Part Twenty-One:

The picnic wasn't nearly as bad as Zellen, who was still standing in for Yuui, had anticipated. There was good food and the weather was clear. They ate at a nearby lake with a beautiful park and marble statues. The only reason Dayken let him out of Luval was that he promised to come right back; Yuui was always good as his word, unlike his twin. The only bad part was the duchess; she was nagging about some nobles he didn't know. At least she was biting her tongue about Fai and not criticizing King Ashura.

Olena couldn't be bothered with him, shooting him nasty looks every now and again. Bresha, on the other hand, was distracted with a book while trying a warming spell on a teapot. Drysi was silent, hands folded on her lap. She looked as bored as Zellen was with Duchess Naidra's gossip. He gave her a small smile. She blushed and focused on her gloved hands.

"Well, Yuui, you certainly aren't much on talk," the duchess noted.

"I let King Ashura handle issues with nobles." Zellen's family wasn't noble in the least, and he was an orphan. His aunt had raised him from humble circumstances. She'd made her fame from her talent as a healer with a D title, and Zellen had shown the same talent. She won the election in Kella purely on her solid policies that supported popular King Ashura.

Zellen had told his aunt he was keeping Yuui company while he was confined to Luval, and she'd agreed to let him stay as long as he was needed, but if she knew he was pulling off this scheme, she'd blister his hide with one of the few hexes she knew.

"Well you better start caring more about these things," the duchess snapped, jarring Zellen from his thoughts about his auntie's rare wrath.

Zellen wanted to shrug and tell Duchess Naidra she could go get stuffed, but that would certainly not be Yuui's style. So he nodded and adopted a sulking expression as the duchess launched into more gossip. Bresha caught his attention, she wasn't tracing the proper rune set. Her pink runes dissolved uselessly around the teapot.

Zellen almost traced the correct ones to show her, but then stopped himself. His yellow signal color would give him away for sure. "In the middle you need to use algiz, not jera," he offered.

"Oh... I see now. Thank you, Yuui," Bresha said. She then traced the correct set. The teapot started steaming.

"Good work," Zellen complimented and gave the girl a wide smile. He then turned to Drysi and asked, "So, are you study magic, too?"

"No, she only has psychometry and she scrys pretty well," Bresha said. "But that's better than Olena who won't even study magic because she's too busy being boy crazy."

"You little brat," Olena snarled. She then ran back to the sled in frustration. Her little sister chased after her chanting "boy crazy, boy crazy" all the way.

Zellen breathed a mental sigh that he hadn't touched an object and handed it to Drysi. That would have put an end to this game. It explained why Drysi wore gloves, even indoors. It also explained her shyness. The very few people with psychometry were notoriously withdrawn. Most never even bothered to find mates, because physical touching was usually awkward and sometimes even painful. Empaths were kind of the same. Zellen knew that from being Yuui's friend. Now he had even less respect for the duchess, trying to get this girl as a potential wife for Yuui was cruel to them both.

"You didn't remember that?" the duchess asked, furrowing her brow.

"No, I guess not. It's been a long time," Zellen said. Loud voices from the sled drew the duchess' attention back to her granddaughters.

She rose and chased after the other girls, ready to scold them for their argument. Zellen looked over at Drysi and moved a little closer to her on the bench they were sitting on. "I don't think you've said two words since you've been here. Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?"

She looked up at him and shook her head. "I'm fine. I guess I'm a little homesick."

Zellen gave her a warm smile. "I'll do what I can to entertain you. How about a walk around the lake? I really could use the company."

She looked as if she was going to decline. Drysi then looked over where her grandmother was scolding her sisters. She nodded.

"I'd offer you a hand up, but I'd hate to cause you discomfort," Zellen said, standing and remembering his best court manners.

"I'm wearing gloves," she pointed out. So he took her hand, his heart thudding in happiness as he helped her to her feet. They quietly slipped away from the row in the sled.


Boris led Yuui to the edge of the forest surrounding Vercasta. Yuui paused by several trees that had been destroyed. Even months after a hex casting, he could still feel Fai's handiwork.

Boris turned to him. "What is it?"

"My brother was here and destroyed these trees for some reason. It must have been when I was in the coma," Yuui said.

"We need to find shelter."

"I can't cast any spells. My father would track me down. He's always been able to feel any spells Fai or I cast," Yuui said.

"Then don't cast, at all. We need to sneak up on His Royal Highness," Boris said, running his hand over his dark brown, wavy hair. "If I recall right, the king casts in green?"

"Yes."

"Then we can find him the next time he casts, or anyone that has a green signal color. I have a piss poor way to track him because about a tenth of the mages on Celes casts in green, but it's all we have, because I won't make you into bait by having you cast," Boris explained. "He must be extraordinarily attuned to you to be able to pick out your spells among all the casters in Celes."

"It's how he found us in the pit on Valaria. We were trying hard to use magic to protect ourselves, but the pit has anti-magical properties. I think our struggles caught his attention, since he's so powerful, and somehow, when he crossed over into the pit to get us there was a strong bond created between us and him. No one ever figured out why."

"It's a cursed place, that pit on Valeria. I kept constructing fence after fence around it to no avail. Each fence dissolves. My main work as governor has always been getting rid of that atrocity exhibition." Yuui knew Boris talked of magical fences, which were a barrier to keep people away from a place. His spirits were deflated by talk of the pit; his time there had altered him.

He found new respect for Boris when he knew that task was his main focus. Boris said, "To be bonded like that could actually be a curse that's on you twins and your father, but it's something the three of you find joy in. Something that actually strengthens your father-son relationships. In an odd way, the pit may have granted you a blessing rather than a curse."

Yuui felt as if he were slapped in the face at first, but then he thought out what happened. Yes, sometimes curses could inadvertently cause happiness in the big picture. He'd never considered his time in the pit as a blessing. It was a horror he never wanted to remember, but when Ashura rescued him, he'd never felt a greater joy.

Yuui put aside his musing and focused on what was at hand, because the night was getting colder. "I know where there's an abandoned grain silo. We can at least have some shelter while we wait."

Yuui lead them to the outskirts of Vercasta where the dark grain silo stood. Boris used his magic to break into the silo. When they were inside with a closed door, Yuui relaxed a little. His eyes hurt for a second as there were purple, flaring runes. The rune set formed into a glowing, lavender ball floating in midair.

"The minute the king casts, it'll turn green and guide us to him," Boris explained.

"You'll have to teach me that tracking spell," Yuui said, impressed with the governor.

Boris found a pile of tarps and flopped down on them, making himself at home. He finally smirked at Yuui and said, "Come here." Yuui walked over and knelt by the man. "I know you have empathy, but endure it." Boris tugged off his gloves and then tugged off Yuui's. Yuui had a fair idea of the way he was going to teach Yuui: tracing.

Tracing worked between he and Ashura because he trusted Ashura implicitly. He and Fai also would help each other study by tracing. He had tried it with Tanya and Zellen a few times, but it was always difficult because their emotions were distracting.

Tracing with a depressed mage was certainly intimidating to Yuui. The other way to learn would involve him memorizing the rune set and casting it over and over, which he couldn't do right now. Tracing wasn't the preferred method of learning magic because it was always very exhausting to both mages participating.

Yuui held up his trembling hand. Boris sat up and took Yuui's right wrist in a firm grip. The contact was jarring. He felt Boris' despair and self-loathing on the surface, but deeper was pity, compassion, fear. These were the things Boris felt towards him. Yuui knew he should respect Boris, but he couldn't help but delve deeper. His eyes widened when he felt the weakest glimmer of random hopefulness.

"Stop shaking. I only bite people I detest," Boris said, not a hint of real gruffness in his voice. Yuui steadied himself and clamped down on his empathy as much as he could. "Ready?"

"Go ahead."

Boris put a fingertip to Yuui's palm. The hot tingle of magic on his skin made him flinch, but Boris held his wrist firm. He started tracing runes on Yuui's palm, slowly, with much care to each spidery curve and jot. The rune set invaded Yuui's conscious. He relaxed and let the script flow into his mind.

Finally, Boris' fingertip stopped at the base of his thumb and the magic withdrew slowly. He let go of Yuui's wrist. Yuui held his hand to his chest and steadied his breathing.

"You really are a flinchy little thing, Highness. Those Valerians must have really scarred you to pieces," Boris said hoarsely in heavy sorrow. Yuui's face grew hot in the cold silo. He was grateful only purple light existed to cover the color in his cheeks. The man took a deep breath and said, "I have a feeling I should show you some defensive spells you should be able to manage. It may come in handy if we run into bandits."

"I know some," Yuui said, dreading Boris' touch.

"I know more. Give me your hand," Boris ordered, taking Yuui's hand gently. Yuui relaxed as much as he could. Boris took his wrist and put his fingertip to Yuui's palm. Again, Yuui clamped down on the whirl of black emotions. "This might sting a little bit, but it's a good defense spell."


"Please wait," Lady Suwa urged her son. He paused as he walked by his mother's sitting room.

It was just the two of them in the main house. Lord Suwa had taken Fai out with him to show the mage some fighting techniques with a staff. It seemed Fai had started training with Ashura before he left Celes, but hadn't gotten very far. Lord Suwa thought it'd be a good deed, and a thank you for the fluorite, to continue Fai's training for the ice king.

"Come in, Kurogane, and shut the door. There is something I have to tell you, but first I want to talk to you about something."

He did as he was told and sat across a table from his mother. He had a little trepidation about what his mother was going to say. "What did you want to talk about, Mother?"

"Your father seems to think you have a problem of some sort. I know men like to solve problems on their own, but sometimes confiding in someone that cares about you can help lighten the burden. It may help lead you to a solution to talk it out." She gave him a soft smile and laid her hand on his arm. "You used to confide in me all the time."

Kurogane felt his face grow flush. He had always relied on her wise council, and he desperately wanted to tell her about his complicated feelings towards Fai. It was lying by omission, and he knew he was disrespecting his parents by not being forthright about his relationship with the mage. The part that had made him moody lately was realizing little over half his time with Fai was gone and it could be gone sooner if his mother found a bride for him.

"I really can't talk about it. It's something I need to sort through myself."

"But if you're hurting, and I can help, I want to."

"There's nothing you can do to help me out of the situation I'm in. I ask that you please let me solve my problem on my own."

She gave Kurogane a look of sympathy. "I won't pry into your affairs. You're a man now and capable of making your own decisions. Just keep in mind your father and I are always willing to listen to you and help in anyway we can."

"Thank you," he said. He moved to stand up, but she patted his arm.

"One other very important thing." She started smiling again. "I've found your bride. I've arranged for a wedding at the first signs of Spring." Kurogane felt the color drain from his face as he silently cursed his luck. Lady Suwa took on a concerned expression. "You look ill, Son. Are you fine?"

"May I ask that you push back the date until Summer?"

Lady Suwa looked taken aback. "But you didn't even ask who I've arranged for you to marry and you're already talking about postponement. Really, I picked a girl I know you'll like."

"Who?" Kurogane asked, dreading it would be someone he got along with. That would make excuses harder. If it were someone he could loath, it would be so much easier on him.

"Aya Fujimiya."

Kurogane felt a mental sigh of relief. "I can't marry her until cousin Ran apologizes for the insults he made towards me and the mage of Celes." Kurogane knew Ran would eat glass before apologizing, being just as stubborn as he was. Heck, Kurogane had a good chance of dying a bachelor under that condition.

His mother's expression grew peeved. "Your father told me some of that incident. You should have notified Mamoru Takatori before going to his home with the mage. You know how they feel about foreign mages there. You also should have settled things with our cousin Ran personally. It was a grave insult for him to lose a fight to a foreign mage. One of the reasons I chose her is to save face with Tsukiyono Province. You should seek his forgiveness, too, not just Ran seeking yours."

Kurogane gritted his teeth and nodded. "Yes, Mother. I'll do that. But I would still like to put off the wedding until Summer, after the mage leaves. It would just make the situation hostile if Fai were still around."

"Well, that is sensible. I really do like Fai and wouldn't want an ugly scene. I'll see about Summer. I can move her visitation to the start of Spring. She's still in mourning over her parents. I was hoping for a Spring wedding to lift her spirits, but Summer would be nice, too."

"That's fine," Kurogane conceded, knowing he'd better not push his mother any harder after being castigated about Ran and Fai's fight. He'd figure out how to delay it even further, later.

"Good. Aya is really a lovely girl. I know you'll be pleased," she insisted.

"Thank you, Mother," Kurogane said, not feeling gratitude. "May I go?"

"Yes. Get some rest. Once you do, I'm sure you'll warm up to the idea of being a husband."

Kurogane left Lady Suwa's sitting room even more troubled. The only person he desired was Fai. He couldn't even picture growing old with another person outside of Fai. Before the blond mage, there was no other person that had ever caught his attention in the slightest. He admitted he didn't like some of Fai's bad habits, like lying, but there were many more things he treasured about Fai. Things like his endless compassion and boundless intelligence.

The more he thought about Fai leaving for Celes, or worse, having Fai here while having to act as a husband to a young woman, the sicker he felt. As he walked down the hallway, the more and more he needed what only Fai could give him: comfort and pleasure.

He didn't care if anyone saw him go into Fai's room. He went in and sat on the mage's futon, waiting for his father's lesson with Fai to finish. Fai finally came in, looking very bedraggle, but very energized. If Fai had been worn out, Kurogane would have taken a different tactic.

He looked at Kurogane and smiled. "I wasn't expecting you to be here, Kuro-rin. I'm glad you are, though."

"Shut up, mage, and take off your clothes," Kurogane demanded. Fai froze for a moment and then let his smile drop.

"It's been a while, Kuroga-lu, because of our travels around Suwa. You still want me?" Fai had a tone of mock coyness.

"I wouldn't tell you to take off your clothes if I wasn't after something," Kurogane said.

"Well then... I think you should offer an incentive."

"What do you want?" Kurogane asked, getting a little annoyed at the mage.

"A back rub. Kuro-gi's father was totally mean to me! He beat me within an inch of my life," Fai said in a melodramatic way that made Kurogane role his eyes.

"Yeah, well, I knew that was coming." Kurogane, having been under his father's tutelage, knew his father would have no mercy. "So stop whining, get naked, and lay down already."

"I love it when you get all bossy," Fai teased, getting undressed in deliberate slowness. Kurogane's patience wore thin. He reached over and pulled the rest of Fai's clothes off.

"Kuro..." The ninja grabbed Fai's wrist and tugged him down and onto his lap. "Are you sure no one is listening in?"

"I could care less right at this moment." Indeed, there was a part of him that wanted to get caught so he could be truthful with his parents. The only thing that stopped that notion was the worry his parents would send Fai back to Edo early. "But, keep quiet anyway, okay?"

"Fine," he whispered, straddling Kurogane's lap. He wrapped his legs around Kurogane's waist and a gave him a devious smile. Fai then whispered, "Don't make a sound."

Fai's mouth covered Kurogane's as his hands rubbed him through his hakama. He let Fai have his way for a while, liking the tease of not having direct contact. It wasn't long before Kurogane was fully aroused and not willing to wait on Fai's fake coyness to give way to desire. He pushed the mage down on the futon and hovered over him on all fours. Kurogane was pleased to see Fai taken aback.

"Now, you don't make a sound," Kurogane whispered back before nibbling on Fai's neck.

Tomorrow he'd tell the mage about Aya-chan, but for tonight he'd enjoy what he had right in front of him.

To be continued.