Part Fifty-Four:

Fai watched Ashura close his hands around Yuui's magic and encase it in a magical Gordian Knot. An elegant green orb surrounded Yuui's magic, now. There were swirling patterns pulsing around the orb, and Fai's spirits sank. He used to play with Ashura's Gordian Knots when he was a child. The king would embed treats in them as a reward for solving them; the harder the Gordian Knot, the better the treat. It sometimes took Fai weeks to solve them, and he was extremely brilliant at solving them, as was Yuui.

"You're finally ready to do you duty as a citizen of Celes. Very good, my child."

"I never thought you'd hurt him. You've always loved him and were always so kind to him. You've never so much as raised a hand to him. Why now? I don't understand!"

"It's not his fault, Fai! Don't be angry with him," Yuui pleaded from where he lay. "He doesn't know what he's doing. It's his illness."

Fai kept his eyes firmly on Ashura as the king tucked the Gordian Knot into his fur lined cloak. Fai gripped his magic staff and said bitterly, "How can I not be angry?"

"You haven't been here to see his struggles, regrets, and sorrow. It is no different than if he were physically ailing. You cannot hold his insanity against him," Yuui insisted.

Fai took a deep breath when Ashura lofted his staff and unleashed a vicious hex at him. He raised a shield just in time. "Still hesitating, Fai?"

"Please don't do this," Fai asked, flatly.

Ashura then lofted his staff and green magic like a firework exploded over Fai and Yuui, dropping down as sizzling sparks with the snow. It was all Fai could do to dive on top of Yuui and strengthen and expand his shield.

"Fight me!"

"Ashura, don't you love us any more?" Fai asked numbly, not believing this situation.

"He loves us, but it's being filtered through a broken mind! He thinks he's loving us," Yuui said. "He doesn't understand he's hurting us."

Fai couldn't understand that at first. His bitter resentment seemed firm. Then his hand flew to his bruised cheek. Kurogane in his right mind would have never struck his face. Yet, even his obstinate lover had been goaded into hitting him by an outside influence. When he could process this, he knew he had to be the one to take Ashura down. There was no running from the man, only heartbreak lay ahead.

He got off of Yuui slowly and took his staff up. Fai looked at Yuui's drained eyes to gather up his courage to do the one thing he never dreamed he'd do. He lowered his magic shield and knew the first thing he had to do was drive Ashura away from Yuui, which meant he had to attack Ashura.

Fai murmured, "Forgive me, Father." He then rapidly traced five runes and swung his topper with force towards Ashura. The pink runes hissed as they flew and slammed into Ashura, breaking through his green protective barrier. The pink rune set sent Ashura flying backwards into a snow bank, steam rising up off his cloak.

Fai didn't give him a chance to get up before running towards his father while tracing more runes. There was one thing Captain Demetri's journals had taught him, never let your opponent up when you've knocked them down.


"So, His Exalted One still won't engage in combat? Old man Demetri complained about that in his letters to me," Boris asked after a few long, silent moments. He felt more sure about the ninja and his prowess than Yuui's twin.

Captain Demetri had written him several letters up until his conviction for necromancy; that's when Demetri shunned Boris. So he was unsure if Demetri's pupil ever got over his aversion to combat. Boris picked up that Kurogane was worried about something.

Kurogane snorted, crossed his arms, and shook his head. "Let's say he was having a lot of disbelief when my lady mother divined what had transpired between you and the ice king. She saw the fight you had with bandits, and that he imprisoned you and the twin of my mage. The ice king, in Fai's mind, could do no wrong, even though my honorable parents and I tried very hard to tried to persuade him."

Boris wasn't used to such formal language, and he had seen the man be less formal when Fai was around. He remembered that Kurogane had implied he had an intimate relationship with Fai. Boris sighed and leaned on his staff. "So you know His Exalted One pretty well?"

Kurogane gave him a baffled look. "The titles in this realm get that elaborate? I only heard him referred to as 'Master Fai' when I was here last."

Boris laughed and shook his head. "My manners are lacking because I could care less about all that formality; I'm on a slow trip to losing my mind, so what do I care if I offend people?

"Yuui made an impression on me when he came to Valeria to find the cure for his father. He was just so..." Boris struggled for the word when he first saw Yuui's face after he dropped that glamor. He had been stunned at Yuui's beauty when he first saw his real face.

He couldn't believe Yuui was once the child on death's doorstep he saw coming to Luval as he was going to train with Captain Demetri. Yuui had turned into that gentle soul that had stood before him on that one boring afternoon on Valeria. Boris took a deep breath and shook his head at that meek, little creature having the audacity to come to Valeria.

That's why he certainly knew Yuui was really strong under the surface. To know, now, what Yuui's biological grandfather had done to him made Boris sick to his stomach. Not at sweet Yuui, of course, but at the grandfather that did it. It did nothing to dull his yearning to protect Yuui. Boris cursed his liver, where his magic resided, for not giving him enough power to go back in time and change things.

"Yuui is just so pure," Boris said and chuckled. "Those titles I gave them is to wake them up and toughen them up, because everybody in Celes kisses their tender backsides."

Kurogane huffed and nodded. "I've done my best to lay my mage's ego low." Kurogane scowled and shook his head. "I'll be honest with you. My mage doesn't want you around his twin, because of the reanimation thing. He's very adamant."

"If Yuui wasn't an empath it wouldn't be such a huge deal. But I'll tell you, if I continue courting him..." Boris took a huge breath and stood upright rather than lean on his staff. "...he'll fall with me. That's why I assure you, I'm leaving after this is all settled." Boris felt a twisted smile come to his face and his throat choked up. "I hate him too much to impose my incoming insanity on him. I refuse to let him share my burden with me."

Kurogane flinched back and was baffled. "Why would you talk about him like that? Why use words of hate for the twin of my mage? I mean, it's obvious that's not what you feel."

"It's so I can run from him. I can claim those words rather than what I really feel," Boris said, confessing the truth. Boris felt as though he was like that stagnant scrying pool that Yuui had brought to life with his magic. He cursed himself for allowing Yuui into his jaded heart. What was it about the soft, little blond that created such a craving that wasn't quite satisfied yet?

Kurogane gave a snort. "Give in. I struggled against Fai, too. It won't help."

"But Yuui, I'd only ruin him."

Kurogane shrugged. "So. Find a way around the problem. You act as if this is set in stone. If you really want him, you'll find a way around it. I want Fai with everything I have in me. I'm not going to stop until I have him at my side in Nihongo. If you feel the same way about Yuui, you'll want to claim him."

Boris felt as though Kurogane threw cool water on him. Yuui was too much of a babe-in-the-woods for Boris to really leave alone in good conscience. Boris took a deep breath and gave Kurogane a shake of his head.

"I'm a pariah that has no long term place beside a prince. I'd rather break his heart than his mind."

Kurogane nodded. Boris was glad Kurogane wasn't the type to pester a grown man over private matters, but no doubt the man thought him cowardly.

Boris started getting concerned when Fai hadn't shown up yet. "I just hope Fai knows that rolling over and giving up isn't the way to protect Yuui."


Fai unleashed a binding hex at Ashura, since he was still on the ground, but Ashura rolled out of the way and pointed at Fai. Icicles from the trees hurled themselves at Fai's face. Fai swiftly, gracefully dodged and then lofted his staff. He unleashed pink lightening at Ashura. The king deflected it with a green concave shield and sent it back towards Fai. He swung his staff and dissipated his own attack.

"Very nicely done, my son."

"Please stop this before one of us gets hurt," Fai pleaded with narrowed, intense eyes.

"I always wanted to see you not hold back from the tremendous power you wield. Embrace your magic!" Ashura then plunged the tip of his staff into the snowy ground. Green magic snaked out and lashed Fai's feet. He felt the magic jolt, knocking the wind out of him. He fell to the ground, panting.

"What a disappointment," Ashura said, Fai struggled for air and felt on the verge of giving in to Ashura. The king just knew more than he did and had decades more experience. He slumped in the snow as he watched Ashura walk past him. Panic surged through him the closer Ashura got to Yuui.

"No!" Fai screamed and got to his feet. A wild burst of pink magic erupted from Fai's lofted hand and slammed into Ashura's back. Ashura let out a strangled scream and dropped to the ground beside Yuui.

Ashura rolled over and traced three runes, but Fai was quicker. There was something he'd learned from Ashura when he was a small child. He whistled a magical lullaby, infusing his magic with the sound. Ashura fell backwards, into a deep, enchanted asleep.

"Fai?"

"I'm fine and so is Ashura."

Yuui asked, "Wasn't that how Ashura would get us to sleep?"

"Yes. It was the enchanted lullaby he used to use."

Fai went over to check on Yuui. His twin seemed very cold, but fine. He then looked over Ashura. He was sleeping soundly. He pushed aside Ashura's cloak and rummaged in the pockets until he found the Gordian Knot that held Yuui's magic.

"Fai, you just got upset over something. What is it?"

Fai pushed a smile to his face so he could muster a soothing tone. "It's nothing, Yuui, but you might have to wait a while before I can restore your magic."

"Without it, I can't heal King Ashura. It takes a great deal of magic."

"I know. I also know there isn't another healer in all of Celes that would have the kind of power you do. I'll get it back for; don't worry, Yuui," Fai said, standing. He tucked away the Gordian Knot and lofted his staff.


When the pink runes fluttered around the room, Boris looked over. His mouth got dry, it must be Yuui laying on the ground beside slumbering King Ashura, because Fai held his staff high, the tip glowing a bright pink. Fai tumbled towards the ground and groaned in agony.

"Mage!" Kurogane was in time to catch Fai and help him sit on the ground.

"I'm fine. The pain will go away, soon," Fai said, and then grimaced.

Boris knelt down beside Yuui, who had his eyes firmly shut. Yuui flinched from Boris' hand before it reached his hair. "It's me. What happened? Did you get hurt?"

Yuui only nodded, but wouldn't open his eyes. Fai was the one who snarled, "Get away from him!" Fai even irrationally swipe the topper of his staff to smack Boris' face, but the ex-governor was too swift.

"Stop acting like a demented tom cat, you idiot!" Kurogane bellowed, grabbing Fai by the shoulders. The ninja yanked Fai's staff away from him and tossed it aside.

"Please don't fight," Yuui begged in a hoarse whisper. Boris could see tension had left Fai, and Kurogane slowly released his hands from the blond's shoulder. However, if looks could kill, Boris knew he'd be dead, judging by Fai's deep, blue eyes.

A sob broke out out from Yuui; Fai and Boris scrambled to his side. "Open your eyes, Yuui," Boris gently ordered. Yuui did so, and Boris' jaw clenched tightly when saw that dull tawny color.

"I can't see."

Fai took a green orb from his sleeve. Boris asked, "A Gordian Knot?"

"Ashura locked away his magic in it before we battled. I have to free it."

"I hope your father was lousy at making them," Boris said, glancing at the king's prone body.

"He was a genius at making them," Fai said, but pushed on a bright smile. "I'm sure I'll solve it in no time. The prize inside is very precious to me."

"But that could take weeks!" Yuui said.

"Great. You know, people will start looking for the king and this looks bad. You'll have to explain things if people catch wind of this," Boris pointed out.

"We have to keep Father's secret, Fai. Promise me we keep him from being banished."

"I know! Father told Mayor Dayken we were going to be in Nihongo, and he wasn't clear to the court. Let's go there. We can hide him while I solve this puzzle."

"Good idea, but we'll only have a week or less. Mayor Dayken will come to check on Ashura," Yuui said.

"Thank goodness, home where the weather is sane."

"Kuro-pu, I think your weather is entirely too hot," Fai said. Then he turned to Boris. "I assume you were the one that brought Kuro-grumpy here, therefore, I'd appreciated it if you could take us back. My tattoo is still a little on the warm side."

"Sure thing, Your Exalted One," Boris said, standing and lofting his staff.

"Thank you, High Ruler of Rot and Worms," Fai said in a chipper tone and gave a snicker at Boris' malevolent gaze.

"I warned you, reanimator of Celes. He has a million of them," Kurogane said, crossing his arms.

"Yeah, Yuui, I think your brother is one really swell guy, and I really fancy the snot out of him," Boris said in a snarl, as he traced runes. He planned to take Fai down a peg or two before he parted ways from Yuui.


Lady Suwa was walking across the courtyard with her maid, Megumi, who was holding a parasol to keep the sun off of her mistress. Both of them were chuckling over the rumor of a little crush between a chamber maid and a stable hand. The two teens were so giggly around each other, but vehemently denied the crush.

Suddenly, the sky opened up with a glow of purple. A powerful whoosh blew at the ladies and they were amazed to see Kurogane standing there with Fai in his arms; the mage looked very pale and had clenched eyes. Meanwhile, Fai's twin was trying to whack the reanimator of Celes with the topper of his staff. The man dodged and cackled loudly.

"And you're a needy, little bitch to boot!" the reanimator taunted, dodging another swing at his head. The ladies both gasped at the course language. The reanimator further teased, "Don't you know how to properly use that staff? Demetri said you sucked at it, so why don't you use it for a pacifier?"

"You bastard! Suck on snowballs! You'll find out what I know, Duke of Decay!" the blond mage screeched. Lady Suwa jogged over to Kurogane and looked at the frail mage in his arms. His blue aura was so incredibly faint.

"Oh, this isn't Fai, is it?" she asked, knowing Fai's aura was pink and how high strung his temperament was. The one throwing the fit with a healthy, glowing pink aura had to be Fai. She also noticed King Ashura laying on the ground in a deep sleep, his green aura was very muted, but there were still black spots.

"Nope, this is Yuui." Kurogane jerked his head towards the two brawlers. "Fai is over there acting like a demented tom cat."

Hexes were starting to fly. Pink and purple clashing in more ways than one. Both combatants were also hurling vicious insults.

Lady Suwa put her hand on Yuui's forehead. His eyes fluttered open and he smiled. She was startled to see his changed eyes. "Whoever you are, you give me a sense of peace. You're a very kind person. Are you a healer, too?"

"He's blinded, Mother. Somehow his magic rested in his eyes and it was stolen by their father. Fai has the magic, now, and can restore it when he's not acting like a psychotic moron ," Kurogane explained to her. Then Kurogane said to Yuui, "You met my mother already. She's a religious leader of sorts."

"Let's get him to my prayer room. But, Kurogane..." She nodded towards the courtyard where the two mages were letting a flurry of pink and purple hexes fly at each other.

"Tsk... let them hex each other silly. It might get them tame. You know, twin of my mage, your brother is an absolute idiot. So is that crabby boyfriend of yours."

"Megumi, have Kentaro bring King Ashura to my prayer room, too. Quickly, before this magical combat gets out of hand," Lady Suwa said. Her maid went running with wide eyes and worry.

"Boris isn't my boyfriend," Yuui insisted in a weak voice. Kurogane chuckled as he carried Yuui, following his mother indoors.

"Yeah, sure he isn't," Kurogane said, before looking over his shoulder to see more pink and purple magic clash.


"Do... you... give... up...Baron... of Rigor Mortis ?" Fai asked through heavy panting. He lay on the ground pretty close to Boris, who was panting pretty heavy himself.

"Not... until... you admit... what a... stifling... asshole... you are...!"

"Am... not...!"

"Are... too...!" Boris rolled onto his side and glared at Fai. Some sort of Suwa family retainers dragged King Ashura off. Boris suddenly realized Yuui was gone. He glared at Fai and got his breathing under control, like a true solider. Boris sat up and said, "You manipulated him. You knew all along what happened and you lied to him."

Fai glared back and forced himself to sit up. "I would never want him to actually remember what happened. It was horrible. You have no right to judge my decision to not tell him unless you lived through what we had."

"My childhood was very good until my mother passed away when I was fourteen. I don't know what it was like to live in a place where the man that's supposed care for you beats you and molests you. My own father was saintly to the point he wouldn't kill bugs, but released them out of the home. One of the things he taught me, though, was that lying to a person always creates more damage than the original injury."

Fai's face grew grim. "You don't know how horrible it was."

"You're babying him to assuage your own feelings."

Fai glared. "I don't have to listen to this. Especially, coming from a..."

"Enough already!" They both looked up at Lord Suwa who had a half-eaten apple in one hand and a bucket of water in the other. "You two broke the gate with your wild magic, now you're going to fix it, and I won't hear any complaints."

"But Lord Kuro-papa-sama..." Fai started complaining. Lord Suwa tossed aside the apple, took the bucket in a firm grip, and flung the water on Fai's head. "And you'll get the same, reanimator of Celes, if you give me any lip. Now hop to it!"

"Come on," Fai said, a pout all over his face as he led Boris to the tool shed.

"And if I catch you two fighting again, I'll hold your hot heads in the river until you decide to cool down!"

To be continued.

A/N: Okay, I had to admit I laughed myself silly picturing Fai and Boris bickering.