Part Five:

Kurogane was the one to break the silence as the landscape's trees grew more sparse. "We need a plan."

"How about keep it simple. Just like last time, I'll set aside my staff and you can wound the demon when it comes for me."

"Too risky."

"This time I'll put up a shield. It won't be able to come within a meter of me."

"You'll keep it up at all times. No negotiations, and you're to do as I say without question or hesitation." Fai's pale cheeks flushed, but he nodded. "You think you can grab one while keeping up your defense?"

"Certainly. I have a plan so we won't have to struggle with it all the way back to Luval Castle."

"Oh?"

"I can put it to sleep and then encase it glass."

"But will that work on demons unfamiliar to you?"

"Yes, I noticed since they make vocal noises, they draw breath. Therefore, they'll have to succumb to my spell," Fai said with a confident smile.

"That'll be safest," Kurogane said. "Are you ready for this?"

"More than ready. I want to get one of these back to the castle as quickly a possible."

A few moments later they could hear the sounds of the demons' howls. Fai pulled the sled to a halt and got out. He traced runes in the air and they dissolved. There was now a pink haze surrounding him. Kurogane got out of the sled and steeled himself for battle.

They spotted the three demons swooping upwards into the hazy afternoon sky. The wounded one caught Fai's scent and flew right towards him. The demon screeched and clawed at the pink shield. Kurogane drew Ginryuu and made a clean slice through the wings. It fell backwards and thrashed on the ground.

Fai quickly traced runes and then pointed at the demon. The glowing runes wrapped around the demon and it fell into a stupor. Kurogane kept his attention on the other two. They came swooping down towards him. He barley dodged one's claws. He swung Ginryuu upwards and sliced its hand off. The demon howled and tried to bite his shoulder. Kurogane had no choice; he thrust Ginryuu deep into the demon's chest. It fell back dying.

"Damn it," he swore.

"Kurogane!"

As he swirled around to meet the threat, pink runes surrounded the last demon. Fight left the demon. Kurogane leaped backwards just as it collapsed to the ground. He watched in amazement as glass started to form around the demon.

Fai let his shield drop and walked over to Kurogane. "We got two."

"Yeah, sorry about that," he said, looking over where the demon he had killed was starting to dissolve.

"Two is better than none. Yuui has a chance now," Fai said, laying his hand on Kurogane's arm and giving him a brilliant smile. "Help me tie them to the back of the sled. We'll have to hurry to reach shelter before nightfall."


"We aren't going to make it to Kella, Kuro-pu," Fai said grimly, watching the dusk sky as snow flurries started. Indeed, Kurogane felt the temperature dropping rapidly.

"Is there a way to find shelter?"

"There is a fire tower close by," Fai said, guiding the sled in a slightly different direction.

Kurogane started shivering as he looked behind the sled where the glass encased demons were being dragged. Fai's spells were holding up well. He looked over to Fai, who was pointing at a looming, dark tower in the distance. "It's abandoned, but we can make it work."

"Let's just get there."

Soon they arrived at the fire tower. "We abandon these in the deepest winter." Fai halted the reindeer and got out of the sled. He dug into his coat and lofted a gold key. "You could say I carry the keys to the kingdom."

"Get us in, already, before we freeze to death, you twit!"

He just smiled and turned the key in the lock of a huge, oak door. He shoved it open and said, "Bring them in."

Kurogane took the reins and slapped them down. The sled jerked into the darkened, lower level of the tower. Fai quickly sealed the massive door. He took his staff and used it to light the torches hanging on the wall.

"Can you please help me unharness these guys, Kuro-rin?"

"Stop it with the dumb nicknames already!" Kurogane bellowed, but watched how Fai was starting to unharness the reindeer. He then mimicked Fai's motions and they were able to get the reindeer free. Fai took him over to the grain bin and they were lucky to have some oats left over. They were stale, but better than nothing. Fai explained that the reindeer stored a lot of food naturally and could do fine a slim diet for several days.

After feeding and watering the reindeer, they checked on the demons. Fai nodded and said, "The spell is holding strong. We can get some food and rest. I'll know if there's a change."

"We need to go as soon as possible."

"I can feel a snow storm coming, so it'll be tricky."

"Damn the weather on this world. Can't you just transport us back to the castle. You could snatch demons from my world, why can you just zap yourself around this world?"

"You remember my tattoo? Well, it binds me from teleportation on Celes; the ley lines would refuse my request. It's part of my punishment. To transport this much would put me into a coma if I tried to force the ley lines to teleport us." All of the sudden he has a sly expression. "Or even worse could happen, Kurgs."

"Figures you'd be that much of trouble maker. Fine, we'll make do. Your twin still has time."

Fai lofted a bag of supplies from the sled and smiled. "Time for you to taste my cooking."


Kurogane found watching Fai cook in the candlelit kitchen was fascinating. His hands were quick with a blade, and he didn't once second guess himself. He put a cauldron with water, vegetables, and dried meat on a fireplace's crane. Then he traced some runes at the logs and they burst in flames.

"Sorry, it's not going to be much. We clear the pantries out when we shut down for the winter, so I'm relying on what Mayor Tanya gave us as emergency supplies," he explained. "Yuui and I visit each of the fire towers during the summers and support the combat mages that live here. I picked up cooking because I've never ran into one combat mage capable of making even a simple stew. And the funny thing is how much cooking and magic have in common."

"You sound as if you don't like coming here to work."

"Oh no, I enjoy being of service to Celes and King Ashura. Serving the combat mages is the best way I can support the people that have given me a home. However, Ashura hates how close we are to the danger; he's afraid we'll get hurt. That's why I think he's so insistent I learn to fight... you know... just in case something happens. Yuui is a healer, so he has it really rough sometimes; and that's the part I despise. He works with the wounded and it hurts him when someone is lost."

"So you're land is at war?"

"There is a group of people to the west, raiders, that harass regular citizens. They're organized enough to cause some difficulty during warmer times."

"So is that what you're aspiring to be? A combat mage?"

Fai's head dropped towards the floor as his face flushed. "It'll be required of me and Yuui. You see, I'm the older twin, and we are Ashura's legal heirs. There might be a chance one of us could inherit."

"That means...? You?" Kurogane fought the urge to chuckle at the idea of this silly mage in charge of people. Heck, the young man could barely manage to keep himself out of harm's way.

"Or Yuui. Ashura really hasn't decided yet, but I think he has been leaning towards Yuui, recently. I really think Yuui would do a better job. I hope Ashura picks him."

"Then what would you do?"

Fai shrugged as he swung the cauldron away from the fire. He brought out two bowls and ladled Kurogane a hot bowl of stew. Kurogane took it and suspiciously sniffed. "Go ahead already."

Kurogane tasted it under that expectant gaze. The stew was magnificent and warmed him from the inside out. The flavor was exotic, heady, and pleasant. He refused to feed Fai's ego, so he said, "It's decent."

The mage's mouth swung open, his face had an expression of mock anger. "Kuro-gu! You really wounded me after I slaved over a hot cauldron."

"Spare me your whining, mage," Kurogane said dismissively, giving Fai narrowed eyes. Fai's lower lip jutted out in in faux petulance, but those eye really craved validation from the ninja. Kurogane felt himself soften after staring into those blue eyes for half a minute. "Okay! It's the best stew I've ever had. Happy?"

"Thrilled!" Fai said, taking up his own stew.

"You really are a child, aren't you?" Kurogane meant it as a biting insult, but the words came out much softer than he intended. His words took on unintended compassion. He felt awkward when the mage grew gloomy.

"I never really had a chance to be one when I was little," Fai said.

"Let's get some sleep."

"Not in the barracks. It'll be icy cold. Just wait here." Fai ran out of the kitchen and came back after several moments with two pallets and several blankets. "We'll sleep next to the fireplace."

Kurogane helped him set up the pallets and lay on one with his head towards the fireplace. Fai snuffed out the candles around the kitchen and settled on the other pallet. He flopped on his stomach, but turned his head towards the ninja. Kurogane opened his eyes when he felt himself being watched.

He was about to snap at Fai, but he found he didn't have the energy, nor did he have the will. After several moments of staring at him, Kurogane reached over and gently ran his calloused hand over Fai's fetching eyes. "Go to sleep, mage."

Fai's eyelids relaxed under Kurogane's fingertips. He felt the soft, warm tickle of Fai's even breath on his wrist. Kurogane's face blazed hot as he stifled a shiver. He carefully slid his hand away from the mage's face and turned his back towards him. He clenched his arms to his chest and squeezed his eyes shut. He couldn't wait to be back in Nihongo, so he'd finally be warm again and be far away from the exasperating mage laying beside him.


Kurogane was first awake. He turned over to see the mage had his face buried deep in the pallet. He reached over and shook his shoulder. Fai turned blurry eyes at him. "How can you sleep like that?" Fai just flashed him one of those sickening, false smiles. A shiver of dread hit Kuorgane's chest; he suddenly didn't want to hear the answer, not that he thought he'd really get the truth. "Never mind! Just get up. We've got to get a move on."

"We'll hit Vercasta by evening. And then we can get to Luval by mid-morning the next day."

"Good," he mumbled, not really pleased to hear it was going to take that long. After a quick breakfast of hot porridge, they harnessed the reindeer, and checked the demons. Kurogane was pleased to see the spell holding up. He had to give Fai's strong skills credit. Kurogane was disgruntled to see it was snowing. "Great. Should have known our luck wouldn't hold out."

"We can still make it," Fai said. "I'm not letting anything stop me from getting these demons to Yuui."

To be continued.