a/n: Okay, so I am currently in Brasil (this is day 6 of... 10 months. school is crap. i think they put me in the wrong grade. i am doing university prep courses in a completely different language that i don't understand. thank god friendships transcend language boundaries) and have pretty much NO TIME AT ALL to write anything. This is due mainly in part to that facts that a) I am not supposed to be exposed to any english at all for my entire stay here pfft! fat chance of that happening! i brought over all my TRC, xxxHOLIC and Whistle! manga as well as about twenty novels. wo0t. cost me a shitload of money for the extra baggage though..., b) the internet here is crap. it is slow, and NOT WIRELESS. -teh sadness-
Anyway, there is one transitional part that I can't stand in this chapter. I tried for a couple weeks to fix it, but it just /won't/ and so now I am just going to post it as-is. Not Beta-Read as BetaFish is in ITALY. And my internet is screwy. I finished this a while ago, but the ending was so disgusting it burned my eyes and made me cry (okay, that was the pollen, but w/e).
This is my second try at the ending!
...I hope I got them in-character enough. I haven't read any TRC for so long. It should be blasphemy. The end... shit. I think there might be some OOC-ness near the end. But if so, I believe it to only be mild. Warning: Much inane, meaningful rambling from an over-tired Fay in this one. Hahaha.
Title: Pancakes and Butterflies
Author/Artist: Allen Haverstock
Pairing: Kurogane/Fai D. Flourite
Fandom: Tsubasa RESERvoir CHRONiCLES
Theme: Kisses #18 – say 'ahh', Hugs #2–rainbows and butterflies
Disclaimer: If I owned them they wouldn't be nearly as hot and smexy and mysterious because I suck like that. Fai and Kuro-tan are owned by the lovely clump of potatoes called CLAMP.
This Chapter is Dedicated to Monkey. My new kitten, whom I found and de-flea-ified and washed, and thought got flushed down the toilet by Mae and made food for and picked up the poo of.
(P.S, Tell me anyone is OOC and I will like, shoot you, really. Just review and send me the OOC lines at the end of it with suggestions. I should shut up now. I am drugged up on Benadryl and probably am being paranoid. 50 literally bug bites can do that to you. Especially if you're allergic.)
Fixed up so it flows more smoothly. I think.
The amusement on his face was evident and he made no effort to hide it.
His chin rested atop his intertwined fingers, elbows perched on the table and watched the other man as he tried to eat. There was the clinking of cutlery against china as the man flung his utensil down; his face twisted into an angered frown.
"Having trouble, Kuro-pyon?"
"Shut-up," hissed the dark-haired man, switching his heated red glare from his untouched dinner to the blond. "Why are you still here anyway? Why aren't you off chasing butterflies or looking for the end of the rainbow or whatever the Hell it is that you do in your spare time?"
The blond grinned, "Because watching Kuro-chin is much more entertaining."
Growling, Kurogane grabbed his fork and knife and went back to trying to eat his spaghetti. Fay continued to stare at the ninja, giggling whenever a clump of noodles would fall from his fork.
Kurogane shot him a glare, "Go play with the manjuu bun, idiot."
"But I'm waiting for Kuro-kuu to ask me for help!" exclaimed Fay; the smile on his face widening to painful proportions at the disgusted look on the ninja's face. "So I'm going to sit here until you need me!"
Kurogane stared at him. "Yeah," he said slowly – a plan formulating in his mind. "Yeah, you do that."
Abandoning what would be deemed proper eating manners, Kurogane shoveled the spaghetti into his mouth with his fork. Fay sat quietly at the table; face still resting in his hands, and waited.
Kurogane would make sure he waited for a long time.
Getting up, the ninja placed his dirty dish in the sink and washed it. He studiously ignored the mage who merely sat at the table and continued watching him with a lazy smile.
It was rather creepy.
Fay had always been very patient.
Even as a child, barely past the age where he had learned to walk, he had always been patient enough to sit still for hours on end quietly while his parents conversed with the other nobles. Because of this, he had learned that patience was key in getting what you wanted, and he wasn't going to forget that lesson anytime soon.
Fay grinned. Kurogane had knowingly challenged him to a battle of will.
There was no way he was going to lose.
Kurogane woke up the next morning feeling particularly smug.
He knew Fay. Or, at least, he had concluded that he had traveled with the idiot long enough to know that the blond wouldn't last a day sitting in the same spot, unmoving. And, if the lack of people to bother and generally harass didn't get to him, Kurogane was sure that his bladder would.
Swinging open the kitchen doors he couldn't help the surprised expression that flitted across his face when he saw the idiot sitting at the table; smiling up at him over interlaced fingers with bright blue eyes. He glowered at him.
"Good Morning, Kuro-pi!" cried the blond happily.
His glower deepened. "The Hell? Didn't you move at all last night?"
"Nope!" exclaimed Fay, the lop-sided grin on his face stretching. "I told you I would wait here until you needed my help, so here I am, waiting for you, Kuro-kuu!"
"How the Hell did you manage to fall asleep like that?"
"Oh, that's simple, Kuro-chu!" Fay replied as he stretched his arms back behind his head. He fixed his gaze onto the ninja. "I didn't."
Kurogane snorted and grabbed a bowl to pour his cereal in. He was glad he knew how to use a spoon, at least.
"Let's see how long you can keep up with that, then."
"You'd be surprised."
Kurogane paused in his eating when he caught the tone the other man used. He had a strange feeling of dread and stared at the blond for a moment. Fay's expression remained the same throughout his scrutiny, although his grin may or may not have wavered slightly.
"See something you like, Kuro-rin?"
The ninja glared at him, but was spared a response as Sakura came thump-thumping down the stairs. How a girl so light could make that much noise was beyond him -- he had given up on ever figuring out most of these things a long time ago.
"Good Morning!" cried the teenager; a genuine smile was on her face, a lovely change from the ones he had been receiving from the mage. Her green eyes sparkled in genuine as she hugged her new hat to her chest.
Syaoran had given it to her the day before, as it was very bright out.
"Fay-san!" she exclaimed. "I had the most wonderful dream last night!"
Fay smiled softly at her. "Would you like to tell me about it, Sakura-chan?"
The girl nodded vigorously and Fay laughed, patting the seat next to him. "Okay then! Come sit down and tell me!"
"Oh…here?" she asked, looking around the kitchen. "I thought it would be nice to sit outside! It's so lovely out…"
Fay smiled apologetically. "Ahh… but I promised Kuro-kichii I would sit here and wait for him."
"Oh?" Sakura blinked, "What for?"
"For when he asks me for my help, of course!" replied the mage cheerfully.
Sakura gasped. "You're so kind, Fay-san!"
Kurogane snorted in disgust. Fay shot him a look, but he couldn't tell what type of look it was, precisely.
"Now, Sakura-chan," said the mage, "You were going to tell me about your dream?"
As the bright-eyed brunette began describe faeries and elves and other sorts of fanciful creatures, Kurogane placed his now-empty bowl on the counter and fled. Fay sent him another look as he left before dutifully returning to listening to the princess.
The following three days proceeded in much the same way.
Three days of Fay quietly sitting at the kitchen table; almost as though he were glued to his seat.
Three days of Kurogane resolutely ignoring Fay's existence and struggling with the silverware.
Three days of Syaoran sending the two men disapproving looks while he looked for clues as to the whereabouts of Sakura's memory.
Three days of Sakura regaling the mage with her strange dreams and trotting after Syaoran into town to earn money.
In short, it was three days of pure and utter torture for one raven-haired ninja.
By the dawn of the fourth day, Kurogane was starving, confused, and most of all pissed. Having run out of cereal two days earlier and not having the money to buy anything else, the group had been eating steak for every meal and, as he was lacking the ability to use the eating utensils on this world, had not managed a single bite.
Fay had been grinning at him the whole time.
Pushing open the kitchen door with a sigh, he looked around in surprise.
"Where're the kids?" he demanded, ignoring the gurgling of his stomach.
Fay looked up at him gave a tired smile. "Sakura-chan dragged Syaoran-kun out to earn some money," he explained. "Mokona deemed it necessary to go with them and I needed to stay here to tell you this when you woke up, Kuro-chu!"
Kurogane grunted in response and began scouring the cupboards for something that would make a good breakfast. The blond watched him.
"I could make you something if you'd like, Kuro-pon."
"You'd probably poison me," the ninja replied scathingly, even though he found the mage's cooking to be quite delicious. Not that he would ever admit to it.
Fay sent him a trademark lop-sided grin. "There aren't any ingredients here to make poisons," he told the taller man as he tapped the floor with a bare foot. "Besides, why would I want to poison my beloved Kuro-rin?"
"Because you're an idiot, that's why."
"Hmm," said the blond, ceasing his tapping and twirling a knife he had found laying on the table through his fingers instead. "Maybe I am, Kuro-kuu, but that doesn't mean that I don't know what I'm doing at least some of the time."
The knife clattered against the table as it slipped from Fay's slender fingers. Kurogane looked over his shoulder from where he was rummaging through the refrigerator.
"Watch what you're doing, you damned magician."
Fay blinked; a small, self-deprecating smile spreading across his face.
"Damned magician?" he said, "That is… surprisingly accurate, Kuro-woof."
Kurogane turned to look at him; an eyebrow arched delicately, and a can of some sort of drink in one hand. Fay recognized the look as his companion's trademark calculative glare.
"What did you say, mage?"
Fay sent him his best confused look. "Hmm?" he said, "I don't believe I know what you're talking about, Kuro-pyon."
Kurogane opened his mouth to speak, then thought better of it and closed it again. He sighed. "You're an idiot."
"So you've informed me – on numerous occasions," replied the mage, cheerfully. Kurogane growled.
"You do realize that I won't ask for help from someone who doesn't ask for it himself."
Fay smiled at him – a different smile than he was used to; blue eyes dull and void of any emotion. The ninja shivered.
"Yes. But maybe that someone has already asked, though not in the way you would expect," said the blond. "Or maybe that someone believes that he doesn't deserve help in any way, shape, or form, and would therefore not bother asking."
"Or maybe that someone is being an idiot, as usual," countered Kurogane bitterly.
Fay's eyes slipped closed as he smiled. "Maybe."
The ninja scanned the wizard's slight form critically with narrowed eyes. Fay looked exhausted, and seemed thinner than usual – something that Kurogane would have never thought possible had he not seen it himself.
"Oi," he muttered. The blond sent him a curious glance. "Make me breakfast, you damn wizard."
Fay blinked in surprise, and then grinned. Making his way over to the cooking area, he looked at Kurogane from the corner of his eye. "Any requests, Kuro-kichii?"
"Those pancake things."
Fay pulled some eggs and milk out of the refrigerator and began hunting for the rest of the ingredients.
"Anything else?" he asked, setting the bag of flour onto the counter -- flour smoking out of the top and covering the area in a thin layer of white. "I think I could make you something with the eggs."
Kurogane grunted. "No," he replied. "…But make something for yourself."
If the other man was surprised, he certainly didn't show it. Fay merely sent him a cheeky grin. "Why, I didn't know you cared, Kuro-kii!"
"I-I don't!" cried the ninja, outraged. "The kids would be sad if you got sick or something…and I don't want to have to deal with you moaning on about how hungry you are."
Fay sent him another indistinguishable look and proceeded to ladle out the pancakes into the frying pan. They sizzled satisfyingly.
Kurogane sat quietly at the table while Fay cooked. The blond hummed to himself as he flipped the almost-finished pancakes. Kurogane liked his voice. It was light and airy, but had deep, rich undertones – much like the man himself.
Of course, he would never admit to that, either.
He was brought out of his musings when a forkful of syrupy cake was held up to his face.
"Say 'ahh!' Kuro-po!"
The fork was shoved closer to his face.
"A-ahh!" he exclaimed in shock. "Get that away from me you damn magician!"
"No, no, Kuro-ro!" said Fay, using the forkful of pancake as a pointer to emphasize what he was saying. "That's not how you say it!"
"I changed my mind – I'm not hungry anymore."
"But I made these especially for you, Kuro-ron!" Fay said sorrowfully, fake tears pooling in his eyes. Kurogane wanted to roll his eyes. "See?"
A plateful of heart-shaped pancakes was pushed in front of him.
"The Hell!"
"See? Aren't they cute, Kuro-chan?" Fay withdrew the fork from Kurogane's face and popped it into his own mouth. "They taste good too!"
The larger man grimaced. "They look like hearts!"
"Well, I tried to shape them like puppies and kitties, but they didn't turn out too well, so hearts were the next best thing!" explained the blond. He picked a pancake off of Kurogane's plate, gracefully, with his fork and bit off a piece.
The ninja stared down at the food in front of him distastefully.
"You put syrup on them."
"Yes, but it tastes good"
"Syrup," he said again. "Do you know what that is made out of?"
"Sap."
"And sugar."
"You don't like sugary things, Kuro-fuu, do you?"
"No, I don't. I've made the fact clear enough."
"You should like them though! They give you energy!" explained Fay.
"No, I shouldn't like them; and the only things sweets give you are cavities."
"Aww! Kuro-pyon! Don't be like that!"
"It is horrible stuff."
"Are you sure, Kuro-po? It really makes the pancakes taste better!"
"Yes," finished Kurogane. "I'm positive. And stop calling me by those damn nicknames, idiot."
Fay stared at him, popped another piece of syrupy pancake into his mouth, and stood up.
"I still win," he said with an almost-smirk.
Kurogane blinked. "What?"
"You asked for my help."
"No I didn't—"
"You asked me to make you breakfast."
The ninja stared up at the mage, mouth agape ("You'll catch flies that way, Kuro-woof!" said Fay), from where he sat and then sighed. "Fine," he said.
"Fine, what?" Fay asked, milking the moment for all it was worth.
"You win," replied Kurogane through clenched teeth, "…I suppose."
The mage walked over and collapsed on the ninja's back; arms wrapped loosely around the taller man's neck and chin resting on his shoulder. Kurogane glanced at the blond out of the corner of his eye and, seeing the tired look on his face, decided that he would leave the other man alone. Just this once.
Fay sighed softly and the warm air brushed the sensitive skin on his neck. He withheld a shiver.
"Sometimes," said the mage quietly, fingers toying with the dark-haired man's shirt sleeve, "Patience pays off, eh, Kuro-kucho?"
"Hn," replied Kurogane, trying to convince himself that, no, he was not enjoying this. He shook the smaller man off of him. "Go get some sleep, idiot," he demanded.
Fay flicked his nose playfully, "What do you say, Kuro-tin?"
"Go get some sleep, idiot, or I'll slice off your hands."
The blond let out an airy laugh as he walked towards the kitchen doorway. "Close enough, I suppose," he said. His eyes caught sight of the crystal butterfly dangling in the morning sun; splattering prisms of colour across the floor next to him as he left, rooting him to the spot. Blue eyes widened fractionally.
Memories of crystalline ground came to mind. Shining brightly in the sunrise and casting hundreds of rainbows across the roofs and walls of the village houses. It was a sight that only those privileged or gifted enough to live within the castle walls could see. He remembered waking up early every morning to watch the spectacle – not for free, of course. Never for free.
Nothing good in his life ever came for free.
He stared at the ornament in silence; painful memories floating to the surface of his thoughts, paralyzing him until Kurogane's rough voice snapped him back to reality.
"What the Hell are you doing, dumbass? Get some sleep!"
"Have you ever heard of a Butterfly Kiss, Kuro-ron?" Fay asked suddenly, almost desperately. He needed release from his demons; if only for a moment, and sharing some of his nicer memories would help.
He knew it was his own fault for exhausting himself to the point that he would unwittingly recall some of his earlier years in his home world. But, he thought, Kurogane would understand.
It was, after all, just a silly little thing he remembered from his childhood -- nothing really of importance.
It would be nice to tell someone of the peace he could remember.
Yes, he thought, Kurogane would definitely understand.
"No," said the ninja. Kurogane got the feeling that this talk would be significant, but he didn't know why, "What are they?"
"Well, the children used to give them all the time back…home," Kurogane caught the hesitant tone when he referred to his world as 'home'. Fay continued, "They would run up to each other and rub their noses together softly."
"Oh," said Kurogane. "Those are called Eskimo Kisses in Japan."
"Yes, well, we didn't have any Eskimos in Celes. I don't think. We didn't even really have butterflies, either."
"Why the Hell did you call them that, then?"
"I don't know – it wasn't me who named them," said Fay, "But I think it has something to do with hope. Butterflies were a very rare species in my world, and then one year they just… disappeared. The children were sad, but then came up with the whole idea in memory of them."
"How would they come up with that?" Kurogane asked, interest piqued. The mage never talked about his home world. "It seems sort of…random."
"The butterflies in Celes liked to land on people's noses while they napped, and would tickle them until they awoke. They liked to play tricks, I think. Anyway," continued Fay, "The children believed that if they kept giving Butterfly Kisses that one day the butterflies would return to them."
Kurogane snorted. Fay grinned.
"And then, one sunny New Year's day, they did. There was much celebrating, and now it is tradition on the first sunny day of the year to give each other Butterfly Kisses."
"What?" exclaimed Kurogane. Fay laughed at him.
"I'm just joking, Kuro-pon. But that is the legend behind the Butterfly Kisses in my world -- except for the last bit," he pulled away from the ninja – only just realizing he hadn't let go for the duration of his story. "What is the story behind your 'Eskimo Kisses'?"
"Up north there are people who live in houses made of ice, and it is so cold that they have to keep most of their face covered up at all times," explained Kurogane bluntly. "It's the only way they could possibly have any sort of 'kisses'. Crazy lunatics."
"Kuro-pyo," said Fay, trying to hide a yawn, "You really need to work on your story-telling skills."
"Unlike some people, I don't need them."
"Someday, when you grow up and have puppies of your own you might find that being able to tell stories may come in handy."
Kurogane growled, "What? Are you speaking from personal experience?"
"Maybe."
"Wha—" the ninja began to speak, but was cut off by a yawning mage.
"I'm going to sleep now, Kuro-woof. Look after the house, would you?"
"No."
Fay ignored him and waved cheerfully, "Good Night, Kuro-rin! Hope you don't miss my company too much!"
"It's not even noon yet, dumbass!" cried Kurogane, outraged. "And there's no way I'd ever miss your company!"
An hour later found Fay fast asleep, sprawled, as usual, over the living room sofa and dreaming peacefully of butterflies.
Two hours of peace and quiet later, Kurogane had to acknowledge that he definitely did prefer the mage's company and inane chatter to the deafening silence that permeated throughout the house.
Not that he'd ever admit to it.
a/n: Anyway, somebody abandoned a bunch of kittens outside my new school (Ativa) and my host mother and father let me keep them. My host sister (Mada, 11) is keeping one (the crazy one with the dopey-looking face) and I am keeping one (the fluffy white one who loves to be cuddled). They are both boys. She named hers Mimi (dear lord, help that kitty) and I named mine Fay, because of the blue eyed-ness and such. I changed his name to Monkey because that suited him better, though. Haha. Plus I can totally make nicknames out of it. Cookies to anyone who sends me a nickname for 'Monkey'!