'The Other Side of Eden' Part Two: Kamio's Song
Genre: Fantasy, romance, adventure, semi-crossover, AU (Alternate Universe)
Warnings: Maybe OOC (out of character)-ness, cliché, and cheesy-ness, because I suck. . ... shonen-ai, more obscure 'Ragnarok Online' references...
Notes: This part is considerably shorter than the first part...but don't worry, I'll make up for it in the next part... ::bangs head on desk:: And I don't know when I started spelling Taiichi's name 'Taiichi'....and I'm not sure that way is right... (as opposed to 'Taichii' or 'Taichi'..) But that's the way my fingers like to write it, so it'll stay that way for now.

In the months that had passed, Atobe came to learn a lot about his companions. He learned that Tezuka and Fuji were the older members of the group, while the rest were a year younger than them. The exception was, of course, Taiichi, who was two years their junior. The difference in skill was also notable, and Tezuka quickly proved to be quite the leader.

He learned their eating and sleeping habits. The younger Fuji brother, Yuuta, would do most of the hunting, and usually took the small archer along with him. Shinji and Kaidou would do the cooking, which tended to be a rather quiet event, aside from the beastmaster's frequent arguments with his tiny partner, Momo (whom, Atobe learned, was a type of creature called a chibi; his full name was Momoshiro, but he insisted on being called Momo-chan). Tezuka and Fuji would pour over maps and chart routes, while Kamio and Atobe (who had to pretty much be forced to actually work) set up camp. Everyone did their part until it was time to eat, and afterwards they went there own way until it was time to move again.

Fuji and Yuuta spent a lot of time together. Since it was cooler when the sun set, they would go for walks by the moonlight, or talk quietly in their tent. Atobe saw how strong the bonds of their brotherhood were. They were each the only thing the other had left in this world, and it seemed they were both terrified of losing that most important thing.

But then Tezuka and Kaidou both seemed to be extreme loners. The beastmaster especially - he usually spent any time he had to himself talking to small animals, preferring their company to that of people. He would actually lash out at anyone who dared disturb him. Their established leader, on the other hand, spent his time with his broadsword, constantly training and watching out for danger. He, however, took any interruptions in stride, quickly resolving any problems that arose.

Because of their reclusive personalities, at first the two were paired to share a tent together, but Tezuka quickly discovered that Kaidou hissed in his sleep. After a little switching around, they ended up with Kaidou sharing with Taiichi (who was quite happy to be able to cuddle with the little Momo-chan at night), while Tezuka went with Atobe. It worked out well, and the swordsman only woke up with an arm across his waist and a wing in his face a few times.

Another pair that was rather close were Shinji and the thief, Kamio. As Atobe watched them, he began to wonder at the true nature of their relationship. They were closer than friends usually were, but there was no blood relation. It seemed a human bond that the Angel wasn't familiar with. The red-head was fond of singing, and his songs were the only thing able to make the mage smile, even if it was just a little bit. The effect they had on one another was remarkable and puzzling.

But there came a night when things became clear to Atobe.

They had come upon another small group in the desert; men who had no affiliation with any city or guild. Nomads who spent their whole lives wandering. But they knew the area well, and when it was learned that they would be traveling in the same direction for a few days, an offer was made for the two groups to travel together. They could help each other and share resources for the short time they'd be together.

And the wanderers almost agreed. Almost, until they caught sight of Kamio. When they learned he was a member of their group, their whole demeanor changed. Their leader's face became dark, and he pointed to the young man as the said "we don't mind the rest of you, but that one isn't to come along. There's no place for thieves in this party."

There was no chance any of them would leave their comrade behind, so with an apology for disturbing them, Tezuka led his group away.

They were calm and polite as they left the other group, but at night Atobe awoke to the sounds of furious ranting and cussing.

"There's no room for thieves in this party," Kamio mocked in a falsetto voice. "That asshole doesn't know what he's talking about! What's he think I'm gonna do?!"

Atobe exited his tent in time to see the thief throw a stone off into the distance. Shinji was awake too, sitting quietly by the fire they'd made, which reflected in his black eyes.

"Oh, it's you." Kamio took note of the Angel who had joined them by the fire. "What are you doing up?"

"I couldn't sleep." The tilt of his head and narrowing of his eyes indicated just why he was unable to get his rest.

The thief gave a muttered "sorry...."

"Maa," Atobe dismissed the issue with a wave of his hand. "This just gives us time to..." A grin appeared on his face, made slightly sinister from the mix of orange light and shadows cast by the fire. "....talk."

Kamio and Shinji looked at each other, and then back at the third. "Talk? About what? I don't have anything to talk about. Not to you anyway. I would say you should go talk to Tezuka, but he's not the greatest conversationalist, is he? ...and he's asleep. Though some people can talk in their sleep. Kamio was talking in his sleep a few nights ago; he said-"

Kamio had to put a hand over the mage's mouth to get him quiet. Rambling was a strange habit he had, which took the others some getting used to at first. After a while they came to just start ignoring him when he went off on some tirade.

Atobe studied the pair for a moment, as if trying to read the answer off of them before asking outright. He had great insight, but something in what he saw was conflicting with what he thought he already knew about humans. So it seemed asking was the most direct way of finding out what he wanted to know.

"Just what is the nature of the relationship between you two?"

A blush crept over Kamio's cheeks, while Shinji just blinked. Atobe crossed his legs, resting his elbow on his knee and his chin in his hand. Their reactions amused him.

"Well...we're kinda...close...good friends...and...close...."

"We're lovers." Shinji was far more frank than his partner, as tact was another trait lost on him.

So his theory was right...but that's what Atobe didn't quite understand. "I thought males bedded with females."

"Not all of them, and mostly just for...procreation." When the mage just shrugged, Kamio took it upon himself to explain. It helped keep his mind off the recent insult, and, though he'd never admit it, he kind of liked having some kind of one-up over the Angel. "Some people aren't interested in that. Especially in this day and age, when having another mouth to feed isn't so appealing. But people have an instinctual need to be close with other people, and it's not difficult for deep friendships to develop into more." He paused a moment, looking at his hands. His eyes traced over scars that circled his wrists. "Shinji was there for me when I had nobody else. He was the last person in the world who should have taken my side, but there he was. For that, I will always love him."

A silence fell over the trio while each analyzed those words which hung in the air. Kamio wondered how he managed to be so open with this strange being whom he considered to be a bit too arrogant. But they were companions now, like it or not, and Tezuka seemed to trust him, so why not? Besides, he meant everything he said.

And Shinji...just smiled. It was very feint, but still there. Though he knew of Kamio's feelings all this time, it was still nice to hear it every now and then.

Atobe's lips curved into a deep smirk. He leaned forward, grinning for all he was worth, and implored of them, "tell me your story."

"What?"

"I want to know how you two came together." His smile became noticeably more sincere. "Tell me the tale of Kamio and Shinji."

There was a thoughtful pause before Kamio answered. "Un," he nodded. "Ok."

We originate from a place south of Seigaku; a city called Fudomine. Not many have heard of it, but it's a good place. My family had lived there for many generations. We were a clan of musicians. Harmony and rhythm flowed through our veins as much as blood did, and many people came from all over to hear our songs.

As a gift to my family, when I was born the great Sage Tachibana gave a blessing of incredible speed. He said "as your music flies upon the wind, so shall this child." Of course, I was too young to remember, but that's what my family told me.

It was long before the drought came when my family was killed. A Vagabond Wolf with a mob of wolves came, rampaging the city. Very few survived. My entire family was wiped out; we weren't magic users or swordsman, we didn't have any protection spells or very much fighting ability. But we tried. Taking up our daggers, the only weapons we had, we tried to defend our home...and they all died fighting for their lives. Except for me. I was the only one fast enough to get away when I saw that all was lost.

And then I was alone...with no one to go to.

The city eventually recovered from the attack, and the Kamio family name faded from the people's memories. With no home and no family, I didn't know what to do. They only skill I had was my speed, so I used that and became a thief. I stole for a living, and nobody could ever catch me.

There was a great house upon a hill, and I'd come to the decision that if I could acquire just part of that fortune, I'd be set for a long time. Not one of my smartest schemes, but at the time I thought it was brilliant.

So, one night I broke in and began doing my thing...but what I didn't know was that the house belonged to a sage, and he and his disciple sensed my presence. They knew I was there.

When he approached me and I knew I had been discovered, I panicked. My instincts took over, and my dagger lashed out. No matter how great a sage he was, my speed was unrivaled. Nothing compared, not even the casting of a protection spell.

But when I looked up...and I saw it was the Sage Tachibana who's chest my dagger was buried into...I froze. The very person who gave me this gift would perish because of it. Someone so revered, killed by a worthless thief.

I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. All I could do was stare in shock. It gave the disciple, Ibu Shinji, a chance to cast a binding spell. After all that time, I had finally been caught.

The trial was quick, to say the least. Charged with many counts of thievery, and for the murder of Tachibana Kippei; within a day I was sentenced to die.

I was kept in a cell for the week before my hanging. It was cold and damp, my hands were tied so tightly they bled if I moved more than a little, and I think I was fed maybe twice the whole time I was in there. I was pretty sure I was never even going to make it to the gallows. Sure I would die there in that stone prison.

Then the night before my execution...I got a visitor. The mage Ibu Shinji, the very person who'd caught me after I killed his master, appeared before me. He'd teleported in, wordlessly grabbed me, and teleported us out. We were quite a ways away from Fudomine before I got him to explain what was going on.

"Are you not Akira, the last of the Kamio family line?" he asked me, and I affirmed to him that I was. And he said "I remember listening to your family sing. I was just a child, but that music has always stayed with me." ...And a whole lot of other stuff, because he's always rambled the way he does.

The point is, he saved me because my family's music touched him, and he would've done anything to keep that from dying out completely. And when he discovered I was the last Kamio alive, he just...had to do what he did.

We were both fugitives after that, so we fled to the distant city of Seigaku. There we started a new life together, growing closer and closer until our hearts were completely intertwined.

The thief stopped there, realizing how cheesy romantic all that must have sounded. Another blush crept across his face. "So, yeah, it's like that." A glance at his partner just showed the mage staring off into some unknown space.

"How charming." Atobe's smile had its usual touch of superiority, and yet somehow not as much. Like something was dousing the 'better-than-you' air and replacing it with something else.

Almost.

He stood then, disallowing any moments of kinship that might try to arise between he and them. "Well let's see if I can get some sleep now, na?" And with a nod, he made his way back into his shared tent.

Then the Angel took a moment to gaze at the swordsman he was traveling with. Someone with such a stern temperament and strong leadership ability, what could have happened in his past? Did Tezuka have a history like Kamio and Shinji to make him the way he was?

The questions muddled through Atobe's mind as he laid himself down. His currently wingless back against the ground, dark turquoise eyes staring at the tent's ceiling, sleep was slow to come as his thoughts became distracted with the man beside him.

Until he heard notes drifting softly upon the air.

"Can you see my heart
Fly me to the sky?"

A smile flitted across Atobe's lips. 'Kamio's song, ahn?'

And he thought, maybe humans were a bit more beautiful than he gave them credit for.

As the group got prepared to head out the next day, there was a noticeable lack of two of their members. The tent that Kamio and Shinji shared, as well as their horse and everything else of theirs, was gone.

"Does anyone know where those two may have gone?" Tezuka had immediately done a quick scout of the area the moment that he'd exited his own tent and found them missing. As leader, he was not about to let something happen to any of his teammates.

"Actually, I saw them early this morning." Fuji rode up beside their captain, arms around his brother, who steered their horse. "They rose and packed really early, saying for us to go on ahead. I think there was something they wanted to do before catching up." There was a twinkle in the scholar's eye that undoubtedly meant he knew something was up, and he wasn't telling.

Tezuka eyed him wearily as he and the others finished packing their things, but it wasn't long before they heard the pounding of hooves at full gallop.

The missing thief and mage were riding as fast as they could, and in the distance behind them a cloud of dark smoke was filing into the air. "Go! Go! Go!" Kamio was yelling to the group. There was intense urgency in his voice, but at the same time extreme amusement on his face. Even from a distance they could see the smile he couldn't hide. "Now they'll think twice before they insult a thief!"

They all mounted their horses and followed as the pair galloped by. Most of them were also smiling, because, after all, they were slighted first, and whatever their teammate did to exact revenge was probably deserved.

And Kamio laughed out loud. "RIZUMU ni noruze!"1

to be continued..

notes:
1 this be Kamio's...catch phrase. . translates to "I'm in the rhythm" or something like that... . such a cute little dork. P