Thanks to everyone that has commented on this story, it really makes me happy that there's still people out there interested in this pairing and in my works in particular :) Your feedback is a huge motivation for me.
Endling - Chapter 11
A few clouds peacefully crossed the sky, blindingly white and huge. Reddish tones were beginning to color the mountainous landscape, making the contrast between the slopes and the deep blue sky even more striking. The air was mostly calm, but once in a while a gust of wind played with hair and feathers, creating a wordless tune out of the two figures on the stony ledge.
Kaito was sitting between Gakupo's legs, leaning back so as to rest against his body. He had his eyes closed, content to bask in the information his other senses were relying to him: the warm, firm body cradling him, the rhythmical sound of the scaly tail marking the beat as Gakupo hummed, the touch of the sun on his naked skin. One slender arm was circling his waist; the other was curved upwards, to rest the palm of Gakupo's hand over this chest. At the other side of that fragile barrier, Kaito's heart throbbed rapidly, calling out to his true owner.
Back in the city, his classmates were probably eating inside one of the cafeterias on campus, or sitting outside enjoying the weather. Kaito could almost see Akane and Hiroshi under an evergreen next to the computer sciences building, with the girl as always trying to get her boyfriend to eat at least somewhat healthily. He smiled at the mental image and then inclined his head to one side to kiss Gakupo's skin. Despite all his protestations to the contrary, he was very thankful that his friends had insisted on setting him up with someone. It all had led to this day of perfect happiness in his endling's arms.
Gakupo stopped humming for a moment to let out one of his little hoarse laughs before planting a kiss on Kaito's shoulder. "Again?" He whispered invitingly.
"I, erm, I feel pretty tempted," Kaito muttered. As ridiculous as it felt to be embarrassed at that point, he felt his cheeks burning, especially when Gakupo's hands started to wander across his body. "But… They must be wondering where we are. It is past noon by now, I wager."
"Hmmm," Gakupo turned him around partially, just enough to kiss his mouth.
The breeze returned with renewed playfulness; in response, the dark wings painted fluttering shadows on their shoulders. Waves of purple hair engulfed Kaito as he circled Gakupo's neck with his arms. The wind grew in intensity, just as their kiss deepened. Something akin to vertigo raised its head inside Kaito; but it was a strange, reversed sensation: he felt the inevitability of falling, but also the draw, the burning desire to let go and forget about everything but the vertiginous descent. Like in the dream he had when he first met Gakupo, Kaito tumbled forward, joyously.
When the wind finally quieted down, Gakupo pulled away smiling softly. He placed a hand on Kaito's stomach and simply stated, "You're hungry."
"…Yeah."
"Let's go inside, then."
"Uhm, I think I'll need another visit to the river first. After, you know-"
"I know." Gakupo rose and began to gather their clothes, after which he placed them inside a well-patched bag. He turned to Kaito with the bag hanging from his shoulder and opened his arms.
"There's something funny about the fact that I throw myself at you the moment you do that," Kaito muttered as he embraced Gakupo.
"Huh?"
"Never mind, let's go."
Gakupo tilted his head, but a second later he just shrugged and rose to the skies, carrying Kaito along.
The river was a short distance away; it was one of several branches that ran and jumped across the uneven terrain, before forming a last waterfall and sinking into the mountain to join the underwater lake. Gakupo landed next to the small pond it created, cold and transparent.
Kaito let go of the fae and sat on a stone, observing the pond. About half of it glinted reflecting the sun, but the waterfall itself was shaded by the mountain. He dipped one foot in and shuddered. "Brrr, can you use that fire spell of yours to heat this a bit?"
"Eh?" By then, Gakupo was already in the middle of the pond, batting his wings and splashing around. He paused, considering the idea with a slight frown. "Why, it's good!" As if to demonstrate, he cupped his hands together and scooped up water to splash his face and chest. The water trickled down his skin in eccentric, undulating trails, rather fetchingly.
Rather less fetchingly, Gakupo pushed a wave of cold water with his arms and wings, which splashed Kaito from head to toe.
"…Gah!" Kaito sputtered incoherently, which made Gakupo break into laughter. That carefree expression was enough to prevent Kaito from feeling any true indignation. All the same, he leaped into action, feeling almost light-headed with giddiness. "Come here, you!"
They playfully wrestled for a few minutes, laughing all the while, until Gakupo, by now completely soaked, pulled Kaito into a tight hug. "I'm so, so happy I met you, Kaito."
"Me too," Kaito answered quietly, pressing their foreheads together. There was little he could say to adequately explain how much Gakupo had changed his life, but he decided to try. "Being with you makes me so happy I don't know how to handle it." He paused for a moment to sigh. "It hurt so bad before, being apart from everyone else. Even when I was surrounded by people." He stopped again for a moment, just content to stare into Gakupo's eyes, before he continued. "I know it was my fault, at least in part, but it still hurt."
"Why your fault?"
"I never tried as hard as I should to connect with others. It was easier to let the days take me along, without taking any risks. To be honest, it was my Dad that suggested I should come here to study, and give my life a new direction." A sudden burst of emotion made Kaito hesitate, as his voice begun to waver. Wasn't it stupid, to feel so sad when he was in such a beautiful place, in the arms of such a beautiful person? Why couldn't he let go of his insecurities?
Wordlessly, Gakupo guided him to the edge of the pond, where they sat with their feet still submersed in the water. The sun sparkled on the drops of water on Kaito's thighs, and he kept his eyes stubbornly fixed on that glow, even after Gakupo slung his arm around his shoulders.
"I'm stupid. I have so many bad habits. I keep making the same mistakes," Kaito counted off with his fingers. "If it wasn't for Dad and Hiroshi, I would be a complete mess," he lamented, even though he hated showing that pathetic side of his to Gakupo.
"I think you show yourself short, you are a wise knight," Gakupo replied, probably trying to say he was being too modest. It wasn't true, but Kaito felt happier anyway. The fae continued in a soft tone, "You just mention them, all this time. Was there someone else, besides them? Someone special?"
At this, Kaito finally looked up. But Gakupo's expression was simply curious, without being bothered by the possibility of other lovers in Kaito's past. He's too innocent for that, Kaito thought gratefully, before replying with a smile, "No one like you, if that's what you're asking."
Gakupo made a small sound of acknowledgment, before his gaze strayed towards the waterfall. His chewed on his lower lip and Kaito realized he was debating whether to tell him something or not. He waited, but for a few moments the pounding of the scaly tail against the ground was the only sound to reach his ears. Just when Kaito was about to say something, the fae reached a decision.
"I used to travel with Goya, yes? At least at first. But we had fights… He really hates humans, but I don't want to. I don't want to hate anyone." Gakupo stirred the waters of the pond with his legs, pensive. "One day, I stopped him from attacking a group of men. I just didn't want to see him do bad. But it didn't go well."
"He didn't hurt you, did he?" Kaito asked cautiously.
"Didn't mean to. Wolves don't hurt their cubs," Gakupo smiled wryly. "I couldn't fly for a while, so it was decided I should stay in the valley down from cave all year, not go along anymore."
"Sounds like it was for the best," Kaito said, swallowing his outrage. How could Goya have the gall to sneer at him, after such an act? Who cares what his intent was, if he injured Gakupo as a result?
"A few months after, I was searching for food when I ran into an fallen man, a…" Gakupo paused, searching for the word inside his head. "I forget what he said…A harker? I helped."
"A hiker?" Kaito burrowed his brow. So he wasn't the first man Gakupo had brought home with him. It did bother him, just a minuscule, unimportant, tiny little bit. And that's why I deserve those ugly blue horns, I suppose, Kaito said to himself. Of course he couldn't be the only one Gakupo ever interacted with, but he wasn't going to pass on the opportunity to be silly.
Gakupo didn't seem to notice his discomfort, lost as he was in the past. "Hiker, yes. I took him to cave, helped him get better." Another pause. "Jasper. He taught me some words of English, but we mostly spoke in queen's tongue. "
"He was fluent in the language of the Warm Isles?" Kaito raised his eyebrows. A regular person had no reason to have that kind of knowledge, which meant this Jasper was a scientist, a hunter or a government agent. He waited with mounting tension for Gakupo to continue.
"At first, it felt wonderful to meet someone new, someone nice. I missed…touch. My parents hugged me, kissed my cheeks. But that's not Goya's nature." The endling patted his head and adopted an even hoarser tone than usual. "Good boy, Gakupo! Good boy!"
"So Jasper taught you those words," Kaito surmised.
The fae nodded. "It was like looking at the sun, dazed, so warm. I felt so happy to have a friend." He shook his head. "But as he got closer to healthy, he began to act strange."
"Strange, how?"
"He kept saying how much he loved me, how happy I would be if I came with him. Once he healed up fully, he said he wanted to be my father, that he searched for a long time to find me. He didn't look at me with father eyes." Once again, he shook his head.
Kaito grimaced. "What happened then?" He had other questions, like how Jasper had found out about Gakupo's existence, but they were of comparatively less importance.
"I said no, has Goya. He said he understood and that he wanted to cook at least meal for us to eat together before he went away."
"That sounds suspicious." Kaito said mutedly, as nervousness gripped his throat. He couldn't help but feel the instinctive need to protect Gakupo, even though he was right there by his side.
"Yes. But I didn't know what else to do. I didn't want to hurt him…"
"You could've gone to Yuki and Prima and hid there!" Kaito exclaimed, trying hard not to sound as if he was scolding Gakupo.
"I thought I could make him understand." Gakupo looked away with a sad expression on his face. " So I stood by as he cooked and explained I was happy where I was."
"And?"
"Jasper agreed to everything I said. But…" Gakupo played with a strand of his hair for a moment. "I ate and fell asleep."
"He drugged you." In a sense, it was impressive that he had still managed to put something in Gakupo's food, despite the fae's vigilance. Horrible, but impressive.
"Yes. I don't remember much after that. I know he took me and tried to return to the city, no more. For me, it was like a long dream, until I woke in Goya's arms. Jasper was dead."
Good, Kaito thought. Then, another idea surfaced on his mind. "Goya must've thought it was happening again, when he saw us together."
"Maybe," Gakupo sighed. "It was wrong to bring Jasper home."
"You were just being kind," Kaito consoled him, caressing his cheek.
"Ignorant pup, don't trust humans." Gakupo let out a little growl that was probably meant to imitate Goya's guttural tones. He closed his eyes for a second, drawing in air. When he opened them again, there was an amused spark deep inside them. "I'm glad I never learn. I trust you, Kaito."
What else was there to do but pull Gakupo closer and kiss him again? His eyes looked so luminous, as if the gold reflection of the pond has escaped into those depths. His smile was so soft and sincere, beckoning him. So Kaito leaned forward, reverently… And his stomach growled.
"I have to feed my knight," Gakupo laughed and stood up to gather his clothes.
"Right…" Kaito said embarrassed, running one hand through his hair. It was somewhat damp still, but it would have to do. He accepted the bundle of wrinkled clothing Gakupo was offering him. "I have the feeling this has happened before, somehow." The blue-haired youth muttered, mostly to himself, and began dressing up.
"What do you mean?"
"No, I guess it's my imagination." Kaito buttoned up the shirt, wishing he had something other that the rapidly deteriorating tuxedo. Despite the simplicity of his garments, Gakupo looked much more orderly in his white woven cape and pants. "I'm ready."
After a short flight, they reached the gash in the earth that lead to the fae hideout. Kaito was momentarily blinded by the change in lightning as they plunged inside, but soon his eyes adjusted to the dimness and the dancing flames. When he was able to see clearly, he noticed none other than his father and Yuki standing by the edge of the waters, looking up at them.
"Where have you been?" His father asked after a quick greeting.
"We were…er, relaxing…" Kaito said at the same time Gakupo replied with a "I was making Kaito happy."
Mr. Fuuga blinked, but opted to drop the matter entirely. "From what this young lady says, the future queen demands your presence, Gakupo."
"Me?" It was Gakupo's turn to look surprised. Unconsciously, he touched the spot of his face where IA clawed him, now fully restored thanks to Yuki's healing skills.
"I'll go with you," Kaito quickly interjected.
"She didn't mention you," Yuki said softly.
"I'm his knight, aren't I?" Kaito crossed his arms and tried to look confident. "I should go wherever he goes." He did feel a bit of pity for IA and her situation, but that didn't mean he trusted her yet.
Gakupo visibly relaxed, then laughed a bit sheepishly. "I wouldn't mind some company."
"Alright, perhaps it is better you go as well. You and your father were instrumental in saving her, after all. Fuuga-san, please come with us."
"Certainly." Mr. Fuuga smiled and patted her head. His expression only slightly faltered when he realized how cold her head was; Kaito noted with amusement that his father immediately began to rub his hands together vigorously as they walked following the snow-woman.
It was a strange procession, for certain. The little girl and the blue flame leading the way through the dark tunnels, then his father in his rumpled tuxedo, then he and his endling walking hand in hand. At one point, for seemingly no reason other than because he could, Gakupo gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
Finally, the tunnel they were in opened into a big round space, outfitted with several stone tables, benches and a raised dais with two thrones and several less impressive chairs. Several openings in the stone walls suggested long unlit tunnels in all directions. In the past, this cavern had been something of a neuralgic center for the dark fae community.
One of the tables was covered with dishes and drinks, more abundant and diverse then Kaito had expected seeing in the hideout. So they were planning on eating this without us? So much for being grateful to the humans, Kaito thought. Then again, Goya wasn't around, but that could be due to his size. Whatever the case, the mouse girl (now wearing a loose black and pink dress, thankfully) was seated at one end of the table, to the right of a woman with dark hair and a puffy wine-colored gown.
Right on cue, the woman turned to look directly at him for a moment. There was something in her eyes, a deeply unsettling presence than made Kaito lower his face and stare at the ground, suddenly breathing hard.
"It's been a while since I saw her in human form," Gakupo casually commented by his side. He rubbed Kaito's back comfortingly. "Strong eyes."
Kaito's father had been studying the carvings on the stone walls, but he turned towards Kaito with worry. "Are you ok, son?"
"It's nothing, just… Remember not to look her in the eye, dad."
Realization dawned in Mr. Fuuga's face. "Oh, that's the lady dragon." He quickly averted his eyes from the table.
By now, both Prima and IA were looking at them. Once Kaito recovered somewhat, he focused on IA, partly to gauge her intentions. The girl returned his gaze with an confident, cold smile; far from assuaging him, Kaito felt a chill going down his spine. He had seen that look many times in the faces of people that had more power than him, and it was always a portent of miserable experiences.
IA rose from the bench and approached them. She curtsied and greeted them, in what at first glance seemed like a sincerely amicable tone. "Good day to you, Gakupo, Kaito, . Prima told me what is expected of me. I'm really sorry about the way I acted before."
"Miss, you were in trouble. My son and I are grateful for the chance to help you. Right, Kaito?" Mr. Fuuga smiled.
"Right," Kaito echoed, trying to sound cheerful. He stole a peek at Gakupo, but his expression was carefully neutral.
IA took a step forward and grabbed Gakupo's free hand. "Gakupo, I need to apologize to you most of all. We are going to get along much better from now on, I'm sure."
Gakupo nodded, still showing little emotion on his face. "That is also my wish, IA. And I should apologize for not explaining myself better, back in the Pale Line."
"That's fine." IA smiled icily again. "Can we speak in private before we sit down to eat? It will only take a minute." For the briefest of instants, her eyes seemed to glow faintly.
Gakupo's expression changed somewhat at this, giving Kaito the uncanny impression that the two magical beings next to him were somehow communicating in a way beyond his understanding. It was a very distressing thought.
"Wait here," the endling abruptly said glancing at Kaito. Before Kaito could begin to recover from his surprise, the fae let go of his hand. IA immediately began pulling Gakupo towards the door next to the dais.
"But-" Kaito sputtered.
"I think you should let your friend handle this," Mr. Fuuga whispered, placing a hand on his son's shoulder.
"Since you're here, you might as well sit down, humans," Prima stated in a bored tone. "I thought IA might prefer a smaller gathering, but she seems to be adjusting quickly."
"Yes, do sit," Yuki echoed her, as she sat down by the dragon's side.
"Thank you, lady dragon, Yuki." His father politely replied and sat on the bench, leaving enough space for Kaito.
His son remained rooted to the spot, staring as the two fae crossed the threshold and disappeared into the darkness of the next chamber. What did IA want? She wasn't going to hurt Gakupo, was she?
"Hmm, son?"
Kaito startled. "Sorry!" Two of the people seating at the table smiled benevolently as he hurried to take a seat.
The third one narrowed her unsettling eyes as she observed him. "If you truly wish to protect him, I've been devising ways to bolster your non-human heritage. The change would be permanent, so consider it carefully."
"I'll do anything to help him!" Kaito immediately replied, but Prima only frowned.
"Is that your definition of 'carefully'?"
"The lady dragon is right, son. You can't just jump into something like that without thinking." This father shook his head worriedly.
"Your devotion is very convenient for us, make no mistake," Prima commented before sipping from a ancient-looking cup. "Tempered with some prudence, and you'll make for a good servant of the court."
"Kaito, I really think you and I should discuss this more in depth," Mr. Fuuga said with the slightest hint of tension in his voice.
"I keep forgetting that you are just a fledging," Prima said with a hint of a smile. "I shall give you the details after lunch, and you and your father can decide what to do. Although, I'm sure you don't want to disappoint Gakupo…" Her smile grew, taking a vaguely predatory quality.
"I think Gakupo must be deeply grateful of your efforts so far," Yuki interjected in a soothing tone. "For that reason, I'm sure he'd like you to consider this matter thoroughly. For now, have a drink while our dear children return."
Kaito nodded, though he still gave the door a last anxious look before facing the table. The following fifteen or so minutes passed tortuously, at least for him. His father was too awed by Prima to talk directly at her without prompting, but he and Yuki were having a nice talk about Japan and the places she remembered from her early years. Kaito was too distracted to follow the flow of the conversation, but he did gleam from his father's gasps and excited tone than Yuki was telling him something of interest. However, just when he decided to pay proper attention to what they were saying, he heard the faint rustle of feathers behind him. IA and Gakupo were back; the mouse girl strutting confidently, the endling keeping up the pace with her thanks to his longer stride, but much more dejectedly.
Bad news, just like he expected. Kaito was sure of it, looking at Gakupo's figure: every part of him screamed it, even the long tail dragging morosely along the ground. The fae met his gaze with a somber expression, and before Kaito realized what he was doing, he jumped from the bench to go to him.
"Are you alright?" He asked, disregarding the mutterings behind him and IA's offended look off to the right. At that moment, the world was a tunnel, with him and Gakupo on opposite ends. The fae chewed on his bottom lip without answering.
"As I was going to say," IA piped up irritably, "Gakupo and I have reached an understanding." Belatedly, Kaito realized that he had interrupted IA just as she was going to make a speech. Well, whatever it was, he didn't care. Not until he knew for certain that Gakupo was ok. He tried to move forward, but before he could a step, he felt his father place a hand on his shoulder.
"The situation is quite serious for us right now. I'm not sure I can be what you need of me in a time like this." For a moment, IA looked less like a petulant child and more like a weary soldier. In a girl of her apparent age, it was a bit disturbing. But Kaito's compassion dissolved like snow under the sun with the next words. "But I don't have to do it alone. Gakupo will be my Oberon, and I will be the best Titania I can be."
For a second, Kaito's and IA's eyes met, and he saw a spark of anger, mollified by the knowledge of the blow she had just landed on him. Underneath all the words, she was still the raging child, happy to take a swipe at him for hitting her earlier.
"…She forced you into saying yes, didn't she?" Again, Kaito ignored the angry reactions around him, and focused only on Gakupo. He saw his face grow pale, but then was shocked when the endling shook his head.
"It's not that simple. I can explain later."
"Later?!"
"Son, don't make a scene." Mr. Fuuga's voice was full of kindness, as usual, but Kaito felt a tiny bit of relief emanating from it: his father was glad Gakupo was marrying someone else. It made Kaito's frustration explode, and his instinct to escape took over. Shaking off his father's hand, he turned away from the table and everyone else, and began to walk towards the path they used to reach the cavern.
"Kaito?"
"I'll be disturbing everyone's meal if I stay here. Please lend me one of your fires, Prima."
Behind him, someone clicked their tongues. Someone else sighed. Prima replied, her voice crisp and unhurried. "I'll send one of the dwellers with food. Use your time alone to reflect on things, knight."
"I will," Kaito muttered to himself. How could the day turn around so quickly? How could Gakupo take a decision like this without even discussing it with him first? His eyes began to itch. He ground his teeth and walked faster. A blue flame appeared by his side, bobbing slightly as it adapted to his increasingly hurried pace.
The walls closed in on him as he ran down the tunnels. They became more and more indistinguishable from one another, until he realized he was lost. He kept going, stubbornly. The weight of the mountain above seemed heavier with every second, as he rushed past doors and pathways full of inky nothingness. Nameless things crawled away from his steps and cobwebs stuck to his clothes and hair.
The atmosphere in those depths was intensely stale; Kaito felt his airways clog with miniscule grains of dust, with anguish and anger at himself. His side throbbed and his lungs rebelled, unaccustomed to such exercise. Stopping abruptly, he leaned against the stone wall, rubbing his eyes and breathing heavily. The blue flame hovered near his face, giving little heat.
"I don't know where to go," he finally admitted with a cracked voice.
"I expected as much, but I thought all that running would be a fine chance to spend some of your excess energy." The blue flame didn't have a face, but Kaito could sense Prima's smirk all the same.
"Can the others at the table hear you talk to me right now?" Purposefully, Kaito tried to push other thoughts away with that question.
"No, unless I wanted to."
"How do you do that, anyway? Project your consciousness far from your body?"
"Bodies. The form you know is down below guarding my eggs."
"I don't even understand how that can be possible." Kaito tried to clean his hair, not very successfully. His head was beginning to hurt due to how hard he was clenching his jaw.
"You can't understand it. Just like I can't possibly understand what it feels to be you. None of us can understand you, despite how human-like Yuki or the fae look."
"I don't care how different we are, I want him. And he wants me, he loves me!" His fist balled and he pounded uselessly against the wall.
"Did he say so? Then he does, you should take solace in that. Fae are fragile and somewhat capricious, but they can't lie."
"Then why-?!" He choked up.
"Have you considered the possibility that he feels responsible for that child? He brought her here, after all."
"You ordered him to bring her!" A side of Kaito wanted nothing more to say that IA could go rot for all he cared. Neither she nor the others had the right to take Gakupo away from him.
"Everyone has been waiting for her, including Gakupo. What is there for him in this land? A cage, a life of hiding?"
"I'll take care of him, no matter what!"
"So a cage then." Prima ignored Kaito's grunt of shock and indignation. "What, don't you see what that means? He'll have to spend the rest of his life depending on you. It sounds enticing to you, perchance?"
Never argue with a dragon, they say. Kaito rubbed his face, trying to clear his head. Prima was trying to manipulate him, nothing more. She had been using Gakupo for her own ends for who knows how long, and now she wanted to do the same with him, taking advantage of his love. It wouldn't work, he'd make sure to see Gakupo safe and by his side no matter what she was planning.
"Show me the way to the lake," he finally said.
"Oh?"
"I'll hear what he has to say, when he comes to me. Now show me the way back, please."
The voice snickered, matching the bobbing movement of the flame. "Certainly." It then sailed the air at a leisurely pace, heading for his right.
Many turns later, they emerged into the enormous cavern housing the lake. The flame went back to join the many others dancing near the half-submerged quartz columns, without as much as a goodbye. Kaito waited for a moment, his eyes searching the walls until he found what he thought was the doorway to Gakupo's bedroom. The crystal inside gave a soft glow, insufficient to detect movement. In any case, he was likely still eating with the others. Hoping that the situation wouldn't grow worse while he wasn't there, Kaito bit his lip and marched towards the room he had been allotted.
As promised by Prima, a tray with steaming food was waiting for him over the bench. But much more importantly, Gakupo was waiting for him, standing in the middle of the room like a statue. Kaito gaped, completely unprepared for his presence, but as soon as their eyes met, the endling's stoic mask cracked, and even the feathers at both sides of his head seemed to droop a bit. Feeling both alarmed and somewhat vindicated, Kaito rushed forward to take him in his arms. Gakupo rested his head on his shoulder, letting out shaken words of apology.
"It's okay, I won't let them do this to you!" Kaito held him tighter, burying his face in the mane of purple hair. "They can't force you to marry that girl, I'll take you away if I have to!"
Abruptly, Gakupo fell silent, aside from a little sniffling. Drawing back, he looked at Kaito with with consternation. He attempted to disentangle himself from his embrace, but the youth refused to let go.
"I know you think you must obey Prima and the others," Kaito began, smiling reassuringly. But he didn't get to finish the sentence: Gakupo fought him harder, shaking his head, until he was forced to release him. That hurt, despite knowing that the fae was only doing what he thought was his duty. But why couldn't Gakupo realize he was far too precious to allow himself to be used like this? Why couldn't he let Kaito take care of him?
Gakupo rubbed his eyes with manic energy. "You don't understand!"
"No, I understand perfectly. IA blamed you for bringing her to this hole, right?" Kaito allowed himself to smile bitterly at this. "Perhaps Prima or Yuki told you it was your duty as the last wind fae?"
"They don't need to say it, I know it already." Gakupo crinkled his frown, looking at Kaito with surprised disapproval.
That reaction sparked even more indignation inside of Kaito. "Well, it's wrong!" He ran his hands through his hair once more, dislodging some dust from the tunnels. "Look, I don't blame you. You're too innocent to know better."
"Pup knows nothing," Gakupo said in a dry tone. "Both you and Goya think I'm a fool."
"I'm not saying you're foolish, it's not your fault!" Kaito looked at the ground, trying to organize his thoughts. "I'm saying you've never been in contact with other ways of thinking, that's all. Look, you should've stalled and discussed things with me before saying yes."
The fae looked down and to a side, reflexively rubbing the ruined skin of his arm; his long hair hid his face like a heavy curtain. Much too late, Kaito realized that stating so plainly that Gakupo was inexperienced wasn't going to win him any points. He swallowed nervously when he saw Gakupo's tail furiously lashing about, wondering if he was going to see the same furious face of that distant first day in the museum.
But ultimately, the fae flipped his hair out the way and observed him with dark, pained eyes. "I wanted to tell you… Not in front of everyone," Gakupo stated slowly. "I asked IA to wait, she didn't listen."
"That snotty little sh-"
"She's been wronged, Kaito." Gakupo's frown deepened. "Shes been wronged, and she has no one else here. She's alone, like I was."
Kaito felt fear rising like a ghoulish hand seizing his throat at these simple words; the jealous fool inside of him immediately panicking at the idea of Gakupo and IA growing close. His brain tried to fight it, judiciously pointing out that barely a couple of hours prior he was sure Gakupo was going to be his forever.
Gakupo continued, choosing to ignore (or not fully understanding) the look on Kaito's face. "IA wanted two things: first of all, she wants the girls from the Pale Line to come with us. Prima agreed to that right away. Now that she knows where it is, she wants to destroy it for good. As for me…" His even tone wavered a bit, but he pressed on, "I have to be at her side until we are fully settled on the other side. After that, I can do whatever I want."
"So you expected me to wait." There was no other explanation for the look of timid hope in the fae's eyes.
Gakupo nodded, somewhat cowed by Kaito's cold tone.
"Do you even know what fully settled means? No, you don't." Kaito was skirting dangerously close to calling Gakupo ignorant again, but he was too furious to control himself. "I won't live hundreds of years like Yuki or Prima. And even if I could wait, why should I? Why is everyone else more entitled to a happy ending than us?"
"Kaito…"
"You don't think I'm justified in being angry by this?"
This time, Gakupo didn't reply in any way; he just stared at Kaito with big, reddened eyes.
"I'm sorry, but I can't accept something like this. It's not like I'm trying to pit you against Goya, Prima or Yuki, but I can't." Kaito closed his eyes and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Well, in the case of Prima, just a bit. What I mean is…" At that moment, he heard the sound of air being pushed by two massive wings. Surprised, he opened his eyes and found himself alone in the bedroom. He rushed towards the door, and saw Gakupo flying swiftly upwards towards the outside.
"Wait!" Kaito shouted as loud as he could, but Gakupo kept ascending without looking back. A moment later, he was gone. The human below crouched, so anxious that for a moment he felt dizzy.
A moment later, a girlish giggle reached his ears from across the waters. She was right there somewhere in the shadows, watching him. Laughing at him.