A/N: Wai--! So many faves and reviews on this story! I'm surprised to see that it's so popular! Thanks for the reviews, guys! I love you all :D Warning: this fic contains spoilers for ch. 165 and up!


Bloom

After the events in Tokyo, Fai had thought he would probably never be happy again. The relatively carefree days he had spent teasing Kurogane, singing songs with Mokona, teasing Kurogane, watching Sakura and Syaoran rediscover their love for each other and teasing Kurogane had seemed evanescent and impossible to recapture. But as he sat on the balcony of Kurogane's room in Shirasaki Castle, Japan, snuggled up in his favorite ninja's lap, wrapped in a blanket as the two of them watched the sun set, he realized just how wrong he had been; this was quite possibly the best night of his life (not that was really saying much in Fai's case, but he wasn't about to turn his nose up at it).

Sure, things were different now than they had been, but even if he had had to lose an eye in order to reach a time where he could feel this content he decided it was worth it. At the same time, though, he couldn't help but feel a little guilty as his slender finger traced its way absentmindedly along the artificial muscles of Kurogane's new arm. Kurogane's organic hand was gently stroking his cheek in a way so sweet and affectionate that the wizard wouldn't have guessed that the swordsman was capable of it had he not been experiencing it. Suddenly a random question worked its way into his mind and Fai couldn't help but ask it.

"Kurotan? What were you like when you were younger?"

Kurogane paused and looked down at him, his scarlet eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Huh? What the hell are you asking something like that for?"

Fai grinned and shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know… I was just curious whether being raised partially by a bunch of women had any sort of affect on your personality." The blond giggled. "If this is how Kuropuu turned out after being brought up with a soft, feminine touch I can't help but wonder what he was like before."

Even in the soft glow of the setting sun Fai could see his companion blushing, and it was so endearing that Fai couldn't resist kissing him. When Kurogane still hadn't replied after a moment, the magician pushed him playfully onto his back and sat on his stomach.

"If you don't tell me, Kurochuu, I'll be forced to ask Tomoyo hime, and I'm sure she'd be more than willing to give me any dirt she had on you."

Kurogane hissed reluctantly through clenched teeth at the thought.

"I don't know what you want me to say," he growled. "I was shorter and scrawnier but that's about it."

"Were you as brave as you are now?" Fai asked.

Kurogane shrugged. "You know what kids are like… I always wanted to be the top ninja of Japan, like my father. You can't be a wimp if you're gonna do that. But I guess there were plenty of times where I was acting on stupidity more than bravery."

He paused thoughtfully, then added "I never was one to back down from a challenge, though."

Fai laughed. "So Kurosama hated to lose even as a child, huh?"

"Shut up, you," the ninja grumbled.

Fai fiddled amusedly with the collar of Kurogane's hakama. "I bet you were quite the troublemaker, too, weren't you, Kurochan?"

"Tch. What makes you say that?"

"I can just imagine a little Kuropiko running around the castle with his toy sword, trying to start fights with anyone who looked like they might try to challenge his authority and giving everyone a hard time," Fai teased, his smile widening at the thought. "I bet Tomoyo hime could still make you cry, though, right, Kuromin?"

"You bastard!" Kurogane snapped. "You're a real pain in the ass, you know that?!"

"How could I forget, Kurokuro? You tell me that every five minutes," the blond snickered. "And yet…" he lovingly touched Kurogane's hands which held him on either side of his waist, "Kuromyuu still holds me like this."

Kurogane snorted and pulled Fai all the way down so that he was lying on top of him, hugging him tightly. The mage closed his eyes happily, cherishing the warmth of the body beneath his.

"Did you go to school?" Fai asked eventually.

"Amaterasu hired tutors for me," the swordsman replied simply.

"I bet Kuropipi made trouble for them, too. You probably had a tantrum every time they marked one of your answers wrong on a test and started cussing and throwing things," Fai giggled. "You did that, didn't you, Kuropon? Come on, admit it."

"I did not!" Kurogane snarled. "Quit saying stupid crap like that when you really have no idea!"

"Were you a good student?"

"Hmph… well, I almost never studied but I did alright anyway. Not that it's any of your damn business," he added, just for good measure.

"Did you have a separate tutor for sword practice?" Fai asked.

Kurogane was silent for a bit while he tried to remember. "Yeah… I had this one old guy for a while, but he ended up retiring and after that I went through a lot of them."

"Oh? And why was that?" Fai inquired sweetly, getting the feeling that he already knew the answer.

"Most of them were dumb asses who didn't know jack shit about sword fighting," Kurogane sneered. "Once they reached a certain level, they got cocky and stopped trying to get better. People like that don't even deserve to call themselves ninjas; it makes the rest of us look bad."

"So if you were a good student and a good swordfighter, I'm sure Kurowanwan probably had lots of admirers too, right?" the magician asked with a smile.

"Tch. Like I ever cared about that," Kurogane snorted.

"Oh, come on, Kurochii," Fai persisted. "You can tell me."

"I don't know and I don't care!"

"Hmm? Are you telling me you never had a crush on anyone when you were younger, Kuropyon? I think you're lying!"

"What about you, you bastard?" Kurogane demanded. "Were you ever interested in that kind of thing?"

Fai's golden eye became distant as he searched the memories of his painful childhood. "There really weren't any other people my age in the castle, so I didn't have anyone in particular that I liked. But from time to time, when I would leave the palace, I would see couples spending time together or hear girls talking about boys that they liked and I could never help wondering when it would be my turn…" Fai's smile was small and sad now. "When would it be me that someone was dreaming of…Didn't you ever feel like that, Kurowanko?"

The ninja sighed and rolled his eyes. "I was too busy trying to make myself stronger. I didn't care about stupid crap like that."

"Never? Really? Hyuu…" Fai said in wonder.

"Well…" Kurogane said slowly.

The blond perked up instantly. He sat up. "Ah ha! I knew it! Who was it, Kurowanta?"

"I never was interested in anyone…until I met…" he broke off, blushing and avoiding Fai's eye. "Hmph, just forget it."

Fai was spent a moment in curious silence, staring off into space as he wondered what kind of person could have managed to capture the brash swordsman's interest. But when he looked down at Kurogane again and noticed that his face was still red and felt the heart beneath his hand fluttering nervously, he understood and a warm smile spread across his face. Slowly, he leaned down and kissed Kurogane's lips.

"Was Daddy going to say that he was never interested in anyone until he met me?" Fai whispered. Kurogane propped himself up on his elbows and kissed him again in response. When they pulled apart, Fai giggled mischievously. "You really were a late bloomer, weren't you Kurochuu?"

"Hey, shut the hell up, you—!" Kurogane began but Fai put a finger to the ninja's lips to silence him.

"Don't worry, Kurobun; you were my first love, too."


A/N: So, what did you think? It was shorter than what I usually do… I hope it wasn't boring. For anyone who didn't really see what this story had to do with the prompt "bloom", blooming can also refer to a person growing up, not just a flower.

The next prompt is "nimbus". Stay tuned!