane, ne," Fay had murmured thoughtfully. It was never heard again.
3. Acceptance
Gradually however, Kurogane got used to having his own personal irritant in the party. This was not to say that he had stopped snarling and snapping at the needling (like the big puppy Fay had labeled him), but his bursts of outrage had lost their hard edge of anger, settling instead into an extremely vocal outlet for frustration and exasperation. Sometimes he wondered how he had managed to refrain long enough from throttling the wizard to actually get to that point, and decided that it was most likely due to the fact that, with that sweet and nauseatingly happy grin perpetually plastered across his face (something that invariably made Kurogane all the more cranky), attacking him in earnest would feel too much like kicking a baby animal.
4. Understanding
Even further down the road, mere tolerance turned into something else, and Kurogane began to sense a pattern. It became almost a routine; there were times when the situation seemed grave, times when Sakura became unusually quiet, or when Syaoran allowed a flicker of grief to flash across his face, and Kurogane would catch Fay watching them with a certain measuring look that was quickly hidden. Minutes later, he would find himself swearing at the top of his lungs and chasing the slender blond (sometimes with a broom in hand) around in circles, even as he knew perfectly well that he would never be quick enough to catch the prankster if he did not wish to be caught.
5. Compliment
They were different, each fulfilling what the other was not, and yet they were the same. It was almost horrifically clichéd, the way they seemed to fit together like two parts of the proverbial whole. Fay was the cheerful one, the mischievous joker, the one who always had a smile. He was the one everyone turned to whenever they needed a laugh, and he acted as a temper to Kurogane's own dour, serious personality. Together they mothered—or rather, fathered—Sakura and Syaoran as much as they possibly could (though it would be like pulling teeth to get Kurogane to admit it), with Fay in charge of their general welfare and Kurogane taking the role of gruff mentor. Both of them took pains to protect the gentle Sakura to the best of their ability, and to ensure that Syaoran was able to complete his quest. "Like yin and yang!" Mokona had exclaimed, and for once (gender issues aside) Kurogane agreed. They even wore black and white, for crying out loud.
6. Ally
This partnership extended into their fighting as well. Cunning, lightning-swiftness and persistence; these were the trademarks of the fair-haired and fair-skinned wizard's battle style, characteristics that had manifested even in his feathered kudan. Kurogane's swordsmanship on the other hand was marked by power and precision, very much like a dragon to Fay's phoenix. Their styles melded perfectly in battle; each somehow knew what each should do without planning or discussion; and Kurogane recognised that despite having had to intervene between Fay and an early death more than once, there was no one else he would rather have at his back.
7. Kinship
Perhaps he ought to be surprised at how well they understood each other, but he never was. There was simply a feeling of rightness about the way in which they were each able to look past the other's shield to read what lay behind. Over and over, Kurogane would notice the look of wistfulness, or the lurking, indescribable sorrow in the usually-sparkling blue eyes that never lasted long, but that never failed to induce a strange feeling of protectiveness within him every time he saw it. He noticed too, how the other was always talking yet never really said anything and how he always blanched or paled whenever certain matters (such as the name "Ashura") were brought up, and while he wanted to know, he never pressed. Fay, in return, did the same favour for him.
8. Empathy
What did surprise him was how he had come to prefer, even like the idiot's company. Perhaps it was fate, or an odd sense of kinship, or simply a matter of strangers in a strange would reaching out for companionship. Whatever it was, there was a bond between them, and it was enough.
9. Transformation
It was not until that night in Outo that Kurogane realised exactly how much he had come to care for his new friend. Rarely had he ever felt fear as acute as when the oni had blasted that vulnerable figure off the lamp post, and it made him furious that Fay would take his own life so lightly, that he would treat it with such fatalistic carelessness. Yet mere moments later, he would be taken aback by the intelligence and depth of compassion and sheer tenacity the seemingly delicate man possessed, and he thinks that maybe, just maybe, this was part of what Tomoyo-hime had meant by "the true meaning of strength".
10. Destiny
Most of the time though (especially in moments following one of Fay's tricks), he just thinks he is insane.
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Owari
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Author's note: The format is nowhere near new, and it is rather pointless and repetitive, but I just wanted to get this out and see if it would work.
Incidentally, I am indeed aware of the multiple spellings of the name of a certain blond. Having ruled out 'Fye' on the grounds that it would most likely come out sounding like 'Fee-eh' when spoken by a Japanese, I decided to follow the screen backgrounds in the anime instead of the manga, as it seemed more in keeping with the rest of his Western-ish name than 'Fai'. So if anyone, anyone tries to correct me on this without adequate evidence, I will be inclined to stuff the notepaper on which this was written down your throat.
That said, I would be much obliged if anyone could provide an accurate spelling of his damned surname (backed up by resources, of course).
Please read and review. I do, however, reserve the right to point and laugh at you, although I promise I will not bother to stalk you through e-mail or your own fics, because I really do have better things to do. Sequel might or might not be forthcoming, depending on my ongoing examinations and hence inclination to write.