Part Forty-Seven:

Kurogane woke slowly and realized he and Fai were chained, side-by-side, on a stone slab. He heard loud crashing waves and realized they were in a seaside cavern. The thin man with a ponytail approach with a smarmy grin.

"Who are you?" Kurogane demanded, glaring and struggling against the chains.

"I'm Doctor Kyle, an assistant to Fei-Wang. And you are now his slave."

"Like hell! I'll never summit to him!"

"Oh you will. So will the mage, thanks to these." Kyle held up two blue, oval jewels embedded in gold disks.

"What is that?" Kurogane asked, sneering, not imagining any little trinket draining his will to fight.

"This is a jewel made from Hijutsu, a special, magic art. These Hijutsu jewels will put your will under Fei-Wang's."

Fai moaned and started coming to. His eyes fluttered open and he looked over at Kurogane. "What's going on, Kurgs?"

"This thug thinks he's going to brainwash us with those little trinkets."

Fai looked at the Hijutsu jewels and frowned a little. "They have some power to them."

"Ah, you're a true believer, therefor, I'll let you go first," Kyle said. He then said, "Xing! Hold him."

The woman with empty eyes gripped Fai's thrashing head and held it still. Kyle approached and pushed away Fai's bangs. Kurogane shouted, "Don't you touch him!"

The man ignored him and placed the Hijutsu jewel on Fai's forehead. It sealed itself with a blue spark, and then Fai stopped struggling. Xing let Fai's head go. Fai's head dropped towards Kurogane, and he was horrified to see the blank look in those normally lively, blue eyes.

"What did you do to him, you bastard!"

"What's about to happen to you," Xing said, gripping Kurogane's head. Kyle placed the Hijutsu jewel on Kurogane's forehead. A burning sensation shot through his head, and then he felt extremely placid. He struggled to speak, but no words came out. He felt progressively numb.

"So now that that's done, Fei-Wang should be back any minute, and then we can plan to invade Tsukiyono from Suwa," Kyle said. Kurogane felt as if he should struggle, but he just couldn't muster the willpower.


Lord Suwa found the clay soldiers easy to beat. He glanced over his shoulder and saw that King Ashura was having very little problem, as well. Then a thought struck him. "Ice King, this is all a distraction. We have to work quicker. He's just trying to keep us from our sons, not kill us."

"Agreed," the man said before sending some green runes to shatter two more red, clay soldiers. "Let me fight him, so I can get a bead on his magic. We'll let him escape, and then I can sense where our children are."

"I'll get rid of the rest of these guys while you do that!" Lord Suwa gathered up energy and moved his sword in three moves to focus the energy. He then swung it towards twenty, clay soldiers shouting, "Magic Wave, Dragon King Battle!"

The energy blast from Pale Blue Ice crushed them into red, powdery dirt, and made a path available to Fei-Wang, who now looked shocked. Ashura charged forth and struck the man with green runes. Fei-Wang shook it off and and got his wits about him. The two magicians started trading spells back and forth in bursts of green and red, so Lord Suwa turned to the rest of the clay soldiers. It was like child's play knocking the rest of them down.

He finished the last one and watched a massive, green rune set fling the old sorcerer through the air. The man was stunned, but got to his feet. Fei-Wang raged, "Stop toying with me, foreign cur!"

"For me, this is deadly serious. You harmed my beloved child and took him from me, therefore, I'll crush you dead," King Ashura promised and threw another hex at the man. Before it smacked Fei-Wang in the face, the old sorcerer threw up a shield. Ashura cracked it with runes sent from the casting tip of his staff. The man sent out red lightening towards the king. Ashura dissipated with a swing of his staff.

"Just for all the trouble, I'll make sure your son's slavery is an agony!" With that threat, Fei-Wang disappeared in a red haze. The shield holding back Lord Suwa's men dissolved.

"It's getting to be sunset," Lord Suwa said. "I'd prefer we find them quickly.

"Lord Suwa, your lady is asking after you and her son," Megumi said, running into the courtyard.

"Tell her the battle here is done, but her son has been captured along with his mage. However, the ice king and I will find them. Tell her not to worry."

The girl bowed and ran off to tell her mistress the news. Kentaro then came up and bowed. "Your orders, my lord?"

"You and the men stay here and see about cleaning up this mess. The ice king and I will sneak up on that old goat and bring him some justice," Lord Suwa said. Kentaro then started organizing the men as they worked on the fences.

King Ashura rested his staff on his shoulder and then held his hands apart and a green, glowing sphere appeared. "When it turns red, it means that man will have cast a spell. At that point, this will transport us to where he is."

"Good. Kurogane's mother will worry to death if I don't have them home by dinner."


Fei-Wang appeared before his two servants and his two brand new slaves. "Well, I see the Hijutsu spell took place."

"They are yours, Fei-Wang," Xing said, giving him a bow.

"They still resist, though. Both have extremely strong wills," Kyle complained glaring at the slaves. Both of which were slumping and swaying, rather than being still and upright. That was a sign they were resisting.

"Kurogane! Slap your mage!" Nothing. The ninja didn't twitch, just stood, staring blankly at him. "I said slap him! Hard! Strike him to the ground now!" Kurogane still didn't move. Fei-Wang turned and glared at Doctor Kyle. "Why isn't he obeying?"

"He's pliant, but you need to fuse your magic into the jewel. Mark them with wards. That a way, they know they're your property," Kyle said, with a sadistic smile.

Fei-Wang raised his hand, fingers in a claw. Red tentacles shot out and struck the Hijutsu jewels. Fai and Kurogane fell to the ground and started thrashing, trying their hardest to resist. The tentacles faded and the jewels turned a bright red, but both were unconscious on the sea cavern floor.

"They still resist me!"

"Give it a few moments," Kyle chided. "Wards claim territory magically. These boys will now be your territory through those Hijutsu jewels."

Sure enough, they moaned and rose from the ground, but now their posture was more steady. They'd be more complaint. Fei-Wang chuckled. "Strike your mage to the ground, Kurogane!"

The ninja struggled, hard. His body flinched and then thrashed as he stumbled over to the mage. His arm raised, shaking. Kurogane started breathing hard through gritted teeth, standing in front Fai. Fai was totally unaware to what was going on around him. Kurogane whispered, "Forgive me."

His hand struck Fai's cheek and the mage went to the ground. Fai trembled, balling up, he didn't rise from the rocky ground. Fei-Wang laughed hysterically. "Get up, mage!"

Fai stood, shaking horribly. His lip was bleeding and the left side of jaw was starting to show a bruise. Fei-Wang smirked at Fai. "That was for your father's impertinence. Trust me, a lot more is to come. I'd make Kurogane beat you into a bloody pulp, but I need you to invade Tsukiyono first! You two will be my assassins. I want you to kill Mamoru Takatori and then I will move in on Ouka and get her under my will."


The green, glowing orb turned a bright red. Ashura said, "Lord Suwa, get close. The spell is about to take effect."

"Good. I'm glad you found them, ice king."

"Please, you can call me Ashura. Our sons are so close and when it comes to my sons, I don't stand on formality," the mage said as the red orb grew larger and started drifting higher.

Lord Suwa wouldn't have done the following, especially since he didn't entirely trust the man. But since this man had foreign customs, and he was the father of someone so close to Kurogane, he offered, "You can call me Hondo."

The red orb then slowly descended on them, and, in a flash, they were transported to a beach beside some rocky cliffs. Ashura gasped and raised his arm against the waves as if he were afraid they were unpredictable and would envelop him.

"What is it, Ashura?"

"What's that?" The king asked, pointing to the ocean.

"That's right. Fai had the same reaction. Don't worry, it's quite safe and has a rhythm. It was a strange experience for him, too. Our world is warm enough for giant bodies of water. He said you have small bodies of salt water, but the waves and sand were nothing like this."

"Not at all. It's quite lovely, Hondo, but I'll admire it later. We need to get our sons back."

"Certainly," Lord Suwa said.

They crept around the cliffs, listening for human sounds over the loud, crashing waves. The moon was rising as the sun sank on the horizon. They found the mouth of a cavern and approached slowly. It was glowing, and it seemed like it had human activity. They ducked behind a boulder on the beach and observed over the top.

Sure enough, Fei-Wang came out with his two minions in tow. Then Kurogane and Fai followed, stumbling after them. Lord Suwa grabbed Ashura's hand before he went over the hill. "Hold on for a minute. There is something wrong with our sons."

Ashura's brown eyes narrowed as he focused on their children. The mage then looked at Lord Suwa and said, "Our children are under a very powerful magic, Hondo. It will be difficult to break it. The key is those stones on their foreheads. I sense the magic there."

Lord Suwa let out a deep breath, and said sarcastically, "Great."

"Let's confront him and get our children back," Ashura said. They both jumped from behind the boulder and landed in front of Fei-Wang. He looked shocked and backed away a few steps. "Release our children or else."

"No! They're my slaves now, and I will sooner kill them than release them," Fei-Wang said. "As proof of how loyal they are to me, now, I'll have them kill the both of you."

"You'd send our sons to attack us? Now I know you've lost your mind," Lord Suwa said. He then lowered his voice and said to Ashura, "It would be a grave dishonor for me to raise my sword against my son."

"And my plans for Fai would be ruined if I faced him now," Ashura said. Lord Suwa thought that bizarre. "Here is my suggestion. I'll handle Kurogane, if you handle my son."

Lord Suwa had a flare of mistrust against the man. "You're asking me to place my son in your hands?"

"I am willing trust you with my precious Fai."

Lord Suwa nodded after some hesitation. Fei-Wang then pointed at the two rulers and ordered their sons, "Attack!"

Fai ran towards Ashura, but Lord Suwa jumped in front of the king. He hooked Pale Blue Ice in the topper of Fai's staff and flung the staff behind him. King Ashura caught it. "Wise move, Hondo."

After Ashura tossed the staff further away, he lofted his own and charged towards Kurogane. The ninja was headed towards Lord Suwa with a drawn sword. King Ashura's staff glowed a bright green and then morphed into an elaborate sword. "We'll play on your terms."

Lord Suwa watch his son and the king mix it up for a moment, then he saw Fai run from him and duck into the cavern. "Hey! Get back here, mage!"

He ran after Fai and was unpleasantly surprised to see the mage was at a cavern wall that had a variety of weapons lining it. The mage now held a regular fighting staff. He noticed the mage's eyes were empty, so he probably couldn't be reasoned with him. At least, not until he got that stone off his forehead. Lord Suwa sheathed Pale Blue Ice. He was not going to run the risk of killing Fai by accident.

He walked over to the wall and picked up a fighting staff, too. "Alright, let's see how well I taught you."

Fai lunged at him and pulled a feint. Lord Suwa came after him fast and relentless, backing Fai deeper into the cavern. He finally had him pinned in a corner. Lord Suwa noticed Fai wasn't fighting creatively in the least. Every move was rote. It was the reason Lord Suwa had Fai beat back so handily.

At least, that's what he thought at first. Then, too late, he realized this was one of Fai's trickster moves. Fai jumped past him, barely brushing his shoulder and then Lord Suwa felt the sharp sting across his back when Fai smacked him with the staff.

"You little..." Lord Suwa said through gritted teeth. He turned and launched a new attack at Fai, but he was being his normal, slippery self, now. "Damn it, hold still so I can pound you!"

"My master told me to kill you, and I shall do that," Fai said in a hollow tone.

"Not a chance. There is one thing you don't have over me, and that's experience. And let me tell you, mage, you're about to get that spanking your father never gave you!"

"Come and get it, Lord Kuro-papa-sama. You're not as fast as me." Fai spoke, but it was a hollow brag. He didn't really mean it.

Lord Suwa aggressively attacked Fai and drove him back out of the cavern. As they traded blows on the beach, he had an idea from when Ashura and he had landed here. He started driving Fai towards the ocean. Fai fought hard when he realized the waves were almost lapping his ankles.

Fai's panic was obvious. Fai made the mistake of looking to the right and down to make sure he wasn't by the ocean. Lord Suwa smacked Fai's side and winded him. Then he smack the stone on Fai's head and shattered it. Fai fell to the beach, unconscious.

The salt water started to lap at Fai's body, so Lord Suwa dragged the mage out of the surf and collapsed with the young man held tightly in his arms. He was winded; Fai had certainly given him a workout. He looked over to where his son and the king were trading blows. His anxiety was on high; he'd never wanted to see his son lose a fight, until now.


Kurogane was fierce as he drove Ashura towards the ocean. The king felt a surge of panic as he was driven next to the unfamiliar body of water. Ashura started to think on how he could defeat the strong swordsman.

He'd always loved sword play and had wanted Fai to take it up, but the boy was too traumatize to do so. Fai had witnessed his grandfather commit suicide with a sword to his throat. The boy would pick up any other weapon except a sword. For Fai to take a swordsman as a lover was very bizarre to Ashura.

"You won't win. I have to defeat you. I will take Fai back to Celes with me and you'll never see him again."

Some flicker of anger flashed in those empty, crimson eyes. "You won't take my mage away from me. I'll kill you before I let him be parted from my side."

"He will come back with me to Celes. I will never let him see you again," Ashura said, hoping to rile the swordsman up.

Sure enough, the young man hollered and swung at Ashura. He sidestepped and swung his sword towards Kurogane's forehead. The tip struck the stone. It shattered as Kurogane stumbled into the surf. King Ashura dragged Kurogane ashore and looked the unconscious man over. The only real harm was going to be a tiny scar on Kurogane's forehead where Ashura had struck a little too deep with his sword.

Yes, he wanted to kill the young man in his arms and take his blood. He'd taken Fai's innocence, and that was punishable by death. He needed to wait and not strike the young man, yet, or it would undo his plans.

"Ashura! How's my son?"

"Fine, Hondo. I'll teleport us back to your place... but... where are those villains?"

"I don't see them. I think they escaped," Lord Suwa answered, standing and then picked up the unconscious Fai in his arms and walked over. "I'll petition to get them declared wanted."

Ashura took Fai in his arms from Lord Suwa as the young man started to groan and stir. Lord Suwa picked up Kurogane and draped his son's arm over his shoulders. King Ashura said, "I'll take us back now."


Yuui couldn't stop smiling as he snuggled closer into Boris' firm arms. He had been shy about letting Boris see him totally naked, but he got taunted into. Now he felt a little more comfortable, especially after sharing some more intimacy. They'd just finished heavy petting each other; both reached satisfaction. He nuzzled Boris' bare chest and felt warm. They lay under several layers of blankets as High Winter howled and threatened outside. Yuui felt so relaxed and started drifting to sleep.

"Boris... please stay with me," he mumbled.

"No..." he replied back in a soft mumble.

"I'll give you anything you want. I'll do anything you ask of me."

"You can't give me my sanity back. And that'll be bad news for you in the end."

"If you let me know how you learned it... necromancy... I could find a way to reverse it."

"No," Boris said softly. "I would never let you. I don't want you to read those evil spells. Someone like you is far too innocent to endure that knowledge. It would damage you."

"Please let me help you. I..." Yuui felt the air leave his chest and he met those hazel eyes in the light of the embers of the fireplace. "...feel so much for you."

"I know, but you shouldn't feel anything for me. You must treat me like a tool, not a person."

"Don't you think I want to do that? I just can't do that. All I want is this, what we just did together." Yuui felt himself blush at the reference to their mutual touching. "All I want is you to sleep by my side. "

"This can't happen anymore. I was stupid to let it happen the first time."

"But you did, and now you need to take responsibility. You have me now, whether you like it or not."

"And I don't like it," he mumbled as he nestled his face into Yuui's soft, blond hair.

"But I do want more of this," Yuui murmured, as he pressed himself against Boris' hard chest.

"We can't become intimate because..."

Suddenly, Yuui's body stiffened in Boris' arms and thrashed lightly. He then went limp. He felt Boris check his throat's pulse and breathing first thing, and he then laid Yuui on his back.

Yuui's gorgeous, blue eyes finally opened again. "A spell on my brother was broken. I feel it. It's very harsh, but now I know where Nihongo is, because it was such a huge spell."

"When Zellen and Drysi come with our breakfast, we'll go. We can't knock on their door without getting discovered."

"What time is it?"

"Only ten at night," Boris reported. He took Yuui back in his arms.

"I'm worried about Fai."

"The king will certainly want to bring Fai back here before he does anything, and you'll feel it if they come back before morning. Just hold on. We'll get to them as soon as we can."

"My brother, before he left, had a crush on his host. And his host seemed to find him interesting, too. I hope they grew close and Fai is looked after by him."

"Well, if he's as devious as you, I'm sure he got sucked in like me."

"Oh, he's much more devious than I am."

Boris chuckled and squeezed Yuui tightly. "Poor sucker."

"You're so mean."

"Are you trying to pick a fight with me?"

Yuui smiled brightly. "Maybe..."

To be continued.