Mages and Knights
Summery: AU Takuya is the son of a poor farmer and on one day discovers he is an Elemental. Powerful people are out to get him so he travels to a School were he meets a lot of interesting people. And maybe fall in love with one of the strangest. Kouji/Takuya
Warnings: Digimon crossover, Cursing, Yaoi, T rating
Chapter name: Bonds that Tie Us Together
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon so do not sue me. I have no money anyway so it will be a waste of your time.
Author Notes: HELLO! I'm back! Did you miss me? Anyway I had a request for a little more romance between Kouji and Takky so I will try my best here and, also, I decided on the additional pairings! Go me, go me, go me. Read and find out. I'm not telling. Hee hee.
I have, like, 60 reviews! (Has a heart attack, faints, is revived at the last second) I just feel so, so LOVED it's suffocating me! Thank you all! I love you! (Cries out newly alive heart for the reviewers). And over 2,000 hits! That's, like, double of what I had at chapter 6. What is this world coming to! Is this really so good that you take time out of your busy schedules to read this little story made by this poor authoress?
Sorry for the long update. I have been working on other stories and I kind of lost track of time and yeah... Sorry? (God, that was lame)
Light priced his eyes like knives. No matter which way he tossed and turned the brightness wouldn't leave him alone. All he wanted to do was sleep away to where he wouldn't have to face what he knew would eventually come. His eyelids were as heavy as lead but that accursed light was still there poking his eyes out. He gradually got his eyes opened enough to make out the outline of the other infirmary beds. The windows, which were closed last time he woke up, were now fully open and letting in that stupid light. His bag was next to his bed.
"Ohh," Takuya groaned as he shifted down in his sheets. He drew the white sheets over his head and curled into a small ball. No good. The sheets were warm but pretty thin so the light passed thru it easily. Takuya hissed softly. He absolutely hated getting up early in the mornings especially when he was recovering from the backlash of a temper flash. Which is not fun if you haven't noticed already. He felt better than last time he woke up but still felt groggy overall.
Takuya gave up and sat up cursing under his breath. He blinked around. He was alone. No one in the vicinity except the lamp shinning dully next to him, his shadow, himself, and those big brown eyes next to him, the mirror and-
"Argghh!" Takuya yelled as did the owner of those big eyes. He scooted as fast as possible and ended up falling over the side of the bed taking his covers with him. And landed on his head. On the floor. The stone floor.
"Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!" Takuya beadily glanced up and spotted Tomoki looking down at his from the side of the bed. The poor kid looked terrified out of his wits (if he had any. Wits that is. Really he is the most easily scared kid he had ever met).
Takuya tried to smile but came out more like a grimace. This was not helping at all. "It's OK," Takuya reassured the servant as he climbed back into his bed cradling his head, leaving the sheets on the floor. Who needed them anyway? "No harm done." He quickly let go of his head and tried to look like he didn't have a massive headache. Which he did have.
"I'm really sorry," Tomoki said tearfully. No! The kid was crying! Takuya would handle anything from raging temper tantrums to emotionless ice blocks to overly perky people but not crying. Never the waterworks. It was one of his major weak spots. Takuya quickly got up from the bed, ignoring his headache and the suspicious throb on his back, and awkwardly started patted the kid on the head trying, feebly, to comfort him.
"I'm fine really!" Takuya reassured him. "Nothing bad ever happened from getting a little scare once in a while expect, maybe, heart attacks-" Tomoki gasped and Takuya figured that wasn't the best thing to say that "-but that's for old folks. No old people here! Nope. Just me."
"You sure?" Takuya smiled as Tomoki's crying decreased to the occasional tear and sniffle.
"Yep!" Takuya grinned. "Aside from a little bump I'm totally fine."
"I didn't mean to hurt you, big brother." Tomoki froze as the unbidden words flowed from his mouth and Takuya looked confused at him.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to call you that," Tomoki stumbled over the words as he paddled back furiously his worn shoes making dull thumping noises on the floor. Tomoki started to shake like a leaf in an autumn wind and his whole body tensed as his eyes went huge with undisguised panic. Takuya made one of his snap decisions and reached out to grab a hold of the small shoulder not taking in the fear-ridden eyes.
Tomoki yelped tearfully and closed his eyes to everything. Takuya's heart almost overflowed with pity and anger for little Tomoki. It was obvious that he was expecting to be hit. Takuya just knew by taking in Tomoki's trembling stance that he had been hit before probably many times. Who in this world would so much as raise a hand to such a sweet little kid? Only people who liked to punish those smaller than them because they felt better beating up those who have no means to defend themselves. Those cowards are worse than the scum on the sidewalks and roads which is saying something (have you ever seen those things? There are disgusting).
Takuya's eyes softened as he knelt in front of Tomoki placing his other hand on the free shoulder shaking him delicately. "I don't mind," Takuya whispered running one hand thru the short brown locks of the smaller kid. The trembling slowed a fraction down and a little later, as Takuya waited tolerantly, Tomoki's confused and scared brown eyes looked up at him.
"I don't mind," Takuya repeated soothing the kid to the best of his ability. "You can call me big brother if you want. I have a little brother ,you know. His name is Shinya and you kind of remind me of him."
"You, you really don't mind?" The words were so soft Takuya almost missed them completely. The eyes that had woken him up now were filled with curiosity and hope for acceptation. Takuya's heart went out to the kid who was way too young to be a servant. Because he recognized that feeling. Because almost everyday, when he looked into the mirror, he saw himself reflecting that same emotion but, at the very back, there was a small piece of him that was thankfully overshadowed by his hope. That piece was the despair and hatred of being what he was. Thank the Gods Tomoki didn't have that.
"Totally," Takuya smiled sincerely and added affectionately, "Little brother." Takuya soon had his arms full with the surprise hug he had been subjected to. Takuya jumped a little when the small arms wrapped around him but he soon returned the embrace with relish. It was that instant that he knew that even if his friends never wanted to talk to him again, to even see his form against the distance, that he had someone who wanted to be with him even if the person was a little nine year old servant boy.
"Thank you," Tomoki said his voice muffled by Takuya's shirt as his little arms tightened even more. Takuya chuckled and ruffled the hair again ignoring the pain in his back that started to act up.
I should be thanking you, Takuya thought holding what probably was the only person who would want to get close to him now. Takuya gently retreated out of the hug and pushed the little kid to his sheet-less infirmary bed. He lifted Tomoki by grabbing him under the arms and deposited him on the infirmary bed. Takuya then sat down on the free space next to him slinging an arm around Tomoki's shoulders.
"OK," Takuya said with a seriously look on his face. "Now that I am officially your older brother, we have to set some rules here." Tomoki looked suspiciously at Takuya with apprehension. "I now have a responsibility to keep. Now promise me that if some weird weirdo comes along and even so much as tries to breathe on you, you must come immediately to me and tell me so I can kick his ass from here to no mañana!"
The gratitude-filled laugh that came from Tomoki brought back memories from his past back home in Izumai. The Kanabara's were a poor little farming family that were low on money but that never really mattered when a birthday came along. In this specific memory, it was Shinya's, Takuya's little brother's fifth birthday. Takuya, a stubborn little nine year old, had decided to get Shinya a present so with the help of Mimi, who was eleven at the time, they gathered several small round stones by the edge of the Eternal Star Forest. Then they, carefully and patiently (on Mimi's part really) painted each of the stones with the different color paints of Mimi's collection. They were crude and didn't roll smoothly like actual marbles did but when he presented them to Shinya he had smiled broadly and filled the house with a loud and clear laugh. Just like Tomoki.
"I promise," Tomoki said happily scrunching his eyes together. Takuya hummed in approval. They stayed like that for a while longer, wallowing in the peace they now shared as adopted siblings. Takuya liked it. Tomoki radiated the same calm that Destiny and Fate had shed. The Weavers…the ones who created lives by the orders of the Gods. But why did Aguni create him? What was the purpose? After all the damage the last Elementals did why should there be another? Why should he even be alive?
Takuya firmly shook his head. He couldn't think like that. He couldn't stagger and drown in self-pity. It never worked before and it won't work now, it never will. If he allowed himself to go down that path life would be a cage in which no one would there on the outside to open the cage and set him free. Life was much more than that. He had been ridiculed, feared, pitied, and left all alone but if there was one thing he always could do it was hope. He will always hope against hope because that was all he could do.
"Takuya?" Takuya looked at Tomoki who appeared concerned. No wonder, the poor kid had wanted to say something and Takuya had been stuck in his little conversation with himself not hearing a word.
"Sorry. Yeah?" Takuya said with an apologetic smile.
"Sorry but," Tomoki said shyly ducking his head. "Umm, I have to go and check on the others now. I promised Meimu that I would only check on you. I have to go now. I am sorry." Tomoki jumped from the bed as Takuya freed him from his arm, bowed and scurried from the room before Takuya could say anything. But Tomoki did give Takuya once last gratefulness-filled smile before he opened the big redwood doors and slipped out, carefully closing the doors with a small 'bang'.
Takuya looked at the doors which his new little brother had left and chuckled. Tomoki did really remind him of Shinya. Both where quick to do anything active except Tomoki did it on orders while Shinya just did as he wanted to. Takuya looked at the gray stone walls that held so many people safe from the outside but the thing that harmed it most was on the inside. Izzy and Tomoki…two perfectly good people who were forced to serve others who were probably lower than them worthwhile-wise. He wished he could do something, anything at all.
"That was a nice thing to do." A quiet voice reached his ears and he whirled around to find Meimu standing behind him with a welcoming smile on her face. Meimu was a short woman of twenty with her blonde hair pulled into a bun letting the waist-long bangs on either side of her face to tumble down. She held a blue jar similar to the one Tomoki had the first time he awoke.
"Meimu!" Takuya said startled. When had she gotten there? And how was she so quiet?
"Yes, that's me," the infirmary matron said with laughter in her eyes. "Now sit down, Master Takuya. Your bruises have not yet healed." Meimu herded Takuya back to bed ignoring his excuses that he was fine, that he didn't need some stupid magical liquid, that he didn't feel like pudding with nerve endings.
"Take off your shirt," Meimu ordered and Takuya did as he was told still complaining on and off. With nimble fingers Meimu opened the jar with a slight pop and applied the cool cream into his back relieving the throb. Takuya looked over his shoulder, past Meimu, into the mirror that hung on the wall next to his bed. Right where Meimu was soothing in the salve was a big purple and yellow bruise. How did he get that?
Meimu noticed Takuya looking at the mirror and said, "That will be explained shortly. Do not worry." Takuya opened his mouth to reply but stopped when the warning poke from the matron came. He huffed in good humor and settled down, for now anyway.
Takuya had a sudden thought. The first time he woke Tomoki said something about the others who stopped him got hurt. Who were they? And was that really Kouji who had knocked him out? Even if he wasn't was he wounded? Takuya felt dread and guilt settle restlessly in his stomach. Oh, Gods, what if that really was Kouji?
If Meimu had any inclination about Takuya's guilt she didn't show it. She kept rubbing the healing salve into the bruise never saying a word otherwise. Takuya bit his lip worriedly. He was as good as expelled from here if not by being who he is but what he did to defenseless students. He had the life he had always dreamed of but now it was all gone. The friendships he had, the education he could have had, and most of all, the feeling of being accepted that he believed he had for the rest of his life. Guess he was just like the Elementals that the Weavers showed him. But he wasn't was he? He never killed anybody but acting the way he did was just as bad.
But something was wrong with those images of the past. Takuya had his feeling that something in those images just didn't add up especially the last one.
The loud click of the jar closing brought Takuya back to the present. Meimu stood up and returned the jar to an empty space on a shelf nearby. She returned to Takuya with white bandages in hand. "I'll have to wrap your back so that the salve will have time to work. Air takes away its healing properties," Meimu informed him and proceeded to do just that.
Once the bandages were securely tied around his chest and back Meimu stepped back to admire her handy work. "Not bad," Meimu murmured while Takuya picked at the bandages. They were tight around his frame. "I'll have to cut the excess off. Never had a third year as small as you."
Takuya puffed his cheeks insulted. Meimu chuckled and grabbed a pair of scissors. Takuya, after a warning that she may cut off his arms, stayed still as she cut the extra tails at all the knots. With a final clip Meimu finished to Takuya's relief.
Meimu nodded and said, "The headmaster and some of the students wait outside to talk with you." Takuya froze with dread. The headmaster? Of course someone had to come and tell him that he was expelled but was it really that necessary that the headmaster had to come personally? "I'll go and tell him to come." Before Takuya could get a word in she glided from the infirmary.
Takuya stared at the walls again this time thinking that this was the last time he would see them. He would really miss this place and all the people inside…
"Takuya!" Takuya turned in time to see Juri and Kouichi burst thru the doors making them crash loudly on the walls (Meimu shook her head annoyed). They immediately, to Takuya's surprise, made a beeline right to his bed. Juri launched herself at him encircling his neck with her arms while Kouichi smiled apparently relived as he screeched to a stop next to him.
Takuya watched the sobbing girl in his arms with confusion. Kouichi's eyes also were misty with unshed tears. Why were they crying?
"You idiot!" Juri sobbed. "Never do that again!" Didn't they hate him?
"We though you were seriously injured," Kouichi said quietly his eyes betraying what he felt. Takuya could see relief, happiness, and thankfulness. Thankfulness for what?
"Don't you guys hate me?" Takuya asked taking it headfirst, fearing the worse but willing to accept it.
Kouichi looked shocked as Juri drew her head up to look at him her mouth open in disbelief. "Why would we hate you?" Kouichi asked.
"I, I," Takuya croaked. "I almost killed you. I endangered the whole school. I did…did it on purpose!" he yelled tears almost breaking thru his eyes. Almost but not quite. "I didn't want to kill Izumi but I just felt like I…had to," he whispered.
"That's a stupid reason." Takuya's eyes shifted to look at the four new figures at the foot of his bed. Daisuke, Takato, Hazu, and Tai were all there looking a little beat up. Daisuke had a couple of burns on his arms with a yellow paste on them, healing them slowly but surely. Takato looked fine; it seemed that he was in the middle of the group so Takuya's flames never really reached him. Hazu and Tai also had burns but Tai had them worse than the latter. Takuya's guilt grew again when he saw the yellow paste on both his arms and on his left cheek. Hazu just had some of his green hair on the left side of his face burned off so that the right side swung down and covered his right eye.
"Huh?" That was all Takuya could really say.
Juri smiled and sat next to him. "We know you did that because you wanted to protect us."
"We came to protect you and you came to protect us," Takato said waving his hand. "That's what friends do. We watch each other's backs."
Takuya looked at his friends. They... still want to be his friends even after seeing what he did and what he could do. What Takato said was true. They came to his rescue when Izumi sent her verbal attack. They backed him up and set him back on his feet. That's what spurred him to rise and attack for his friends. Back when they yelled at each other he felt desperate. He never had so many true friends before and, for once, he wanted it to stay that way. He did the only thing he could think of and that was to summon his fire. It shamed him to see himself attack someone who could not attack back on a similar scale but the satisfaction at seeing the fear on her face instead of the haughtiness brought a feeling. A chilly happiness seeing her kneel at his feet in submission. It scared him.
"Friendship is one of the greatest gifts we will ever get." Once again Takuya jumped at the unexpected arrival of Master Ashi, the headmaster. How does everyone manage to surprise him?
Ashi nodded his head as Tai drew a chair nearby for him to take a seat. "Thank you," Ashi smiled and sat down throwing his long black hair over the back of the chair elegantly. He leaned forward and intertwined his fingers with a serious expression on his face. "Now we have a dilemma to solve." Takuya gulped nervously.
"From what I have gathered can I safely conclude that you attacked several other student with untrained magic including Mistress Orimoto and Tekenouchi?" Takuya sighed and nodded reluctantly. His friends around were also starting to look worried.
"Sir?" Tai asked and, when Ashi nodded his permission, continued. "Izumi started it in the fist place. When we found them she was verbally attacking him and, being his friends, we could not let her go on. Takuya, merely worried about us, helped us."
"I know that," Ashi said. "But attacking any student deliberately especially with his untrained magic is a serious break in the rules and cannot go unpunished. When this happens we usually give the student detention or, in worst-case scenario, get expulsed from the School." Daisuke and Juri opened their mouths to interject for their friend but stopped when Ashi raised his hand. "But since, thankfully, no one was hurt so severely that our matron couldn't fix there will be no one expelled for now," Ashi looked sternly at Takuya who instantly felt relief. "Since you know what will happen if you do get expelled, can I confirm that you will not do it again?" It was a coded sentence that didn't make sense to the others but Takuya knew all too well. If he was ever out of these walls he would be an easy target for the Black Oracle and it would devastate the kingdom. He didn't know what would happen to him but he somehow knew that Fate and Destiny had warned him in some way. But what?
"Yes, sir," Takuya confirmed firmly. There was no way in hell that he would get this close to expulsion again, snobby girl or no snobby girl. Juri caught Takuya's eye with a look that clearly said "We'll talk about this later" and left no room for excuses.
"Good," Ashi said and stood from the chair gracefully. "Now for your punishment. Don't give me that face. It won't be that bad. You will have detention with Master Maki every Saturday and Sunday evening for the next two months starting this approaching Saturday." Everybody in the vicinity winced even Meimu raised her eyebrows in disbelief. Not that bad! Does this guy know who Maki is?
I'm doomed, Takuya thought moodily. Maybe I could still get expelled?
"Now that we have all that straightened out you should give your thanks to the brave students who are responsible for helping calm you," Ashi said and waved one hand towards Tai who grinned. "Young Yagami here helped them at the end." So that's how he got so burnt.
"Meimu would you be so kind as to bring them in here?" Ashi said at the matron.
Meimu bowed slightly and complied saying, "Of course headmaster." She busily walked out of the main infirmary carefully stepping out with her dress rustling delicately around her ankles.
Takuya looked at Tai. "Thanks for stopping me, man," he said earnestly. "And I'm sorry if I hurt any of you. I did try to protect you."
Tai grinned, "No problem for the Taimister! But I have to say that was really impressive."
Daisuke nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Those flames were, like, teen feet tall!" He spread his hands emphasizing the size.
Hazu looked appreciably at Takuya. "You should have seen the Bitch! It was as if you burned her whole collection of shoes and damn! You look hot without a shirt." Takuya, predictably, turned a soft pink color and glared playfully at him.
"Stop teasing him, Hazu," Juri chided.
Hazu chuckled then swooned dramatically, "But babe! Who can resist that charm! Impossible I tell you."
"Ha ha. So funny," Takuya mumbled then gave a small smile when Hazu winked at him playfully. He just wished that this so called charm would work on somebody else… Gah! He did not like the way his thought were heading. Why was he thinking of Kouji at this time?
"Aha," Ashi said who had been observing the scene silently over at the doors. How could they have forgotten that he was there? "Here they are."
The doors opened and six individuals steeped across to lead themselves to the bed opposite to Takuya's, their boots echoing dramatically. Takuya gasped wordlessly and paled. Just great, it seemed that he didn't imagine that voice after all. The Lone Wolves casually sat themselves while some just stood and leaned against the headboard. The young blonde teen sat down with what Takuya thought to be his brother (they did lot a lot alike). Jenrya looked calmly around and his gaze, somehow, found its way to Takato who had taken refuge behind Hazu blushing suspiciously. Ryo and Ken didn't really do anything but stand next to their companions but something near Takuya's left moved. Takuya found out that it was actually Daisuke. He was staring anywhere other than the other group, his eyes landing on random objects around and somehow spotted Takuya's choker. Takuya had a notion that that would bring questions later. Tai had his eyes trained on the older blonde who glanced up uninterested and moved on.
Then Takuya's heart rate sped up a fraction and flushed uncomfortably. Kouji was watching him with scrutinizing eyes. Kouji had his hair tied under a bandana hiding its texture. He didn't seem to be harmed other than the wound under the bandage on his upper right arm. Takuya felt the awful responsibility of all these injured teens spread. Especially that one on Kouji but why? Why did he feel even worse glancing at that wound that he made on Kouji but less on his friends? Sure, he did care for his little group and he wished with all his heart that he could go back in time and reverse his actions but it hit really hard with the Wolf. Why? Kouji had ignored him from the first day while his friends had been at his side. Why were his emotions so messed up?
Funny how it ends and starts with that little word: why?
"Why don't you start with your account of the event Master Ishida?" Ashi asked nodding at the older blonde who looked to be oldest of the group.
The blonde nodded and sat straight up. His aquamarine eyes revealing no emotion. "Of course headmaster," he said in a deep baritone. "I do not know personally where my other companions where at the time but my Physical Challenge class had started when Master Toku sent Yagami and me to give Keeper Junsei a notice when he came along." Ishida pointed at Hazu who grinned and wagged his eyebrows. "He talked to Yagami briefly and they shot off with out another word."
Tai here had the decency to grin bashfully while Ishida continued. "Since it was obvious he wasn't coming back I decided to complete the request on my own. On the way back I felt a displacement of magic in the air and I was contacted by Takeru. I immediately ran into him and the others while the field sprouted into flames."
"It didn't really leave us a choice," Ken's soft voice took over the explanation. "There was no way that the teachers would arrive in time and take the situation under control. It would take the nearest adult an estimated five minutes to enter the field and another seven to find the energy source and cut off the main power foundation not to mention they would have to get close enough to have indirect contact. With those flames blocking all main exits and entrances of breaching magic the only way to stop the main flow was to use non-magical methods. The risks were even higher with twelve students in the middle of the way. They were too far apart to go in and removed them from the immediate attack range so Kouji, Yamato, Takeru, and Ryo went for the main source of the fire, namely Takuya."
"It was an emergency," Kouji said sending shivers to the bottom of Takuya's spine. How he missed those silky tones…"At the moment it was difficult enough to dodge flames coming from all sides not to mention the flames were burning the oxygen from the air so we had limited options. The only thing I could think up was to knock him unconscious which I did with regret while the others distracted him."
"Funny how such a small person can pack a punch," the smaller blonde which was now Takeru said with some small humor.
Why does everybody have to comment on his size? "I'm not small," Takuya muttered then sighed. "I…thanks. I wasn't thinking straight and when I have a temper flash I'm not in control of myself."
Ken leaned forwards interested. "In what ways?"
Takuya shifted uneasily as everybody turned looked at him but Juri's comforting hand on his shoulder calmed him somewhat. "Well, it's like all the power from my core spread to every part of my body and it makes everything vibrate. Since Magic Core class I now have a better grip on my core but it's not very good. All thoughts are erased from my mind and the longer I hold my core the stronger it wants to get away."
Ashi glanced at Kouichi who said quietly, "Truth."
Ashi nodded wisely to the others. "Master Tanshin updated me on your progress. The overload of foreign magic takes a toll on your body afterwards and all your energy goes to the stabilizing of it in your body leaving you with nothing to form any kind of concrete thought. The only way to keep in control is to manage how much power you let in your body. With time and practice you will be able to let in a lot more magic than what you displayed outside. Therefore, after this event, Master Tanshin and I concluded at for your own safely and for those around you that you should have extra classes solely for the purpose of mastering of your power as an Elemental. You shall report to the Magic Core classroom Saturdays at one until three. Is this agreeable?"
Takuya nodded reluctantly. Great, even more classes.
Ashi nodded with a satisfied look and said, "Well, I now have to go and inform Mistress Orimoto of her punishment for starting a fight even though she probably will want to call her father for back up not that it'll work but, oh well. All classes have been cancelled for today so report to your rooms or anywhere else you please inside the School walls. Matron Meimu will inform you of when you will need to evacuate the infirmary. Good day." Ashi nodded again and left trailing his cape behind him.
For several tense moments both groups looked at each other after the headmaster's abrupt exit. Takuya looked everywhere but his eyes kept moving to stare at Kouji as if they were magnetized to him. Maybe they were. The others were also uneasy even the spontaneous Hazu had the feeling that they guys wouldn't take a joke and stuck around Tai with a big smile covering his nervousness.
Then Juri took the initiative and stood from her seat on Takuya's bed. All eyes immediately looked at her making her blush faintly. She smiled at best she could and said, "Umm, I don't believe we have met before. I'm Juri a 3rd year Enchanter. Nice to meet you."
Nobody moved for a few seconds until Takeru acknowledged her with a small smile. "I'm Takeru Ishida, 3rd year Knight, and this is my brother, Yamato, 5th year Knight." Takeru poked Ishida who grunted softly. Ha! Takuya was right! "Over there is Ryo Akiyama 3rd year Knight and next to him is Ken Ichijoji, 6th year Wizard and current prodigy. The guy with navy hair is Lee Jenrya, 3rd year Mage and of course you already know Kouji."
Kouji nodded bored and Kouichi nodded back at his brother. Juri smiled with the progress she managed to make. She poked Tai's side and gave him a look. "Oh," he said blinking. "I'm Taichi Yagami 5th year Knight. Call me Tai."
Takato shyly poked his head from behind Tai. "I'm Takato Matsuki 3rd year Mage and that's Daisuke." Takato pointed to Daisuke who was currently very interested with the dust on the floor. "He's a 3rd year Knight."
"Really?" Ken asked his eyes running up and down Daisuke making his downcast face blush fiercely almost the same color as his hair. Hazu snickered.
"Yeah," Daisuke said finally getting his nerve and glared at Ken. "What of it?"
Ken gave him a half-smile. "Nothing. Merely a question to confirm the statement." You could tell that Daisuke was confused. It was as if you told him that all the chocolate pudding in the world had turned into whip cream and, five minutes later, he was trying to figure out why his pudding was white and foamy.
"You all right?" Kouji asked nonchalantly. It took a few seconds before Takuya figured that the question was directed to him.
Takuya blinked in surprise then he glanced sourly to the side. "I'm fine," he mumbled. Kouichi and Takato glanced surprised at Takuya. Juri sighed and glared slightly at Kouji who just raised an eyebrow.
"What's with you?" Kouji asked looking irritated as his glorious eyes took a deeper edge.
"What do you think?" Takuya said looking back at him his hair swinging faintly in front of his eyes. Takuya couldn't help but feel resentment towards the Knight. Kouji had ignored him all last week not even glancing when they passed each other in the corridors. Now he was all "are you alright?" as if they were friends not the mere acquaintances that they really were. Even if Takuya wished they were more than that. What he wasn't sure but this couldn't go on not if Kouji didn't really want to be his friend. After all, what did he know? Maybe to Kouji he was just another passerby glancing at him just to see if he would recognize him but never did. Takuya wished that he could see what fate they would have in store for the both of them if they even had one with each other. Just to see.
Ken stood up abruptly and glanced at Juri who took the cue. She grabbed Daisuke and Hazu by their shirts and hauled them towards the doors ignoring their protests. Takato, Tai, and Kouichi caught the look thrown at them and they exited giving Takuya sorry looks. The Lone Wolves followed suite.
"Hey, where are you going?" Takuya asked temporarily distracted from his feelings.
Juri looked over her shoulder and smiled, "You two have to talk." She said it so firmly he knew he didn't have another alternative. "We'll talk later. About everything." Takuya knew she was asking about the Black Oracle and every other thing that happened because they had to know. They deserve to know as his friends.
"Yeah," Takuya said somewhat reluctantly but firmly. "Everything." His friends gave him one last encouraging smile and left. The Lone Wolves minus Kouji also left but Ken hanged back and shot Kouji a look that suspiciously looked like he was saying "I told you so."
The doors banged closed as if sealing them forever inside. Not a single noise sounded inside the hall reminding him eerily of the Weaver's chamber but here there were no dancing lights, no serene sorceresses, and no visions to warn him. But what was in front of him was even more beautiful. It was Kouji looking at a stone wall apparently sorting his thoughts. How could he explain that he had been avoiding Takuya? There was only one way and that was because he didn't want to see Takuya again. That simple, that hurtful.
That's Ok though. He had his friend that's all he needs to go on. But also lying to yourself never helped anybody and it wasn't going to help him.
"I understand," Takuya sighed. Kouji glanced sharply at him. "You never really wanted to see me again. You only needed to see me here that's all."
"No." Takuya was astonished not just because of the word but because of the firmness behind them. Kouji shook his head. "No, that's not true." Kouji sighed and ran his hand through the stands of his ponytail. "I didn't mean to ignore you. I just had a lot of work on my hands."
Takuya's eyes narrowed. That was the biggest lie he had ever hear in his entire life. Was he really that busy that he didn't notice when he passed two feet in front of Takuya? Did Kouji really think he was going to won over with that pathetic excuse? Not happening.
"That's a lie," Takuya said angrily as he fisted his hands.
"So what?" Kouji shot Takuya an irritated look filled with anger. "You're a Seer as well as an Elemental now?"
That was Takuya's breaking point. This whole day had taken a toll on him. First he ran into Izumi who made him feel worthless and friendless. Then his friends came and set him straight but also caused him to almost burn the school to the ground. Then, by some freak of nature, Fate and Destiny scheduled a meeting with him and showed him that A) they were the creators of all life and through them the Gods created the ties of mankind, B) he was not suppose to exist because he was an Elemental, and finally C) that all past Elementals had become monsters and he may turn into one of them. This was really not his day.
Takuya jerked to his feet and growled at Kouji, "I'm not going sit here and take this crap." He walked purposely to the door, heavy as if the words he said where bricks in his heart making it beat painfully. Halfway to the door something with a hold of iron grabbed his wrist. Takuya whirled around angrily fully intending to demand release but stopped.
Kouji was standing less than a foot away with an expression that was halfway confused halfway determined. He opened his mouth then closed it and opened it again. He didn't seem to form the words the wanted to say. The hand that held Takuya's wrist seemed to release miniature lightning bolts that traveled across his body. He barely stopped his body from shaking and shivering. Takuya wanted to get away but at the same time he wanted to lie in those warm arms.
"I know what I did," Kouji whispered looking straight into Takuya's eyes as they danced in the light. Takuya couldn't have looked away even if he wanted to. It was as if he was under a spell, Kouji's spell and he liked it. "And I'm not proud but I was…confused." Takuya blinked at him as Kouji's hand tightened around his own. "I can't tell you why, at least, not yet."
"Why not?" Takuya said softly. His captured wrist dangled at their sides as they stood, Takuya looking up and Kouji looking down. He just looked, memorized every feature on that heavenly face. Those mind-blowing eyes that shone with an inner light, that flawless white skin, and those black strands of hair that accented his eyes even more. It was a face that could freeze any fire, light any night, and chain the most untamable beast. Not even the most beautiful gem could retain this same power, ice cold yet warm.
"I don't know," Kouji said fleetingly never removing his eyes from Takuya's face. Then as Takuya's heart jumped to his throat he leaned even closer his face an inch away from Takuya's. "But, hopefully, I will soon." They were so close it made him ache with longing. "Just remember I would choose you over Izumi any day."
And Kouji's surprisingly warm but firm lips touched the corner of Takuya's own. Time stood still as Takuya felt the lips on his skin, ice with fire. He stood shock-still as his brain processed what was happening and, as soon as it did, his eyes widened and a tingly but oh so warm feeling covered every molecule in his body. It was…so peaceful this feeling and it almost made his heart burst with contentment. Close but not quite. He wanted to do something but he couldn't do anything not even to notice that Kouji still had his hand in his hold. He wanted this to last forever, he wanted this to climb to another step but it was not meant to be. As all good things come they must all end.
Those lips retreated slowly, reluctantly. Kouji's gaze never changed from position but the color darkened to a deep, deep azure. He stepped back and released Takuya's wrist. It almost came him scream with the loss. He could still feel those strong, supple fingers on his wrist tingling pleasantly but faintly as a dream fades away into nothingness. He missed the safely he felt when Kouji's lips were on his.
They stared at each other. Kouji's eyes revealing little of what he felt while Takuya's were swirling with emotions. He needed time to think about this. This was all too confusing.
"I'll see you later, Takuya," Kouji's voice seemed to comfort him deeply. Yeah, they will won't they. Kouji then passed Takuya brushing faintly against the other in a silent promise. Takuya didn't move as he heard the retreating footsteps echo behind him each saying "This is not the end". The door creaked open and Takuya felt Kouji look at him one last time before the big redwood doors closed.
And Takuya knew his friends would be expecting him on the other side. He would have to tell them about the Black Oracle, Fate and Destiny, and the role Elementals played in history but for now he just stayed there basking in the disappearing aura of the Knight, who he knew with finality made him so happy with that little kiss that wasn't really a kiss but all the same. And so he smiled. And turned to retrace the steps of Kouji stopping to put on a shirt placed on a bed by Meimu and to collect his bag. And he opened the infirmary dark brown doors for the sixth and final time for this day.
Who knew what tomorrow will bring?
It's almost nine, I have top go shower now so I hope that brought a little 'aww' to your night (or day depending on whenever you're reading this). Thank you my faithful reviewers and tell me your honest comments flamers or nonflamers. I accept all reviews so bring them on! Dare Ya!